Council saves citizenship applicants from £900 fees

THE city council has become only the second Scottish local authority to offer to check British citizenship applications.

The Lothian Chambers on George IV Bridge is offering the Nationality Checking Service in a bid to cut down on the number of people whose applications are rejected by the Home Office and then face up to 900 in fees.

Trained staff offer the one-stop shop for applicants, who previously had to either travel to South Lanarkshire or south of the border to get documents checked or risk losing original documents by submitting them directly.

The service will cost 66, although discounts are given for couples, children and families. A total of 16 existing members of registration staff have been trained to provide the service.

Councillor Phil Wheeler said: "Being able to speak face to face to trained staff here in Edinburgh will offer reassurance.

"This will also generate much-needed funds at a time when every local authority is under huge financial pressure and being forced to make cutbacks."