(Delaying) British Citizenship application - Pro's & Con's?

I have Posted (on another Thread) before about the issues my Wife may face getting 'professional' Referee(s) for her BC application - despite my best efforts she has not seemed interested in expanding her social circle and we don't have any 'professional' friends (that I can think of!)... I have mainly relied upon family for social/emotional support most of my life and 'family' professionals are not acceptable as BC Referees - according to what I have read - even if we knew any.
So my question is, what are the "pro's and con's" of delaying the application for BC, once she has her ILR (early in 2024, hopefully)?

I realise she won't get a British passport but we only renewed her Philippines one in 2022, so she will at least have a valid passport until 2032 if we need or wish to go abroad. What other 'issues' might we encounter if she doesn't get BC a.s.a.p?

The second part of my question is, what exactly does a Referee for British Citizenship have to do? Do they have to answer questions about the applicant - i.e. how/what they know (about) them, how long they have known them and the nature of their friendship or relationship, or do they just have to sign a document to say the attached picture IS the applicant?
I found what I think is the BC Referee form online (attached???).
It looks like any Referee has to have known the applicant for (at least) 3 of the 5 years the applicant has been in the UK (to be eligible to apply for ILR).

TIA

My wife has had her BC for a while now and her daughter hasnt she is on ILR has had to wait a year as the rules state cos she is not married to a Brit and there is another period of waiting because she has been back to the Philippines for a number of months and also in other parts of Asia holidaying.
Drawbacks, I think you have covered main one is travel,we went to New York France Spain and Portugal wife has had to have no visa but we needed visas for her daughter, pain in the arriss,but if you dont or only intend traveling to the Philippines then no issues,
She has the right to work on ILR and her BRP will reflect this, so no issue.

Referees the form you post is correct the Ref affixes the required photo signs the form and thats it one of my wifes referees got a follow up the other didnt Email asked for confirmation of the name holding the e mail address

Thats about it!

my wifes professional referees were her boss--who is a naturalised brit from mauritius, and is a group medical practice nurse as well as a care home owner.
the other refereee was a friend for years who is also a naturalised brit from the philis, and is a nurse in the NHS.

I didn't think of any negatives when my Filipina wife got her British Citizenship.
She is very proud of her British passport and the four of us will travel using them this summer.
When she received her British passport, it was the welcome end to a very stressful red tape journey

@aposhark Mike the op means it the other way “ What are the negatives to delaying getting the BC”
He is looking at what it potentially will do to restrict his wife within the UK without BC, not the downside of having BC.

I replied in the way I wanted to, John.

I know!

@Mattecube is correct...

I was concerned mainly about the (negative) consequences of delaying the application for BC, after getting ILR.

Just do it!
I suppose there is a negative - the cost, we decided for my wife to do it asap - but I had to pay....
My wife is the bread winner now though

Nothing in the guidelines that says professional referee must be a resident of the UK. I just submitted mine and I used a professional person residing and working abroad (not British) who knows me for more than 3 years. Will update here if and when my appliction is successful.

There are certain referee eligibility requirements that must be met, where the referee will be required to complete the relevant section of the application form declaring that they are qualified to act as a referee and that the photograph you have provided in support of your application is a true likeness of you.

For both references, the referee must have known you for at least three years.

At least one of them should be of “professional standing”. The list of the government’s accepted professions is lengthy and can be found on the gov.uk website. Eligible professions include (but are not limited to): accountant, barrister, chemist, councilor (local or county), dentist, director of a VAT registered company, journalist, member of parliament, optician, police officer, social worker, solicitor or trade union official. This referee can be of any nationality and does not need to be a British citizen in order to be eligible to give you a reference for your application.

The requirements for the second referee differ slightly in that they must be a British citizen, and either a professional person or over 25 years of age.

Further, neither of the British citizenship referees can:

• be related to you
• be related to the other referee
• be your legal representative or your agent representing you in this application
• be employed by the UK’s Home Office
• have been convicted of an imprisonable offence during the last 10 years for which the sentence is not classed as spent under the UK’s Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
  
• 
  Edit This text is copied from a solicitor page and contradicts the link I have posted in a later post, the link is the guidelines for the decision maker to adhere too and refers to the referees being British Passports holders. However the referees form supports this text Any nationality plus a British passport holder
• The good thing is if you get the referees wrong the gov will contact you to amend but will not refuse the application just a delay!

Your right in the person may live work abroad but both referees need to be British Passport holders

"... This referee can be of any nationality and does not need to be a British citizen in order to be eligible to give you a reference for your application."

Can you be a British Passport holder, but not a British citizen/dual national???

'Legal-ese', like English, can be very confusing!

Here is UK gov notes to the decision maker ie their guilines to adhere to look at referees section condridicts the earlier post

tohttps://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ionals-accessible--2#nationality-applications

Another big benefit to holding BC as apposed to ILR is that you can leave the UK for 2 years or more without having to reapply to re- enter.

Useful to know, although unlikely to ever be an issue for us.

Update: British citizenship application approved!

Congrats...

Given the massive increases in both ILR & BC fees last week, I think we will be delaying the latter for a while...

Congratulations, one journey over your next can now begin .

Congratulations