Post
by emzkhor » Wed Dec 18, 2024 11:39 am
First adult passport after naturalisation
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 08/11/2024 2:16pm
Email sent to person confirming identity: 08/11/2024 2:24pm
Identity details received: 08/11/2024 3:31pm
Application received: 08/11/2024 3:31pm
Documents posted: 08/11/2024 6:26pm (Royal Mail Special Guaranteed 1pm)
Documents delivered: 11/11/2024 9:35am
Documents acknowledged: 12/11/2024 9:37pm
*additional steps - see below*
Application approved: 18/11/2024 9:29am
Passport printed: 19/11/2024 3:40am
Passport dispatched: 19/11/2024 9:20am
Passport received: 20/11/2024 12:37pm
Documents returned (passport and certificate): 20/11/2024 12:37pm
Additional documents returned: 06/12/2024
Additional info
14/11/2024 10:24am: Received an email about name order on foreign passport not matching the name on application. Was asked to update name on foreign document.
14/11/2024 10:25am: Rang them to explain that this is the cultural naming convention in my country. Was asked to obtain a deed poll to align application name to foreign passport name and show evidence of foreign passport name in use on bank statement, utility bills, etc. Was not given a satisfactory answer.
14/11/2024 10:38am: Used webchat to try and get a more satisfactory answer but was told the same thing regarding deed poll and showing name in use evidence.
14/11/2024 12:58pm: Used webchat to further reiterate cultural naming convention and also my surname IS my surname regardless of which order the foreign passport displays it. Was told my case was being referred to an examiner.
15/11/2024 2:22pm: Used webchat to ask for an update. Was told someone would ring me back by the end of the day. Never received a call.
15/11/2024 2:37pm: Received an email requesting additional documents: bank statement and utility bill.
15/11/2024 6:46pm: Rang to explain I was expecting a phone call but never received. They said their notes showed they tried to ring but there was no answer (not true as I was watching my phone like a hawk all afternoon!!). I reiterate the cultural naming convention and changing the order of my name would require me to travel to my home country and would be unreasonably expensive. I was told to expect to receive a call in the next 1-2 working days.
16/11/2024 10:11am: Rang again to chase up and see if the examiner had reviewed my case. No further information provided but again reiterated the above. Was told that they’ve added a note to get examiner to ring me.
16/11/2024 10:46am: Additional documents posted via Royal Mail Special Guaranteed 1pm. I sent a letter explaining cultural naming convention and included high commission’s explanation of naming convention. Sent evidence that name change can only be done in person in-country and travel there would incur unreasonable costs due to having to take unpaid leave and expensive return flights. Included documents requested as well as mortgage statement, letter of employment, driving licence, HMRC NI number letter and degree certificate to reiterate I have used this name order since moving to the UK.
18/11/2024 9:33am: Additional documents delivered (4 minutes AFTER approval email, so not sure if my additional documents were needed anyway). No acknowledgement of receipt of additional documents. And no one ever rang me back.
After a very stressful few days, thankfully it was all resolved. Seems like the case needed to go to someone with some common sense because ALL this information on naming conventions for my country is on Knowledge Base.
