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Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 10:28 am
by Staylic
Hi there
I have not been able to find any information about this and I need some help:
My South African passport expired about 2 years ago and I have not bothered getting it renewed as I was planning to get my UK citizenship and British passport. Do I need any other documents other than my expired SA passport to prove that I haven't been out of the country?
Does the Home Office have the ability to check whether or not a new South African passport has been issued to me?
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 10:34 am
by R-graphite
Reasonably speaking, I believe you may need other documents to prove that you havent been absent during the period starting from your passport’s expiry date. Not quite sure what type of documents is accepted. I would imagine payslips, bank statements, HMRC related correspondence ...
Staylic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 10:28 am
Hi there
I have not been able to find any information about this and I need some help:
My South African passport expired about 2 years ago and I have not bothered getting it renewed as I was planning to get my UK citizenship and British passport. Do I need any other documents other than my expired SA passport to prove that I haven't been out of the country?
Does the Home Office have the ability to check whether or not a new South African passport has been issued to me?
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:26 am
by alterhase58
Expired passports can be used to support the residence requirements by way of stamps in/out. If you haven't been out of the country then you woould declare NIL days for absence - you don't need to prove individual absences. We don't know what information soucres UKVI has access to, and what they actually check.
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:16 pm
by Staylic
alterhase58 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:26 am
Expired passports can be used to support the residence requirements by way of stamps in/out. If you haven't been out of the country then you woould declare NIL days for absence - you don't need to prove individual absences. We don't know what information soucres UKVI has access to, and what they actually check.
OK - great stuff! Thanks for the info.
If there is any other supporting documentation required, is this then asked for during the appointment?
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:59 pm
by alterhase58
Staylic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:16 pm
alterhase58 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:26 am
Expired passports can be used to support the residence requirements by way of stamps in/out. If you haven't been out of the country then you woould declare NIL days for absence - you don't need to prove individual absences. We don't know what information soucres UKVI has access to, and what they actually check.
OK - great stuff! Thanks for the info.
If there is any other supporting documentation required, is this then asked for during the appointment?
UKVCAS will likely only check that documents are present per checklist.
UKVI may ask for further information if they deem it necessary. If they ask you then have 10 days to respond. For residency it's normally your passport(s) (as you are on ILR). Employers' letters, P60 or other official documentation (HMRC, DWP, Council Tax, Pensions, etc) are used if you don't have passport stamps, or gaps.
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:02 pm
by CR001
Are you planning in retaining your SA citizenship and already done the two step process for retention?
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:36 pm
by Staylic
CR001 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:02 pm
Are you planning in retaining your SA citizenship and already done the two step process for retention?
No - I don't quite see the point of retaining my SA citizenship.
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:39 pm
by CR001
Staylic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:36 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:02 pm
Are you planning in retaining your SA citizenship and already done the two step process for retention?
No - I don't quite see the point of retaining my SA citizenship.
Note then that you automatically lose it on granting of British Citizenship.
You should attend the Home Affairs in London once you are British to get the letter stating you can travel in/out of SA on your British passport and it will also tell you under what section you have lost your SA citizenship and your right to Permanent Residence there etc. The letter is issued free of charge. Your official SA docs, ID/passport etc, will be cut and stamped cancelled.
Re: Applying for naturalisation with an expired passport
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:44 pm
by Staylic
CR001 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:39 pm
Staylic wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:36 pm
CR001 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:02 pm
Are you planning in retaining your SA citizenship and already done the two step process for retention?
No - I don't quite see the point of retaining my SA citizenship.
Note then that you automatically lose it on granting of British Citizenship.
You should attend the Home Affairs in London once you are British to get the letter stating you can travel in/out of SA on your British passport and it will also tell you under what section you have lost your SA citizenship and your right to Permanent Residence there etc. The letter is issued free of charge. Your official SA docs, ID/passport etc, will be cut and stamped cancelled.
Great - thanks for the info
