Travel after certificate / before UK passport is issued
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 6:04 pm
Thanks a lot to this forum for such great coverage of UK immigration issues. I browsed the forum, but couldn't find any clear response to my issues, so will really appreciate if someone advises on the below.
My application for the British citizenship has been approved on Monday. I have not scheduled my ceremony yet because I am unsure whether I can travel on my old passport (USA) while I am awaiting my UK passport. I travel quite a lot for work, so it might be a bit tricky for me if I am not allowed to travel. I heard receipt of the passport can take ages and there is no fast track.
My questions are:
- What happens if I do not attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days of approval date? Does the approval get rescinded and do I become ineligible for the citizenship? Can 90 days be extended?
- Can I apply for the UK passport prior to attending a ceremony? I can see some forum members submitted their passport applications together with their naturalisation applications? My solicitor told me that I cannot do it, so I did not apply.
- Do I have to submit my original US passport together with the application for UK passport or can I keep it?
- Do I have to apply for UK passport immediately after receiving the naturalisation certificate, or can I apply within 1-2 months, for example, once my travel schedule is not as busy?
- and the key question: once I attend the ceremony and obtain a naturalisation certificate, can I still enter / re enter the UK on my US passport? I obviously do not need any visa to enter the UK and can stay for six months. My naturalisation certificate will be my confirmation for lawful residence / work rights in the UK. Does the UK law require British citizens to enter the UK on a British passport only? I could not find any clear information on this. For example, US citizens cannot enter US on any other passport, even if they have dual/multiple citizenships, does UK also have this requirement? Can there be any issues at the border if I show my US passport / UK citizenship certificate and explain to the immigration officer that I am in the process of obtaining UK passport due to recently becoming British citizen?
Many thanks for responses.
My application for the British citizenship has been approved on Monday. I have not scheduled my ceremony yet because I am unsure whether I can travel on my old passport (USA) while I am awaiting my UK passport. I travel quite a lot for work, so it might be a bit tricky for me if I am not allowed to travel. I heard receipt of the passport can take ages and there is no fast track.
My questions are:
- What happens if I do not attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days of approval date? Does the approval get rescinded and do I become ineligible for the citizenship? Can 90 days be extended?
- Can I apply for the UK passport prior to attending a ceremony? I can see some forum members submitted their passport applications together with their naturalisation applications? My solicitor told me that I cannot do it, so I did not apply.
- Do I have to submit my original US passport together with the application for UK passport or can I keep it?
- Do I have to apply for UK passport immediately after receiving the naturalisation certificate, or can I apply within 1-2 months, for example, once my travel schedule is not as busy?
- and the key question: once I attend the ceremony and obtain a naturalisation certificate, can I still enter / re enter the UK on my US passport? I obviously do not need any visa to enter the UK and can stay for six months. My naturalisation certificate will be my confirmation for lawful residence / work rights in the UK. Does the UK law require British citizens to enter the UK on a British passport only? I could not find any clear information on this. For example, US citizens cannot enter US on any other passport, even if they have dual/multiple citizenships, does UK also have this requirement? Can there be any issues at the border if I show my US passport / UK citizenship certificate and explain to the immigration officer that I am in the process of obtaining UK passport due to recently becoming British citizen?
Many thanks for responses.