Immigrationboards.com

Hello my name is Zay, I am a 22 years old, I'm applying for British Passport from abroad in the U.S. through the British embassy in Washington D.C. I was born in the U.S. I have a job opportunity in Europe to play Euroleague Basketball and I'm also interested in trying out for the Men's GBNT (basketball) for this Summer's Olympics (I have signed letter from agency stating this opportunity) but it all depends on my obtainment of a British Passport/citizenship (ancestry visas and etc are not sufficient). My father is British "otherwise than by descent" and my mother is a U.S. born citizen. My parents are unmarried but possibly had a "void marriage" not sure on that matter, but my parents did voluntarily establish paternity of me through signed and sealed court documents thus making me a "legitimate child" according to U.S. 14th amendment. My father also was domiciled in the U.S. after my birth and I read that in such a case of domicile in a country where "status of illegitimacy" has been abolished than it may still be possible for me to gain British citizenship/passport. If I supply all the standard documents for my first adult passport (C1 Application) along with the court documents from the U.S. , agency letter about job opportunity, and resume' of good character,will I be granted citizenship/passport? Do I need other supporting documents as well? Can you please assist/advise or point me in right direction I've talked to several consulates,sent emails to UK Gov't and they haven't been able to give me an exact answer since my situation is so complex.

You are not automatically British if your parents never married so please don't waste money on a passport application that can't be issued. You could have registered as British (Registration is required using MN1) anytime before you were 18 years old. Now that you are 22 you can't be registered. Sorry.

"What about loopholes" involving void marriages? Are there any other options that could be sufficient for my situation? And is there anyway to try to get a judicial review from the UK Border Agency, Home Office, FCO, IPS and etc? And if there is how would I ago about doing so?

Unfortunately you cannot acquire British Citizenship, if you are unable to show both your father and mother were married, at the time of your birth or after.

I feel sorry that this may affect your aspiration, but it is how the rules are. You may succeed on the basis of age discrimination to fight it, because children born before 1 July 2006, who are under 18 can register as British if there parents were unmarried at the time of their birth, although this is at the Secretary of States discretion under section 3(1) but this is inapplicable to adult aged potential beneficiary. It seem totally flawed to me, and you could certainly fight it if you so wish. Provided you are prepared to foot the cost.