Question about my fathers citizenship status.

[Kstew12]

My father, currently deceased, was born to a US serviceman and British mother (natural born 1946) in the UK in 1963. He was possibly born on a US military base. I know he was considered a dual citizen to both the UK&USA. My question is, would he have been considered a ‘Not by descent’ citizen, or a ‘By descent’ citizen? And if he was considered a citizen ‘Not by descent’, would I be able to claim British citizenship ‘By descent’ under him?

[secret.simon]

If your father was born in the UK before 1983, he would have been a British citizen otherwise than by descent.

You would be a British citizen by descent.

Unfortunately, if you were born overseas, your children will have no claim to British citizenship automatically.

[Kstew12]

If your father was born in the UK before 1983, he would have been a British citizen otherwise than by descent.

You would be a British citizen by descent.

Unfortunately, if you were born overseas, your children will have no claim to British citizenship automatically.

Yes I was born in the US, so even if he was born on a US base in the UK it would not affect his status?

[secret.simon]

It shouldn't. He would not have inherited his citizenship from his mother-at the time, citizenship was via the father only. So given that he was a British citizen, he would have got it by birth in the UK.

Also, US military bases in the UK were and are still British territory. They do not have the extra-territorial status of an embassy.

[Kstew12]

It shouldn't. He would not have inherited his citizenship from his mother-at the time, citizenship was via the father only. So given that he was a British citizen, he would have got it by birth in the UK.

Also, US military bases in the UK were and are still British territory. They do not have the extra-territorial status of an embassy.

Ok, so If I wanted to apply for citizenship, how would I go about doing that, and what proof would be needed?

[secret.simon]

You can't apply to be a British citizen. You already are one.

Apply for a British passport.

You will need your father's UK birth certificate, your parents' marriage certificate and your birth certificate. If you have your father's UK passport, that would be handy too.

[Kstew12]

You can't apply to be a British citizen. You already are one.

Apply for a British passport.

You will need your father's UK birth certificate, your parents' marriage certificate and your birth certificate. If you have your father's UK passport, that would be handy too.

Alright, thanks. Is there a way I can get my fathers UK birth certificate from oversees, assuming my grandmother no longer has it?

[secret.simon]

I believe that you can order a copy of the birth certificate from the GRO. There is a charge for it, but I do not know what that is.