First child passport - additional documents requested

[bby1]

Hello all,

I applied for my child's first British passport recently. They were born in the UK, and I became a British citizen through naturalisation several years before I gave birth to them. My British passport expired a few months before I had my child, and I didn't renew it until several months after. My husband is a non-EEA citizen and did not have ILR when our child was born.

I submitted my child's full birth certificate and my naturalisation certificate to the passport office, but I have now received an email from them asking me to send the passports on which I used to enter the UK, or the passports/Home Office letter/permanent residence card showing that a parent had indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom at the time of the child's birth. The email said:
"XXX may have a claim to British citizenship if one of their parents were free from immigration control when they were born, so we need evidence to confirm this."

Is this additional request a mistake? Surely the naturalisation certificate suffices as proof of this?

Thanks in advance.

[Ticktack]

Hello all,

I applied for my child's first British passport recently. They were born in the UK, and I became a British citizen through naturalisation several years before I gave birth to them. My British passport expired a few months before I had my child, and I didn't renew it until several months after. My husband is a non-EEA citizen and did not have ILR when our child was born.

I submitted my child's full birth certificate and my naturalisation certificate to the passport office, but I have now received an email from them asking me to send the passports on which I used to enter the UK, or the passports/Home Office letter/permanent residence card showing that a parent had indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom at the time of the child's birth. The email said:
"XXX may have a claim to British citizenship if one of their parents were free from immigration control when they were born, so we need evidence to confirm this."

Is this additional request a mistake? Surely the naturalisation certificate suffices as proof of this?

Thanks in advance.

Yes the naturalisation cert proves this, but it's the result (child passport) you need, not trying to justify issues at this point.

Send them your "Expired British passport" before you had your child. You can then send a cover note alongside it, expressing your grievances.

[bby1]

Thank you for your response. I also spoke to the helpline and as per your suggestion, they advised sending a letter. On the plus side, I've checked my old British passport, and it was actually valid at the time they were born so hopefully that will make things more straight forward.

Just a bit annoyed that I forked out £250 for a replacement naturalisation certificate for this application, which seems to have been pointless. But as you say, it's the end result that matters most.

[Ticktack]

Thank you for your response. I also spoke to the helpline and as per your suggestion, they advised sending a letter. On the plus side, I've checked my old British passport, and it was actually valid at the time they were born so hopefully that will make things more straight forward.

Just a bit annoyed that I forked out £250 for a replacement naturalisation certificate for this application, which seems to have been pointless. But as you say, it's the end result that matters most.

Sometimes, your paperwork ends up with someone that can't think outside the box. To avoid delays, you just give to Caesar what Caesar needs.

A bit off point, I have this friend that travelled out of the UK with his British wife. When they came back to the UK, because he was travelling with his wife, he went with her to the UK/EU side. The immigration officer sent him back to use the non-UK/EU line. He tried to explain that he could use the line if travelling with his family. Fell on deaf hears.
6 months later, him and his family travels out and back into the UK again. Different airport. He decides to use a different line, whilst the wife and kids go through the UK/EU line.
Immigration officer asks him why he's on this line if his family are Brits? That he has a right to use that line with them.
He goes ahead and explains what happened to him when he came in through Gatwick airport the last time.

Officer says, "next time, don't travel through Gatwick"!

There's really no uniformity with the way issues are handled. Some make it up as they go along.

[CR001]

Just a bit annoyed that I forked out £250 for a replacement naturalisation certificate for this application, which seems to have been pointless. But as you say, it's the end result that matters most.

Just so you are aware, it is not an unnecessary expense. It is your naturalisation certificate that proves you are British and when you became British. It is a very important document. A British passport is just a travel document.

[bby1]

I received an email this evening saying that the application has been approved! Of course, this came after I already sent off my old passport and cover letter earlier today Anyway, I'm glad it's done, and will keep my fingers crossed that they return the old passport as well once they get it.

[Ticktack]

I received an email this evening saying that the application has been approved! Of course, this came after I already sent off my old passport and cover letter earlier today Anyway, I'm glad it's done, and will keep my fingers crossed that they return the old passport as well once they get it.

He probably showed your application to his manager. Manager wondered why he hadn't approved it and said he should.

Congratulations regardless!