Halim

Sorry, I just wanted to add one more thing. Apparently, prior to 1 January 1949, all South Africans were British subjects under UK and South African nationality law at the time. Apparently they remained British subjects up until the time SA left the commonwealth in 1961, and by that time my father had already settled in the UK.

So, British subjects who didn't become South African (I don't believe my father did) generally became CUKC given they had no connection with any other commonwealth country (which he didnt). The question is: whether in his own right as a British subject and having settled in the UK prior to 1961, my father was a British citizen otherwise than by descent. In other words, is it possible he gained his status as a UK citizen this way, and not merely because his father was born in the UK?

Halim

Sorry to bombard you with another post, but I just found out from my uncle that Patrick's wife (Jessie) received a widow's war pension from the U.K. directly after his death. Why would they do this if he wasn't in service to the crown? Unless this was a common thing for the U.K. to do for widows of commonwealth soldiers who were killed in action.

HKG3

Halim

Any chance if you can get a hold of South African citizenship?

If your grandfather was born in London in 1913, then with South African citizenship, as a Commonwealth citizen, you can apply for an UK Ancestry visa, which will enable you to live and work in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/overview

Halim

Thanks for the help HKG3.

BritInParis suggested the same thing. It may be possible for me to do that, but it gets even more complicated. If my father was already a South African citizen and had a SA passport, then it shouldn't be a problem. However, as I said, he never held a SA passport and never applied for citizenship because he left Africa for England from Rhodesia in 1959 on a British passport.

He also isn't in possession of his birth certificate anymore, as I said, and I'm not sure where to look for it. He seems to think that it is was registered with the SA consulate in Laurenco Marques, but he tried applying to Pretoria a few years ago and never received a response. In those days, it's also possible that they never registered his birth with any consulate. Anyway, it would be appear he would have to apply for SA citizenship now through his father's service with SAAF. Even after that was all done, I'm not sure I could get it. I don't know if SA nationality law is the same as the UK. It's a shame there's that commonwealth stipulation for the ancestry visa.

In the mean time, out of genuine interest, i'll be doing some research on how to get a certified copy of his birth certificate (if it's even possible).

HKG3

Have you try the GRO at Southport? My understanding is that it also holds British consular birth records as well.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...es/default.asp

BritInParis

I will write a longer reply when I get the time but for now I would follow HKG3's suggestion and apply to the General Register Office for a copy of your father's consular birth certificate. It only costs £9.25 for the standard service and your fee will be refunded if they cannot find it.

spouse of scouse

Hello. Asking the same question across multiple threads will just confuse people. The thread you started a few hours ago with the same question will be answered if someone can help you. Good luck.

sathakjaffar

Ok Sorry...today only I know about this forum...

So I ask it...

OK i am waiting...

spouse of scouse

That's ok -hopefully someone will be along to answer your thread

Shelb21

Hi Everyone,

I have been doing some research on this but was wondering if anyone else could potentially assist me in any way. Im trying to get some advice about my possible eligibility to get British Citizenship.

My maternal, grandfather (UK Born) was in the BSAP in Rhodesia (which is considered Crown Service from what I can make out). He met my grandmother in Rhodesia, she was born in Rhodesia had British citizenship due to decent as her parents were born in England.

My Mother was born in Rhodesia on 19 January 1956. He was in the BSAP in Rhodesia at the time my mother was born. My Grandparents remained in Rhodesia, and never returned to England.

My mother now lives in Botswana and has British citizenship due to decent.

I was born in Zimbabwe on the 21 April 1984.

Is it possible to claim British Citizenship by descent because of my grandfather's time in the BSAP in Rhodesia?

If it is possible, does anyone know how I go about all this?

My Aunt has birth, marriage & death certificates for both my grandparents. I'm not sure what, if any documents she has to show his time in the BSAP in Rhodesia, but I am sure we would be able to find some.

I am hoping that someone might be able to help me with this.

Thanks so much!

HKG3

Service in the BSAP alone cannot be considered as 'Crown Service' under the British Nationality Act. Was your grandfather recruited in the UK by the BSAP?

Shelb21

Not too sure, I will have to ask my aunt if she knows or if she has any paperwork to show that he was. He was part of the RAF but that was before my mother was born and before he moved to Rhodesia. And from what I understand the 2 are not linked at all.

SanDiegogirl

The OP appears to be asking if he can claim British citizenship through his grandparents.? Which to my understand one cannot.

The OP says his mother is British by descent. So, she cannot pass her citizenship to the OP automatically.

The OP was born in Zimbabwe.

Unless he has a British father (not by descent) I don't think he has any claim to British citizenship.

BritInParis

There are quite a few anomalies regarding Rhodesia although from what I know the dates regarding your birth and your mother's birth do not add up to a claim. The standard claim through a parent born overseas to a parent in Crown service only works if the grandparent in question was recruited for that service in the UK. If your grandfather emigrated to Rhodesia of his own accord before joining the BSAP then his service would not be eligible.

However with a UK-born grandparent you are eligible for a UK Ancestry visa. If you wish to live and work in the UK then this is by far the easiest way for a non-British/Irish/EU/EEA citizen to do so. After five years you could apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and then naturalise a year after that (or immediately if married to a British citizen.)

angie_329

As BIP states that there are some anomalies regarding Rhodesia and an Ancestry visa in your case is an option.
For those reading born between certain dates (unfortunately not you) there is a claim to British Citizenship via a uk Born Grandparent despite the parent being 'by descent'. Not sure if I put it correctly but you can read more here about a test case that succeeded.

SUMMARY
f you were born in Rhodesia between 02.03.1970 and 18.04.1980 and you have a UK-born grandfather (which includes Northern Ireland), then you should qualify for British Nationality.
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipGambl...46009632076471