Delays in first passport for child born overseas
#151
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 16
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
One thing I will say is that if you have a genuine grievance over the delay or the process than a copy and paste of the official complaint submitted to the passport office to be submitted to your MP is extremely helpful.
Reading between the lines I suspect that there has been an almighty screw up with the implementation of the new clearance system and the Passport Office staff are under a great deal of pressure to clear the backlog.
Reading between the lines I suspect that there has been an almighty screw up with the implementation of the new clearance system and the Passport Office staff are under a great deal of pressure to clear the backlog.
#152
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 35
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
Hi Muheza,
I actually did it by phone in the end, but try this email address as they are responsive and much more sensible than the phone line: [email protected]
I did it after the 12 weeks but they said it just depends on where it is in the process, so I think it is worth asking prior to the 12 weeks.
Good luck.
I actually did it by phone in the end, but try this email address as they are responsive and much more sensible than the phone line: [email protected]
I did it after the 12 weeks but they said it just depends on where it is in the process, so I think it is worth asking prior to the 12 weeks.
Good luck.
#153
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 27
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
I really hope you get it in time but I hate to say that it looks unlikely at this point. You can only collect passports from the High Commission between 2-3pm on Tuesdays and Thursday, so unless it is on its way already you're unlikely to get it in time.
My MP contacted the Passport Office again for an update and they said "security checks are still ongoing" and would not comment further. I think they may be on very high alert for applications from Kenya, which seems to be causing delays.
Best of luck.
#155
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
but his delay is very abnormal...
#157
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Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
No, I didn't. I didn't find anything in the documentation to indicate this was necessary. I am planning to apply for a consular birth certificate for him shortly, now that my documents have been returned, as it will be useful for other reasons. I've looked into the documentation required for the consular birth certificate and it is not much - just the child's local birth certificate, both parents' birth or naturalisation certificates and our marriage certificate. The website says the process will take 5 days. Given that i) the documentation is so scant compared to what we have provided for the passport application (medical records, photographs, many many identification documents etc...) and ii) a five day processing period does not allow for significant security checks, I am curious as to how this document could provide the Passport Office with much additional comfort as to our identities and claim to British citizenship.
#158
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
Hi Brit,
No, I didn't. I didn't find anything in the documentation to indicate this was necessary. I am planning to apply for a consular birth certificate for him shortly, now that my documents have been returned, as it will be useful for other reasons. I've looked into the documentation required for the consular birth certificate and it is not much - just the child's local birth certificate, both parents' birth or naturalisation certificates and our marriage certificate. The website says the process will take 5 days. Given that i) the documentation is so scant compared to what we have provided for the passport application (medical records, photographs, many many identification documents etc...) and ii) a five day processing period does not allow for significant security checks, I am curious as to how this document could provide the Passport Office with much additional comfort as to our identities and claim to British citizenship.
No, I didn't. I didn't find anything in the documentation to indicate this was necessary. I am planning to apply for a consular birth certificate for him shortly, now that my documents have been returned, as it will be useful for other reasons. I've looked into the documentation required for the consular birth certificate and it is not much - just the child's local birth certificate, both parents' birth or naturalisation certificates and our marriage certificate. The website says the process will take 5 days. Given that i) the documentation is so scant compared to what we have provided for the passport application (medical records, photographs, many many identification documents etc...) and ii) a five day processing period does not allow for significant security checks, I am curious as to how this document could provide the Passport Office with much additional comfort as to our identities and claim to British citizenship.
you really should of got him a consular birth certifacte...
its not needed but if yoiu get it.. your son/daughter will be in the UK SYSTEM FOR LIFE and it would of spend up the application MUCH GREATER..
Bit late now don't you think to apply for it?
#159
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Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
Per this web page, a local birth certificate is adequate: https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth
Last edited by Kenya; May 10th 2014 at 6:15 am.
#160
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
Can you show me the source of your information that a consular birth certificate expedites overseas passport applications? I have not seen this anywhere in the documentation nor in my communication with the Passport Office.
Per this web page, a local birth certificate is adequate: https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth
Per this web page, a local birth certificate is adequate: https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth
Well, there is no 'requirement' at all to get a consular birth certificate for passports... but you need to remember a few things
1: its a UK style birth certificate
2: its in English
3: it will be in the GRO for life
4: greater ties to UK and to establish 'citizenship'
When my son was born i went straight down to the embassy and register him i wouldn't dare hesitate... and many others have registered there sons/daughters
(ITS NOT NEEDED - BUT IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF HASSLE) and in case they need one in the future.
Also having one will speed up the process A LOT FASTER than a African birth certificate.
and yes, you are right a 'local birth certificate is adequate' but for me? that wasn't the case you know im in china Chinese birth certificate needs to be translated...
but yours is in English, but like i said its better to have a consular certificate as well to get some 'roots/grounds/connection' to the UK.
Last edited by Vexcore; May 10th 2014 at 6:25 am.
#161
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Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
There is more information on consular birth certificates on this web page of minutes from a Parliamentary committee meeting, including the statement that 'a consular birth certificate does not confer British nationality'.
http://www.publications.parliament.u...010/101007.htm
I do think it is useful for bureaucratic reasons (easier to get replacements in future, recognisable as a British document, etc...) but outside of this forum I can't find any reason to think it would be particularly helpful for the passport application.
If available, I would appreciate more info as to why people on this forum think it would be useful.
Thanks.
http://www.publications.parliament.u...010/101007.htm
I do think it is useful for bureaucratic reasons (easier to get replacements in future, recognisable as a British document, etc...) but outside of this forum I can't find any reason to think it would be particularly helpful for the passport application.
If available, I would appreciate more info as to why people on this forum think it would be useful.
Thanks.
#162
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
There is more information on consular birth certificates on this web page of minutes from a Parliamentary committee meeting, including the statement that 'a consular birth certificate does not confer British nationality'.
http://www.publications.parliament.u...010/101007.htm
I do think it is useful for bureaucratic reasons (easier to get replacements in future, recognisable as a British document, etc...) but outside of this forum I can't find any reason to think it would be particularly helpful for the passport application.
If available, I would appreciate more info as to why people on this forum think it would be useful.
Thanks.
http://www.publications.parliament.u...010/101007.htm
I do think it is useful for bureaucratic reasons (easier to get replacements in future, recognisable as a British document, etc...) but outside of this forum I can't find any reason to think it would be particularly helpful for the passport application.
If available, I would appreciate more info as to why people on this forum think it would be useful.
Thanks.
Here
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Britis...h_Registration
Read that, and you may understand why people do it.
#163
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Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
I can't copy paste it for some reason, but if you look at questions 11 and 12 on the web page I linked to you will see more information on this, including a statement in response to question 12 that 'a consular birth certificate does not confer British nationality and does not substitute any checks that HMPO conduct when issuing a passport'. On this basis, I don't see how providing a consular birth certificate would have influenced the processing time. Also, as two MPs have contacted the Passport Office multiple time in relation to my case, if this were a material factor I think the Passport Office would have mentioned it.
Vexcore - as I said, I am not questioning the value of consular registration for other reasons, I am saying that I see no reason to believe it is the cause of the delays I am experiencing with my passport application.
Vexcore - as I said, I am not questioning the value of consular registration for other reasons, I am saying that I see no reason to believe it is the cause of the delays I am experiencing with my passport application.
#164
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 837
Re: Delays in first passport for child born overseas
I'm pretty sure that having a consular birth certificate will certainly ensure that they don't deny your son any problems in the future, he'll get plenty of them just like we all do
#165