Finally, moving back to England!
 

So glad I found this forum! I have lots of questions and hope someone can help me. After many years in the US, my mother and I are ready to move back to England. We will bring my 21 year old daughter with us. My mother and I have dual citizenship between the US and the UK and travel on American passports. We plan to get British passports once we are back in England (I think that is the only way--must be there in person, right?). My first question is, if we travel on a one way ticket to England, what will Immigration ask us? We will have an address where we will be staying. I may or may not have a job at that point. My mother is retired. I don't want to get held up at the airport if some sort of paperwork is required. I've searched through the British Embassy website and even emailed them--but their reply did not answer my question. I've also tried searching on the UK gov website--lots of information, but not exactly an answer.
Thanks!

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

It would be a much better idea to get British passports for the whole family before you travel. You won’t be able to work, rent a property or open a bank account without one.

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Hi Revans, welcome to BE.

Re. your passports, you can apply for/renew them online https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
If you're moving back permanently then use your British passports to enter the country, there will be no need for a return ticket and no questions will be asked. If you use your US passports you can only be admitted as a visitor and that creates complications.

Is your daughter a British citizen and does she have a British passport? If not, she'll need to apply for one prior to landing also.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks. I do not think it will be possible to get British passports in time. What sort of compilations do you mean? My daughter is a British citizen by birthright and travels on an American passport.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Read the bottom section of this:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...mmMOna-pssg7fg

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

ooops, I didn't see your reply before I posted
See Brit in Paris' post #2. Plus, you will be questioned at the border as to the reasons for your visit to the UK, as you can only be admitted as a visitor with a US passport. If you answer the questions truthfully, as you must, and say you're a British citizen and have returned to the UK to live, but don't have a British passport, you'll have to prove another way that you're a British citizen. I don't know how you'd do that but Brit in Paris will know if it's possible.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks, I will check the web site again, but I might not have the time to get the British passports. I do have my original British birth certificate, isn’t that proof that I am a citizen? Could I show this upon entry?

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

YOUR birth certificate might be sufficient to show you are a Brit citizen, but from what you say you have nothing to show your daughter is. Saying she is a Brit by birthright means nothing to the border officials.
Thinking about it you might not even get on the plane - a one way ticket and only US passports? you have nothing to show you have the right to remain in the UK and airlines these days don't want the hassle of having to fly people back to their original country.
Having said all that, if one goes

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

When is your departure date?

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

October 1, 2022

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks. I found the page to apply for the Certificate of Entitlement, right to abode. Maybe we all 3 apply for them.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Why.? You are not flying until October 2022 - plenty of time to get UK passports ......

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Yes, I am worried about how my daughter will prove citizenship. She will have her birth certificate with my name on it. I am going to try for the right to abode certificate.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Why?.... if you are a Brit born and bred and she was born in the US she is a Brit by descent - just get her passport. If you and your mum had British passports which have expired then just get new ones......

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

I’ve heard it can take a year! I will look into it again, but I don’t want to mail my original UK birth certificate. Do you know if they accept electronic images/ files? Thanks

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

We don’t have the British passports anymore and would need to apply for new ones. I did read that the certificate can be used when British citizens travel on a non UK passport.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Forget about Certificates of Entitlement. Totally unnecessary in your situation. Your passport applications will be processed in a matter of weeks, not months, and you have nearly a year.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Getting a UK passport is probably one of the better services from the UK Gov. Everyone says how quick and efficient it is........ and, you have nearly a year to apply !!!!!

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

You will need to send original documents. You can order a new certified copy of your birth certificate from the General Register Office in the unlikely event yours goes missing.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Do you know if the British Embassy is able to help with passports in person? I live near DC but not sure if they are open during this time of pandemic.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

For several years now new passports and renewals have been done in the UK only.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

The passport office in DC was closed down nearly ten years ago but the online overseas application form is straightforward and is almost identical to the online process to apply for a passport in the UK.

You have plenty of time plus this forum to help you figure it out.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks. To complicate it even more, I’ve just sent away for a new US passport and won’t get my new one for 4-12 weeks. Ugh.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

You have loads of time, and the process is very easy. Not complicated at all.

Just work through the questions here, and it will tell you exactly what to do.

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

I believe you will need to send a colour copy of your US passports since you hold US citizenship. You still have plenty of time.

My son is a British citizen by descent, born in the US. There were no issues getting his British passport from the US. Just send the documents they ask for.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Is a holiday in the UK feasible? Get round trip tickets for the three of you, and get your British passports at an in-person appointment at the Peterborough passport office. Doesn’t have to cost too much, especially if you have friends and family to stay with.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

This doesn’t need to be complicated. If you don’t have a current US passport then you don’t need to submit a copy. When did your and your mother’s British passports expire? Was your daughter born in the US?

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

THIS!

The British passport system is so easy to use. We applied for our youngest’s British passport as he was born in Canada. I recall that we had to send the original birth certificates for both myself and him. The only slight catch was that I needed the long version of my birth certificate which I had to get. But you have so much time!!!

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

No clue when our British passports expired, but it could have been 40 years ago….lol…yes, my daughter was born in the US.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks, this is a great suggestion! No, I don’t think a quick trip to the UK will be possible, but I will keep it in mind.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

So, here’s another question: what if we purchased round trip tickets to the UK, travelled on our American passports and then just never left the UK? I know this sounds a bit shady, but what would happen really? Would some official come find us and deport us? I don’t think so! Once we get there, my first intention would be to get British passports. We have plenty (all) of family and friends to stay with if needed. Seems like it might be less expensive to forfeit the return airfare ?

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

If it’s over 10 years you will have to apply for a new passport…as opposed to a renewal.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Yes, you could do that. There’s really nothing wrong with simply cancelling the return portion of a ticket. Depending on the fare basis, you may or may not get back some money, or a credit. Then, as you say, get your British passports ASAP.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

BIP…can you enter the UK with a UK PP that expired decades ago, if you can show a UK birth certificate? Wouldn’t that be proof of citizenship?

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

You are making this waaaaaaay more complicated than it needs to be! You have so much time, just sort passports and then you won't need to worry. It's honestly really easy and should be quick too.

Of course you won't be deported, you're citizens, but to make it easy and not have to worry about things like private healthcover (not eligible for using the NHS as visitors), etc, then just get your passports.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

This.

Unless the difference in pricing between passports issued abroad and those issued in the UK is actually prohibitive for the OP, then why take risks, have doubts, or cause difficulties of any kind. Just get the passports here. Done.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

We have a lot to sort out before we move and it is a huge deal for us. I was just asking for advice. The consensus seems to be “ just get the British passport”, but I know it won’t be that simple. Thanks.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Thanks, it really may be a lot less hassle to enter as visitors!

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Then you will not be entitled to use the NHS. If you enter as a resident you will. You will not be able to use travel/holiday insurance because you are not going on holiday

Just get the passports. Ask here if you need help with the forms.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

Why would it not be that simple?

Most of us here have done it, sometimes more than once.

It's a little faff to collect the forms and documents you need, but you would have to do that in the UK as well anyway. The only real difference is price, not simplicity.

It honestly isn't hard.

Re: Finally, moving back to England!
 

You still have to get the passports, but you’re adding in the risk of your child being refused boarding by the airline, hassle at entry to the UK and then only being admitted as a visitor so no NHS etc.

Wouldn’t it be simpler to just get the passports now and avoid the rest? There are tons of threads on the forum from others who’ve done the same, and lots of people to ask if you’ve got any queries.