Hello everyone! I stumbled upon the forum when I was looking for details on what people have had to go through before getting their British passports sent to them from the UK. I decided it would be a good idea to join the group since I figured I'd most likely be coming back to find out more information on things I will need to sort out sooner or later. I was born in Hong Kong to a Scottish father and Filipina mother. I am now in my early 30's and living in Manila with my Filipino fiancé who proposed to me just last month at our son's first birthday party. Most of my questions will be related to the process of getting married as well as making sure my son gets all the proper documents he will need for the future. One of my top concerns at the moment is that I have yet to get my son his first British passport and I was hoping to find out what other people have experienced when applying from overseas. My fiancé's mother is hinting at a possible trip to New Zealand at the end of this year, but I'm under the impression that my son's passport won't arrive until early next year even if I sent my application in now... unless anyone can suggest another way to go about speeding up the process or making it possible for him to fly out without a British passport? I figure he is eligible for a Filipino passport, and that it shouldn't take too long to get one, but my gut tells me that it would be best if the first passport he acquires is British. Any thoughts on this? Anyway, I understand that this is only supposed to be an introduction of sorts (and I've rambled on quite a bit now) so I will wrap this up and get back to saying hello and hoping everyone is having a terrific day!
I am currently applying for my UK passport too. I'm also British by descent. I'm in my 16 months now, but my case is an extra-ordinary one. But I did have a UK child passport. Anyhow, passport applications from the Philippines takes very long. Even if it's a straight-forward one. From what I've heard, the average is around 8 to 10 months. The application is first assessed in Liverpool, then transferred to Bangkok for local security checks (e.g. NSO Birth certificates and other Philippine documents). There's a chance your son might need DNA testing as they're very suspicious with applications coming from here. My advice is to get your son a Philippine passport, then have a Right of Abode stamped on it instead. Then bring him to the UK and apply from there. It would be faster. But if you're not in a rush, applying for his UK passport is still better. Get a Consular Birth Registry too if you still haven't. It's an added point in HMPO's eyes since it's considered similar to a UK document. Good luck. P.S. It's very easy to get a Philippine passport.
I read somewhere that it could take at least 16 weeks from the time the application gets to HMPO, but I had no idea it could take as long as 16 months. I went through the online application process when I had my lost British passport replaced and I was genuinely impressed to receive the replacement in the mail two weeks after I sent my documents, and that's including the two to three days it took for my papers to get to HMPO. I thought about registering the birth first, but then I read that it would be much quicker to do so once he actually has a British passport. Right now, it's really just a matter of deciding on whether to get him a Filipino passport first so we can fly out with the gang at the end of the year or hang around a bit longer to make sure his first passport is British -- just like his mum when she was a wee baby! Well, as long as it doesn't take 16 months, I don't mind waiting. I have a trip to Stornoway to get ready for next year so I absolutely have to have everything ready by then! Perhaps I'll give it some more thought -- and a whole lot of reading -- before I decide on what to do. Thank you, knightstrike!
16 weeks is what is listed in the HMPO website. You read it from there I reckon. The world is not that simple, mate. Replacements and renewals are quicker and there's not much hassle (still slow compared to doing it in the UK). But first-time UK passports are different. They're really strict and vigilant about each document you submit. They will assess your son's eligibility and documents down to the last detail. You should register your son's birth in the Embassy/Consul when you can. It would also makes his life easier when renewing passport and availing services in the UK. A Consular Birth Registry is akin to a UK British Birth Certificate. I really suggest you get his Filipino passport, have Right of Abode stamped then apply in the UK instead. Don't make the same mistake me and my folks did. Else, if you apply here in the Philippines, be prepared for the long haul. They consider this country as 'high-risk' for frauds and I cannot fault them for that. P.S. 16 months is just me. 8 to 10 months is the average. Like I said, my case is extra-ordinary and will take a whole thread to explain. So don't bother with it.
New Zealand is great by the way. I've been there once. I'm sure your wife will love it. Bring her to the Lord of the Rings set in Wellington.
Yes, New Zealand is amazing. My dad actually liked it so much that he decided to live there instead of Hong Kong. P.S. I'm a girl.
Actually wait. Going by your original post, you were born in Hong Kong. Are you British National Overseas? British by Descent? What's your citizenship status because depending on that, you might not be able to pass your citizenship to your son.
I've got bad news for you. You won't be able to pass your UK citizenship to your son through lineage. Hence no UK passport for him too. I am also British by descent just like you. It is our limitation. The only way we can pass our UK citizenship to our children (or future in my case), is if we have them in the UK, have a spouse who's British otherwise than by descent or we spend three years there prior to the birth of our children (thus changing our status to otherwise than by descent). You can still get a visa for your husband and son. It would be a spousal visa and your son will be included in that one. There are lots of references/threads here in this website regarding that. Your son is also eligible for an ancestral visa. Sorry to break the news to you, but good luck. All the best.
No worries. I've done a fair amount of research and read something along those lines so it wouldn't be the first time I've seen it mentioned. However, I do recall reading somewhere that my son could be eligible although I'm not entirely sure how to go about it which is why I'm having a good look at my options.
Okay, no worries. If you have a need for an immigration lawyer, I know one. Just send me a message. I've got a soft spot for '50-50/half-fers/half-breeds/mongrel?' like us. Especially children. Good luck, congrats to the engagement and welcome to the website.
just remember the time difference in NZ-----when you arrive you need to put your watch back---by 40 years.
There is another alternative to a spouse visa that would involve you all moving to another European Country(free visa for your married family) working for 13 weeks (Ireland for example or Spain where your family could get Citizenship after 2-3 years as an ex colony) and then return to the UK under the Surinder Singh route (again free) under European law look here under the sub forum European wide visas http://www.british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/the-singh-route.10746/
Thank you, KeithAngel. That'll be a course to consider if it is proven that my son does not qualify for British citizenship. I'm currently looking for other British women such as myself who have children born in the Philippines to find out what their experience has been. So far I've only found two, but the one who now lives in the UK hasn't gotten back to me yet, and the other has yet to go through the process of sorting things out for her two boys so she has no clue what to expect. The fact that I was born in Hong Kong makes my case somewhat different/challenging, I suppose, but I still think it would be strange if my son would be considered ineligible when his own mother is British.
I've got three older '50-50' step-sisters from the father's side, all married and have kids like you. One was born in the UK. The other two were born here in the Philippines. One of my sis who was born here married a Brit otherwise than by descent, so her kids were able to get Brit citizenship directly through the father. They are all now in the UK. The other one, married a Filipino just like you. Sadly, she is unable to transfer her citizenship to her two children: a boy and a girl. She tried to look for several ways just like you, and even consulted an immigration lawyer. They all said the same thing: 'British by descents cannot pass their citizenship to their children through lineage.' That sister of mine is now planning to move her family to the UK via the spousal visa route. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I just want to inform you. Try to research and find out on your own, because that is how you will realise things. But do try to prepare yourself... Good luck from a fellow Brit by descent.
I understand. I also wonder if it makes any difference that I was born in Hong Kong while it was under British rule as that might make it count as UK territory, no? If so, maybe I am British otherwise than by descent after all? And, don't worry, none of this is taken as discouragement at all. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share information and insight. The reason I'm here is to learn what I can from people such as yourself.
