Application Approved but Pre-booked Travel

[seekingadvice87]

Hi there,

British citizenship has been approved, but international travel had already been pre-booked since last year. The process took almost nine months, and at the time of booking, it wasn’t expected to extend this long.

The ceremonies team was informed that travel is scheduled for the end of October. They initially allocated a group ceremony date in December, but the traveller will be abroad until the end of January, beyond the 3 month attendance window. Fortunately, the last available private ceremony date offered, is the day before the flight.

The plan is to attend the private ceremony the day before travelling and depart with the naturalisation certificate. However, attending the ceremony automatically cancels any UK eVisa attached to a foreign passport.

The first leg of the journey is from the UK to Ireland. While the Common Travel Area should ordinarily make this straightforward, there is concern that Irish authorities could cancel an Irish visa contained in a foreign passport once British citizenship is granted and if asked about the traveller's UK status now British as they could also see on their systems (eVisa cancelled?).

The second flight is from Ireland to the US. The main concern is the return leg, from the US back to Ireland, where airline staff may rely on the Irish visa in the foreign passport. There is some uncertainty about whether that visa will remain valid once the traveller’s UK eVisa is cancelled/Irish visa too becoming invalid?

For the final leg, from Ireland back to the UK, it is understood that under the CTA, a UK passport is not required for entry, provided proof of British or Irish nationality can be shown.

Postponing the ceremony isn’t an option, as attendance is required by the second week of January, and the traveller will not return until the end of January. There is also insufficient time to apply for a British passport, since travel takes place the following day. Although the Home Office advised against travel during this period, the citizenship process was significantly long and there's also the Windrush application but that's for another time.

Any guidance on how to navigate this situation would be appreciated, as cancelling the trip is not financially viable.

Would there likely be any issues entering Ireland on a foreign passport with an Irish visa after naturalisation, given that the UK eVisa will be cancelled?
What difficulties, if any, could arise when returning from the US to Ireland in this circumstance?

Finally, is it possible to apply for a UK Emergency Travel Document or first UK passport while in the United States? There is concern that this process could take several weeks and require submission of original documents, which may be risky if travel home is imminent.

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[contorted_svy]

We do not know what you will be asked n different airports. We advise to secure a UK passport before travelling and to avoid planning long international trips but this sometimes can happen. Unfortunately also how long the eVisa records are help by the HO is unknown.

If you intend to attend the ceremony and travel the day after, there is some risk that you may not be able to return to the UK through not being able to board a plane back (once you land in the UK you have a right to cross the border as a British citizen. You may be give a talking to, but with the naturalisation certificate they can't refuse you entry). Some forum members report travelling in a similar situation as you and not having issues, but we can't know for sure what happens in each situation.

Whatever you do, DO NOT APPLY FOR YOUR FIRST UK PASSPORT FROM ABROAD. This will call into question your future intentions and you risk being revoked citizenship.

[lolo2]

Would there likely be any issues entering Ireland on a foreign passport with an Irish visa after naturalisation, given that the UK eVisa will be cancelled?
What difficulties, if any, could arise when returning from the US to Ireland in this circumstance?

The Irish visa and any other valid visa from other countries on the current passport remains the same, their validity has nothing to do with naturalisation in the UK.

This will be a long stay abroad, I'd secure a British passport first before doing that long trip.

[seekingadvice87]

Would there likely be any issues entering Ireland on a foreign passport with an Irish visa after naturalisation, given that the UK eVisa will be cancelled?
What difficulties, if any, could arise when returning from the US to Ireland in this circumstance?

The Irish visa and any other valid visa from other countries on the current passport remains the same, their validity has nothing to do with naturalisation in the UK.

This will be a long stay abroad, I'd secure a British passport first before doing that long trip.

The reason I asked about the Irish visa is because Irish and British citizens share similar benefits and a few years ago, Ireland refused to grant me a visa because they stated that I was British by virtue of my birth. So I'm a little worried that on becoming officially British that they find this out on entry and then cancel my visa.

Every time I fly to Ireland, I always get asked my UK status

[contorted_svy]

I am not aware of Irish policies. However, if they ask about your status, you can always show your naturalisation certificate.

[lolo2]

The reason I asked about the Irish visa is because Irish and British citizens share similar benefits and a few years ago, Ireland refused to grant me a visa because they stated that I was British by virtue of my birth.

That's a different scenario, if you're British you don't need a visa to enter Ireland. The individual referred on this post will not be British until they receive the naturalisation certificate. I understand you're now asking on behalf of someone else?

I was granted British citizenship last year and had to travel between ceremony and passport application, I had no issues at all. However my trip lasted a few days only and the BRP cards were still used for travelling, the share code stuff was not live yet.

Nonetheless my previous advice remains, I'd apply for a British passport before leaving the UK for that long period of time.

[CR001]

is it possible to apply for a UK Emergency Travel Document

You cannot apply for this if you have never had a British passport.

[seekingadvice87]

is it possible to apply for a UK Emergency Travel Document

You cannot apply for this if you have never had a British passport.

Ah right! Thank you for this info.

I'm guessing just showing the certificate is also not good enough as staff may not be trained to examine certificates but just documents. On the other hand, they tend to make enquiries with government officials so if I arrive way early to present myself so that inquiries start earlier before boarding closes fingers crossed?

[contorted_svy]

The naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so if your visa status is not present on the HO records, boarding officials are not required to accept it.

[seekingadvice87]

The naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so if your visa status is not present on the HO records, boarding officials are not required to accept it.

I'm aware that the registration certificate is not a travel document. My passport is a travel document which I will have on me. The certificate is proof of eligibility still, and if they have issues and contact government officials. Can that bring relief to the airline that they will not be fined as traveller has eligibility to not be refused entry?

[seekingadvice87]

The naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so if your visa status is not present on the HO records, boarding officials are not required to accept it.

or If UK passport is applied for, the day before Ireland travel, and then travel to Ireland without a passport but with proof of nationality and UK ID, will only have approximately 12 days to receive UK passport before US trip but so risky as applying from Ireland is still classed as applying from abroad and would take longer than UK processing time.

Some one else has stated that they travelled between ceremony and passport application with no issues so looks like I'm not the first

[lolo2]

Some one else has stated that they travelled between ceremony and passport application with no issues so looks like I'm not the first

It was me, but again I travelled for a few days only.

I'm NOT advising you to do the same. I would NOT travel abroad for three months after receiving a naturalisation certificate without having a British passport. That's why I'm suggesting to get a passport first.

[contorted_svy]

The naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so if your visa status is not present on the HO records, boarding officials are not required to accept it.

I'm aware that the registration certificate is not a travel document. My passport is a travel document which I will have on me. The certificate is proof of eligibility still, and if they have issues and contact government officials. Can that bring relief to the airline that they will not be fined as traveller has eligibility to not be refused entry?

If you are in another country, they are not obliged to recognise your naturalisation certificate. that is exactly the problem I am shining a light on. UK officials must recognise it, but not other countries. If they say no, that becomes your problem.

The naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so if your visa status is not present on the HO records, boarding officials are not required to accept it.

or If UK passport is applied for, the day before Ireland travel, and then travel to Ireland without a passport but with proof of nationality and UK ID, will only have approximately 12 days to receive UK passport before US trip but so risky as applying from Ireland is still classed as applying from abroad and would take longer than UK processing time.

Some one else has stated that they travelled between ceremony and passport application with no issues so looks like I'm not the first

Applying from the UK would not work as you need to send in your naturalisation certificate as an original. You can't send that in and retail proof of nationality.
Absolutely do not apply from abroad.

My suggestion is a compromise: cancel the trip to Ireland only, apply for the passport on the day you receive the certificate, and explain you already have a ticket. This is a gamble but it would avoid a lot of potential issues and you being stuck in a foreign country.