Child referee requirement – already submitted application with family friends as referees

[Vishal19842019]

Hello everyone,

I’m applying for British citizenship (naturalisation) for myself, my wife, and my 11-year-old son.

For all three applications, I listed the same two referees, who are long-standing family friends and know all of us very well. The applications have already been submitted.

While preparing the documents for upload, I noticed that for a child application, there is an additional requirement stating that one referee should be someone who has engaged with the child in a professional capacity (e.g. teacher, doctor, etc.).

I then approached my son’s school teacher, but the school refused to provide a reference. Their reasoning was that:
The referee form is ambiguous
In one place it says “professional capacity”
In another place it says the referee must know the child personally
The school feels teachers do not know children “personally” and therefore cannot sign the form

This leaves me with two concerns:
The application has already been submitted using family friend referees for my child
Despite making genuine efforts, I am unable to obtain a professional referee, as the school has declined in writing

Could someone please advise:
Is it acceptable to proceed with the already-submitted referees?
Should I upload the school’s refusal email as an explanation?
Or should I wait for the Home Office to request clarification before taking further action?

Any guidance from people who have faced a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

[alterhase58]

UKVI are aware of the issue of professionals not wishing to act as referee for child applications.
They will accept referees acting for adults if they qualify to be a referee. This is not something that could lead to a refusal of a child application. Case worker may (or may not) contact you about this, or for peace of mind, send an email to all the addresses listed in the post here: viewtopic.php?p=2093594#p2093594
Explain the issue and if you have anything in writing from the school attach it.

[Vishal19842019]

Thank you. I have sent the email. Lets see.