Applying for first British passport - Different names on other passports

thepik241 · Post by **thepik241** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:48 am

My mom recently naturalised as a British citizen, via her Iranian passport, and also has a US passport.

When she naturalised as a US citizen previously, she changed her name to her informal name as well as her husband's (my dad) last name.

In short, the names on her Iranian passport and British Certificate of Naturalisation are different vs on her US passport.

However, HMPO has the passport application "on hold" since the names are different and she has to change her name in the US before they can issue her a (British) passport.

Since it'll take several months at least to change her name in the US, can anyone recommend how she can successfully be issued a passport asap?

I've been reading that we can submit a deed poll and a supporting document to HMPO to have the passport be issued in the same name that's in the US, and write a letter saying it's impossible to change her name in Iran due to them not recognizing dual citizenship, etc. However, upon contacting lawyers about the situation, they have no idea what we can do and some haven't even heard of such a situation. Some have said she should be issued a (British) passport first, then get a second passport with the name change reflected.

Would this be a viable option?

Also, if we submit the deed poll, supporting document, and letter explaining the situation, will they be able to edit the passport on their end? Or do we have to withdraw the application and then apply again with the new name?

Any help in this regard would be most appreciated, thank you! It's been a frustrating situation and we want to get it resolved so she can visit her brother in Germany.

Post by **alterhase58** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:58 am

Not an expert on this, but this link could be useful in relation to the Iranian passport:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... erent-name

You can explain to HMPO that you cannot change that name, refer to their own guidance and if you have any of your own evidence in support send it to HMPO.

In relation to the US passport name you probably need to go the Deed Poll route. I guess you have to do this first, then apply in the new name. HMPO won't issue a passport with other named passport in existence (unless there's a reason). The reasoning is that HMPO don't wish to have citizens using different travel identities .

I expect none of this can be resolved quickly. Presumably you consulted an immigration lawyer? Passports are not immigration documents, such as a visa or BRP, so most lawyer won't be familiar with the HMPO Passport Policies, and making legal challenges could be a lengthy process or even impossible.

thepik241 · Post by **thepik241** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 10:28 am

Thank you for the quick reply.

I called the HMPO hotline an hour or so ago, and they recommended mail them the signed deed poll reflecting the change of my name to what's on the US passport, the bank statement that shows the changed name, and I wrote a cover letter explaining what I'm doing, referring to their guidelines that its not possible to change the name in Iran nor renounce Iranian citizenship. I also am printing supporting pages like a House of Commons report saying that dual nationality is not permitted in Iran, dual nationals in Iran are in danger, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, and it's defacto impossible to renounce Iranian citizenship.

Once I mail everything to HMPO, they said to call them back to change the passport application over the phone via telling the of the Royal Mail tracking number and referring the passport application reference number (which they claim they can do over the phone ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ). Then the online identity verification will likely have to be done again and then it should be smooth sailing from here...hopefully...

Post by **AmazonianX** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 10:35 am

Let's hope so. Do keep the thread updated of development on this.

Post by **Ticktack** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:37 am

Just pondering, why has she naturalised using her Iranian passport. This passport should've never come into play. It's always nice to foresee problems before they happen. If Iran doesn't allow dual citizenship and one already has another passport that helps facilitate travel, it would have been better to stick with that.
Also, after becoming British, she didn't need to apply for a British passport yet. She could always go in and out with her US passport.

Now it's a bit of a pickle trying to switch names on passport(s). She could either change her American passport to tally with Iran and British naturalisation or the hard one try to resolve the Iranian quagmire.

MuhammadM86 · Post by **MuhammadM86** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 5:15 pm

thepik241 wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:48 am
My mom recently naturalised as a British citizen, via her Iranian passport, and also has a US passport.

When she naturalised as a US citizen previously, she changed her name to her informal name as well as her husband's (my dad) last name.

In short, the names on her Iranian passport and British Certificate of Naturalisation are different vs on her US passport.

However, HMPO has the passport application "on hold" since the names are different and she has to change her name in the US before they can issue her a (British) passport.

Since it'll take several months at least to change her name in the US, can anyone recommend how she can successfully be issued a passport asap?

I've been reading that we can submit a deed poll and a supporting document to HMPO to have the passport be issued in the same name that's in the US, and write a letter saying it's impossible to change her name in Iran due to them not recognizing dual citizenship, etc. However, upon contacting lawyers about the situation, they have no idea what we can do and some haven't even heard of such a situation. Some have said she should be issued a (British) passport first, then get a second passport with the name change reflected.

Would this be a viable option?

Also, if we submit the deed poll, supporting document, and letter explaining the situation, will they be able to edit the passport on their end? Or do we have to withdraw the application and then apply again with the new name?

Any help in this regard would be most appreciated, thank you! It's been a frustrating situation and we want to get it resolved so she can visit her brother in Germany.

Deed poll should do the trick!

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Applying for first British passport - Different names on other passports

Applying for first British passport - Different names on other passports

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