Is my Rhodesian father British by descent?

I am an American citizen living in California with my father who is also an American citizen.

My father was born in Rhodesia in 1940. His parents were also both born in Rhodesia.

He was issued with a British Passport in 1970.

Would it be possible for me to get a British Passport?

Mark,

When were you born?? Let us know and we will see what chances you stand?
cheers
VR

VR wrote:Mark,

When were you born?? Let us know and we will see what chances you stand?
cheers
VR

I was born in 1975 in Utah, USA.

Can you tell me why my date of birth is relevant. I thought that my eligibility for a passport would lie with the exact nature of my father's British citizenship?

No. It may be difficult to tell just from the passport without further documents.

Type of citizenship is also relevant for you.

If a holder was born in the UK prior to 1983, then one may deduce citizenship by birth in the UK.

However, type of citizenship, if born outside the UK, may be difficult to deduce. There may be other factors, such as parent's occupation.

Sounds like the father may be a British subject. On his passport under nationality does it say British Subject?

See http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... hsubjects/ and http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... /children/ and perhaps go from there.

Mark,

Apologies for the late response. Was caught up with several things. I have one more question. What kind of passport did your father hold? By this I mean what kind of stamp he had on his passport? Check the below link for the different categories (I posted for another user).

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=142987
cheers
VR

Southern Rhodesia was treated as an independent Commonwealth country for nationality purposes from 1949. However, there are a number of special British nationality provisions made that affected Southern Rhodesia:

- the establishment of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1957 and its subsequent dissolution at the end of 1963; and
- following the declaration of independence in 1965, certain provisions were made to allow Southern Rhodesians become U.K. & Colonies citizens.

If a British passport was issued in 1970, it would be necessary to know (as a start) where and how it was issued, and in particular, what is said for nationality status.