Passport refused - uncancelled passport in maiden name

mimimari26 wrote:Hello everyone

I have a similar problem too,

My naturalisation certificate has been issued on 10th feb 2015 with my previous name as i changed my name after receiving my naturalisation certificate with deed poll.
I applied on 15th may 2015 for my British passport i received a letter on 28th may which was dated 26th may saying :

That i need to provide HMPO with 3 documents confirming that i have changed my name with authorities such as education, Driving License, bank and etc ,also stating that i will be using my current name for all purposes in future in The UK and overseas.
Many authorities refused to change my name in their system as i couldnt provide them with an ID or passport.
Changing name or surname is very difficult and sometimes impossible in my country

i sent back on 29th may confirmation letter that i intend to use my current name for all proposes and i will change my name in my other passport as soon i receive my British passport issued with my current name. also included my council tax bill and letter from HO as i only have those with my new name.

Finger cross

mimimari26,
The outcome of your case (with name change after UK naturalisation & passport applied for in new name) may be of interest to many people here.

Best of luck.

noajthan wrote:Update: we have just received a standard letter inviting my wife to arrange the mandatory first-time applicant's passport interview.
So, without acknowledging it, HM PO have evidently now accepted the cancelled passport and Certificate of Cancellation we provided.

...

Fingers now crossed for the interview.

Yesterday, my wife attended Crawley passport office for the mandatory passport interview.

There were the usual type of questions about:

• journey to the passport office
  passport application & documents submitted
  countersignatory details, including age (!)
  address & phone details
  banking details
  voting register question
  immediate family details
  how she met spouse
  house & garden details (including type of plants grown!)
  lifestyle questions (various)
  questions about hometown, including directions to various places
  questions about daughter's college, the headteacher, her uniform & subjects studied
  wider family questions (number of siblings, parents & grandparents names - including spellings, dates of birth)

& etc.

The interviewing official was pleasant, calm and reassuring.
It all seemed to go quite smoothly apart from one or two mixups on dates due to shyness and some nervousness (on my wife's part, not the interviewer's).

HM PO texted today to say passport is being printed & it should arrive in a few working days.
Will celebrate once it's in our hands.

noajthan wrote:...
HM PO texted today to say passport is being printed & it should arrive in a few working days.
Will celebrate once it's in our hands.

Cancellation route has worked (cancel foreign passport plus obtain Certificate of Cancellation from embassy as supporting evidence).

Passport arrived today.

All good.

For those caught in a similar catch-22 situation, namely:

Recently naturalised in married name (or other new name);
AND documents including foreign passport held in maiden name (or other previous name);
AND HM PO refusing or delaying first British passport (citing as their reason, "to avoid the creation of a second identity")

Summary of Options

1) You are:
Non-dual national - UK citizen (only)

You hold an uncancelled foreign passport in different name
(eg passport is in maiden name but you have been recently naturalised in UK & now applying for British passport in married name)

a) Cancel/surrender or revoke the foreign passport
PLUS obtain letter or certificate of cancellation (if possible)

b) Change name on foreign passport (to match name used in UK)

Note: this is often suggested by HM PO but can't easily be done if holder is no longer a citizen of the foreign country;
(eg typically due to losing foreign citizenship due to granting of UK naturalisation)

c) Apply in married name plus request an official observation in British passport to record use of maiden name
(possible option for professionals, members of nobility & similar cases - proof required)

d) Revert to using maiden name (or previous name) in UK & (re-)apply for British passport in the maiden/previous name;
(proof of reverting to full use of the maiden/previous name in UK will be required by HM PO)

e) Reapply/reacquire your original nationality (and reobtain a foreign passport); then obtain UK 'Right of Abode';
(as per option in group 2 below)

2) You are:
Dual national - with UK citizenship plus 1 or more other citizenships held

You hold an uncancelled foreign passport in a different name
(eg maiden name & you have been recently naturalised in UK, now applying for British passport in married name)

a) Revoke foreign citizenship; (see options in group 1, above)

b) Cancel/surrender or revoke foreign passport
PLUS obtain letter or certificate of cancellation (if possible)

c) Change name on foreign passport to match name used in UK

May involve trip back to country if the local embassy (in UK) cannot do this.
Minor name differences (eg just forename) may be accepted by HM PO;

d) Apply in married name plus request an official observation in British passport to record your use of maiden name
(possible option for professionals, members of nobility & similar cases - proof required)

e) Revert to using maiden name (or previous name) in UK & (re-)apply for British passport in maiden (/previous) name;
(proof of reverting to fully use the maiden/previous name in UK will be required by HM PO)

f) Give up on applying for/receiving British passport; apply for Right of Abode (a sticker in your foreign passport)

Note: RoA only granted if no British passport is held

Pros: proves your right of abode in UK;
Cons: costly; no additional travel benefits; expires with foreign passport (so need to renew & pay again);
Unclear if RoA adequately proves right to access UK NHS

Notes per country:

India - catch-22:
dual nationality not recognised;
it's hard to cancel/surrender or update India passport without first obtaining a British passport
&
British passport may be withheld until India passport is changed (!)

Note: Some posters have reported HM PO have accepted a letter committing to change name in the IN passport asap;
British passport has then been issued on that basis

Iran - catch-22: reported that wives (only?) cannot change to or use a foreign name

Philippines - 'cancel passport' option successfully done via UK embassy;
AND obtained Certificate of Cancellation for small fee (£18--) to use as supporting evidence

ie confirmation from embassy that holder lost citizenship from date of UK naturalisation
AND so is ineligible to hold PH passport
AND PH passport was invalidated by UK naturalisation

Russia - dual nationality seems to becoming a sensitive topic;
recent Russian laws appear to require foreign citizenship to be reported to the authorities (at least for residents in Russia);
- may be harder to approach embassy for supporting documents

Notes: some posters have reported they are currently in progress with filing name changes in their country (or via a UK embassy);
news on outcomes awaited

1 poster is currently in progress with applying for 1st British passport in a previous name to that used for their naturalisation.
news on outcome awaited

Other options...
Complaints to HM PO
[some made; outcomes unclear]

Legal/other challenges to new policy
eg via campaign group, migrants group (or similar) or via MP
[unaware of any being made at present]

Hope this summary helps someone - good luck to all.

Update
I have received a letter on 4th june to call back HMPO, They told me that i need to change the Naturalisation certificate changed to my current name, also i asked them on of the caseworker to call me back.

I have informed the Home office after my Naturalisation certificate on 1st april about my name change i sent them my deed poll , also correct the date of birth,which was incorrect.
Home office acknowledged my name change by sending me a letter stating my and that they will change the correct certificate shortly. Home office only Corrected my date of birth and did not change the name.

When the case worker called me back the same day she said the case worker who is handling my application will be back next Tuesday, And she add that this case has to go to our professional team name changing section. Also i have realised every caseworker they have difference suggestion, one says change the certificate one says this application has to go to different department.
But i just want to add this:

HMPO dose not make any sense what so ever, i can easy apply For my passport with old name and once i get my pass then again apply to change my name. once you have a British passport they must change it for you.

It just so annoying.

mimimari26 wrote:Update
I have received a letter on 4th june to call back HMPO, They told me that i need to change the Naturalisation certificate changed to my current name, also i asked them on of the caseworker to call me back.

I have informed the Home office after my Naturalisation certificate on 1st april about my name change i sent them my deed poll , also correct the date of birth,which was incorrect.
Home office acknowledged my name change by sending me a letter stating my and that they will change the correct certificate shortly. Home office only Corrected my date of birth and did not change the name.

When the case worker called me back the same day she said the case worker who is handling my application will be back next Tuesday, And she add that this case has to go to our professional team name changing section. Also i have realised every caseworker they have difference suggestion, one says change the certificate one says this application has to go to different department.
But i just want to add this:

HMPO dose not make any sense what so ever, i can easy apply For my passport with old name and once i get my pass then again apply to change my name. once you have a British passport they must change it for you.

It just so annoying.

mimimari,

So sorry to hear this.

It's our experience too that people are given misleading or conflicting advice by different HM PO officials we deal with over time.
Who knows how well-trained or up to date they are with all policies.
To be fair, one or two have been helpful and knowlegeable.

But in your case I believe that the HM PO official is incorrect in advising your naturalisation certificate needs to be changed.

The latest names policy doc is very clear - see exclusion (para. 28):
Ref: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-guidance

Adoption, Birth and Naturalisation certificates
28.
These documents are records of events and changes to these records are not covered by this policy

I believe it means you do not keep the certificate in sync with any & all later name changes, (such as yours).
Just as noone changes their birth certificate on marriage &/or changing a name.
It just wouldn't make any sense to do so

Suggest you contact HM PO (in writing backing up any phone call) quoting their names policy and their exclusion clause.

fyi - we definitely received a letter from HM PO with an option to apply for British passport in maiden name even after recently naturalising in married name.

Note: They did stipulate an agreement to only use that maiden name in future would be required (and proof would be required too).

You may not wish to do this, (you may ofcourse prefer a passport in your married name ) but if all else fails it seems to be an option in order to be granted a British passport.

Suggest you call & write to explore this option too.

I know my wife's case is slightly different to yours but she received her passport in the end. (7 months from start of naturalisation then working through passport application difficulties to finally receiving it this week).

Don't give up.
Good luck to you.

noajthan wrote:For those caught in a similar catch-22 situation, namely:

Recently naturalised in married name (or other new name);
AND documents including foreign passport held in maiden name (or other previous name);
AND HM PO refusing or delaying first British passport (citing as their reason, "to avoid the creation of a second identity")

Summary of Options

...

There is one more option:

Sue the United Kingdom for violation your basic human right to leave the country as a citizen of the UK should be able to do. It's an open and shut case unless the UK decides to leave the UDHR treaty as well as the EU.

My wife had also faced same issue because of changing surname during naturalization process. It has been 5 weeks since we applied, in the end there was no solution. We just sent authorization letter to examiner saying we will surrender indian passport as soon as we get british passport as we dont have any other solution.

Please try to avoid this situation, if you are planning to change name then please update your indian passport first before applying for naturalization so that every document matches.

Good luck.

hsmpjr wrote:My wife had also faced same issue because of changing surname during naturalization process. It has been 5 weeks since we applied, in the end there was no solution. We just sent authorization letter to examiner saying we will surrender indian passport as soon as we get british passport as we dont have any other solution.

Please try to avoid this situation, if you are planning to change name then please update your indian passport first before applying for naturalization so that every document matches.

Good luck.

Hi HSMPJR, have you got anywhere after the authorisation letter

Yes we sent letter by royal mail next day delivery, which was received and the interview letter was posted the same day and we received it after 2 days. My wife got her passport now, we have also surrendered her indian passport and sent copy of the surrender certificate to examiner as we declared.

hsmpjr wrote:Yes we sent letter by royal mail next day delivery, which was received and the interview letter was posted the same day and we received it after 2 days. My wife got her passport now, we have also surrendered her indian passport and sent copy of the surrender certificate to examiner as we declared.

Congratulations on receiving the passport.

And good that you have helped to validate one solution for (ex-)Indian nationals as per:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... l#p1196883

I am facing very similar issue. In few weeks time I'm getting married, so I'm planning on changing my surname. My passport is expired now and I've been traveling on EEA ID card, which is valid for next 6 years or so and it has my maiden name on it. And now where the issue will start, my ID can't be renewed in UK - has to be done back home. If I do that I won't have valid document to travel back. It's a catch 22. For passport in my new name I'll have to wait until Christmas at least (procedures of registering marriage back home as my consulate won't accept British one, which is lengthy and costs huge amount of money if you want to have it completed quicker ie before Christmas). It's bonkers, I just hope I'll get naturalisation letter in a next 1-2weeks otherwise I'm going to have to fight the system

You dont have to change ur name straiht after marriage. Wait for naturalisation, do it all in your maiden name.... apply for UO passport afterwards then when u get married you can change ur name by submitting ur marriage certificate.
im uk born but i didnt change my passport straight away. i waited a while but the name change only took 10 days from receipt their end to delivery my end!

Ziuta wrote:I am facing very similar issue. In few weeks time I'm getting married, so I'm planning on changing my surname. My passport is expired now and I've been traveling on EEA ID card, which is valid for next 6 years or so and it has my maiden name on it. And now where the issue will start, my ID can't be renewed in UK - has to be done back home. If I do that I won't have valid document to travel back. It's a catch 22. For passport in my new name I'll have to wait until Christmas at least (procedures of registering marriage back home as my consulate won't accept British one, which is lengthy and costs huge amount of money if you want to have it completed quicker ie before Christmas). It's bonkers, I just hope I'll get naturalisation letter in a next 1-2weeks otherwise I'm going to have to fight the system

The requirement for a 1st time applicant for British passport is to submit all uncancelled passports (including expired ones).
It does not ask for submission of any other form of travel document;
ie it doesn't specifically ask for any type of ID card.

In our case we submitted passports as that's the only travel document we had; your mileage may vary.

But as other poster has suggested, to be more sure you could proceed to naturalise in your maiden name if all your supporting documents align with that (& you are currently only using your maiden name).
Then sort out longer term use of your married name when home & dry ie once naturalised & with one British passport in your hand.

That peace of mind will cost you the time & effort of a second passport application in your married name in a few months time, as well as switching all your other official documents in usual way.
It sounds like the timings would work out well for arranging your other (dual) passport in married name too.

Unless & until the HO name/identity policy is challenged or refined, the point is the passport office side of the HO only wants to see people using one name and holding travel documents in one name, (whether they are dual nationals or not).

PS Congratulations - summer weddings are lovely

Very interesting thread, fantastic read, you guys should be proud of yourselves! It seems like sending uncancelled foreign passports is potentially dangerous ... you are best off cancelling them and/or 'losing' them unless they contain something pivotal to the application. I'm very grateful to stumble across this thread and wish the OP & others the very best of luck.

FighterBoy wrote:Very interesting thread, fantastic read, you guys should be proud of yourselves! It seems like sending uncancelled foreign passports is potentially dangerous ... you are best off cancelling them and/or 'losing' them unless they contain something pivotal to the application. I'm very grateful to stumble across this thread and wish the OP & others the very best of luck.

Thanks for your concern.
My wife is now looking forward to her first trip abroad, later this week, "travelling like a Queen".

The bigger picture is still quite a minefield, the naturalisation & passport sections of the HO are out of sync with each other;
the guidance notes for passports (or naturalisation) don't cover this policy yet;
Check & Send, certainly at the post office in my town are still in the dark over this;
- so others still risk getting caught out through no fault of their own.

noajthan wrote:

FighterBoy wrote:Very interesting thread, fantastic read, you guys should be proud of yourselves! It seems like sending uncancelled foreign passports is potentially dangerous ... you are best off cancelling them and/or 'losing' them unless they contain something pivotal to the application. I'm very grateful to stumble across this thread and wish the OP & others the very best of luck.

Thanks for your concern.
My wife is now looking forward to her first trip abroad, later this week, "travelling like a Queen".

The bigger picture is still quite a minefield, the naturalisation & passport sections of the HO are out of sync with each other;
the guidance notes for passports (or naturalisation) don't cover this policy yet;
Check & Send, certainly at the post office in my town are still in the dark over this;
- so others still risk getting caught out through no fault of their own.

I'm glad to hear things are looking up for you and your wife. I can't believe this militant UK government has the audacity to ask for other passports to be submitted ... this past 2 years. What if another nation doesn't want you to send any or forbids it. People are best off cancelling or 'losing' foreign passports. This forum is a fantastic truth revealer.

You are absolutely right, before applying i was not sure that if i include my other passport or not! i wish i didnt:(
it has been 8 weeks since i have applied and no news what so ever ! they keep saying that the application is with the examiner !
I sent the HMPO a letter and asked them to send a letter to me explaining the reason that my application has been delayed! I never heard back and i called them again they told me that they received my letter however they would never send a letter confirming my passport has been with them for 8 weeks or even writing explaining the reason for this delay ! was going to publish it however

I am wondering why is that HMPO do not wish to give me a letter if they are not sure of them self what they doing !!!!!





quote="FighterBoy"]

noajthan wrote:

FighterBoy wrote:Very interesting thread, fantastic read, you guys should be proud of yourselves! It seems like sending uncancelled foreign passports is potentially dangerous ... you are best off cancelling them and/or 'losing' them unless they contain something pivotal to the application. I'm very grateful to stumble across this thread and wish the OP & others the very best of luck.

Thanks for your concern.
My wife is now looking forward to her first trip abroad, later this week, "travelling like a Queen".

The bigger picture is still quite a minefield, the naturalisation & passport sections of the HO are out of sync with each other;
the guidance notes for passports (or naturalisation) don't cover this policy yet;
Check & Send, certainly at the post office in my town are still in the dark over this;
- so others still risk getting caught out through no fault of their own.

I'm glad to hear things are looking up for you and your wife. I can't believe this militant UK government has the audacity to ask for other passports to be submitted ... this past 2 years. What if another nation doesn't want you to send any or forbids it. People are best off cancelling or 'losing' foreign passports. This forum is a fantastic truth revealer.[/quote]

new to this limno-hell married name business.

I don't think i'm as stuck as some of you are as my Certificate of Naturalization is in my maiden name. However I've lived with my married name ever since I got married (5 years ago). I want to get a British passport with my married name because it would make my life easier ( I have two surnames maternal and paternal) so just having one would be great!
However my birth country (Mexico) doesn't let me change my passport to my married name. So I can still get a British pasport in my maiden name but i;d rather have it in my married name.

Dear all,

I find myself in the very same position has some of you which angers me has it makes no sense this same name policy for women who gotten married and acquired a new surname and having the documents to proof that one is married and using the married name for all purposes, they are forcing one to go through a costly and timely process which is I think is not fight.

So I acquired my British citizenship by means means of long residence and sent off my passport application via the post office check and send service on the 22nd of may 2015, they received my application on the 26th of may 2015, they did not acknowledge my application i called to check if they received and then they confirmed yes they had received it. Now I got letter on the 17 of July 2015 dated the 6th of July 2015, they only send letter by second class which takes weeks to arrive, anyways the letter stated that I need to send from the list of documents below 3 of them to confirm that i intended to use my married name for all purposes and also that i send my jamaican passport has proof before they could issue a passport in my married name I would need to change the maiden name in my Jamaican passports they cannot issue british passport with different names or I send proof that i sent a application doing so.

I got on the phone and I explained that I had to send my jamaican passport as proof has it was required and that I sent my marriage certificate which shows clearly both names and also my naturalisation certificate has both names so I don't what the issue is, the advisor put me on hold and said i need to cancel my jamaican passport I said ok how do i do that she put me on hold and came back saying if i write a letter confirming that I would not use the jamaican passport and allow it to be clipped and stamped with cancelled then it could be done. so I sent off the letter stating this along the proofs they requested about using my married name for all purposes.
still after 3 weeks no reply I called they confirmed they had received the proofs and application with policy writers, i was so upset i made complaint to durham office and they contacted me by email asking me for more information and finally said to call which i did and they said I have to wait. another week which is now 26 of july 2015 i called up and they stated that they cannot issue passport and letter was sent out on 24th, I went mental, i asked whats wrong you have all my documents and i can't help the fact i have a maiden name and married name and i have provided everything asked for she was insisting i need to contact my embassy to change the name or cancel my citizenship, i made some points to her I said why should i cancel my jamaican passport when amen tilted to it and was jamaican before I became british and my country allows dual nationality and you have my documents so how can i even do anything. whats the sense in going through a time consuming process and also very costly to get a Jamaican passport just to change a maiden name when I won't be using it. she said thats the policy i requested i speak to manager she said she will send a request which takes 48 hours and I said i complained and no one has done anything and i need to get this sorted. she said i can put the application on hold till i get a new passport i was like are you listening to me,I was upset i said ok and after calming down I called back to say please return my documents and i was explaining to this guy I was stressed he explained to me that infact my jamaican passport was returned on the 24th and I can a british passport but issued to me but in my maiden if am happy to do so without going down the route of cancelling or getting a jamaican passport and that he has sent a not to the examiner to issue the passport so i said that means after 3 months i would go to interview and 39 weeks pregnant for a interview after they did all that checking, he said don't stress he will make a note and I might not have to go, I couldn't believe what I was hearing he reassured me to not be stressed and have a good weekend.i then called up again and said i got two different stories could it be clarified again and the advisor explained that the first person had an over sight and didn't se that my passport had been returned and there was a note to say that i could have the british passport but only in my maiden name, so i said fine by me. so now waiting to see what happens next. but this very stupid and we all to complain so they can change this. I have no intention of changing my name in my valid jamaican passport and I will just wait for a while and re apply without jamican passport and get my married name and see what they will say now cause it will be a british passport my maiden name is in. serious is pointless has a british citizen and entitled to a passport. i will update you all of what happens.

IN the end they sent me another application that I have to fill in again (including the reference which is a nightmare for me!). they didn't even bother explaining that they totally refused to grant me a passport in my married name. I had to call and eventually got to speak to someone in Liverpool who told me that indeed they sent me a new application so I could fill it in with my maiden name at least I'll get a passport out of this, but it also means that I'll always have to travel with marriage certificate and birth certificate of my daughter as our surnames don't match when we travel together.

Dear Charimito

i having a similar problem, i have hired a solicitor to deal with the situation, HMPO dose not explain anything on the letter and they request a call back only thats odd, for that reason i had to get a solicitor, she called them and explained my case,however they still didnt send a letter to me or my solicitor. we are going to sent them all the documents with professional statement,now that they made me wait 12 weeks hell NO !!!! lost money because i booked holiday for 25th july!!! i wont give up!!!! i would even would go front of the judge, if im the citizen thats my right !!!!
If you are reading my post please ask your MP or a solicitor to write to them and request an explanation on the letter BEFORE withdrawal your application! at least if you later need to take legal action you have proof.

Good Luck to all

Hi mimimari26 !

Frankly at this point I just want a passport, and actually they have never denied me one, they've just said I can't have it in my married name. I need to travel for work, so having a passport is more important than having it in my married now, it sucks but I don't have the luxury to wait for weeks. Once I have it, I might raise this to my MP but for now my #1 priority is to have a passport!! I was lucky that my naturalization certificate is in my maiden name so at least a passport in the end should be granted. Best of luck to all!

If anyone does talk to a solicitor or anything like that, I would strongly suggest pushing for a very simple solution, which is to add a note in the passport indicating that the holder is also known by their maiden name on passport number X issued by country Y. That way, we could have the name of our choice on our British passports (because British citizens are supposed to have the right to choose their names and shouldn't have to relinquish that just because their other nationality is less generous in that regard: that would be discrimination on the basis of holding another citizenship) and at the same time, the government's alleged fears about fraud or terrorism or other criminal activity being facilitated by CONCEALED foreign identities would be completely allayed. There would be no concealed foreign identities. Every single time the British passport was viewed, the different name on the foreign passport would be revealed. I think this is a reasonable and staggeringly simple and easy solution, if only they'd pay attention.

I'm still in the middle of trying to get this all sorted out, with no idea if it will work. I'll provide updates if any do materialise. Let's keep each other informed and please let's try to push for this incredibly simple and reasonable solution of the note in the passport! Good luck everyone.

Well am in the same position and they waited 3 months to tell me that I have to change name in my foreign passport or get a deed poll to revert back to using my maiden name. they said if I wanted a british passport that was what I have to do under no uncertain terms and that they would change their minds, I have contacted my local mp about this issue and she said she will write to them about it because I really don't see why I should have to pay just to get a passport in my name or if I don't be forced to revert to my maiden name thats not fair because I have sent all the documents with my marriage name even though i have a former maiden name if you do a check I come up anyways, its really silly and discrimination and really some loral and ethical issues going on here that should be addressed by the government.