Proof of Name Change

• August 1980 (age 12) I moved to the UK with my mother and her UK born husband. My mother chose to use her husband rather than her father for right of abode/patriality. I had a sticker indicating I could live there as I was accompanying my mother

• June 1983 (age 15), I got my first passport and my mother tried to get patriality for me It was denied, but I have a home office letter that says I had been granted ILR. I also have a photocopy of that first passport with the ILR ink stamp (although it is not a clear).

• December 1983 (age 16) - moved back to Canada to live with my biological father.

• July 1985 (age 17) - returned to the UK and worked

• 1986 - mother and step father returned to Canada

• May 1987 (age 19) - Hospitalised, and my mother brought me to Canada after I was discharged and I stayed.

• Home office letter - granting me ILR

• Original National Insurance Card

• Photocopy of passport with ILR stamp

• Scan of mother's passport used when we both entered the uk in 1980 (details page and the one that clarifies my surname - as it was different from my mother's at the time. It also includes her maiden name).

• National Insurance record

• State pension summary

• School report cards

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 14, 2025 9:01 am

3(5) asks that the child lives in the UK for both parents, you will need to prove that your mother divorced your father and that she had sole responsibility for you.
you will also need to present evidence she lived here for 3 years from 1980-1983.

Thank you for sending in your documents as requested.

It would seem that your daughter is not entitled to a Certificate of Patriality. She cannot have this through you, as you were not patrial when she was born, or through her step-father as she has not been adopted by him.

She has, however been granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. This is stamped in page 13 of your expired passport. In order to facilitate re-entry your daughter should carry this expired passport with her when she travels and show it to the immigration officer.

I am accordingly returning all your passports un-endorsed. When your daughter returns, please submit your new and expired passport so that we may transfer your certificate of patriality to your new passport. I have not done so now as I note that your daughter will be travelling shortly and will require her passport and your expired one.

• I married in 1987 in Canada and took my spouse's name. At that time, I provided my marriage certificate to change my driving license.

• In 1991 I divorced

• In 1994/95 I reverted back to my birth name—all that was required for this was to request a new driving license in my birth name.

• I never held a passport or travelled under the married name, and I've kept my birth name ever since.

sadieh wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 5:33 pm

While I suspect 4L is my route, i submitted a UKM application and included documentation that should support 4L.

I received an email this morning from the home office requesting proof of my name changes by January 17.
(questions in blue)

• I married in 1987 in Canada and took my spouse's name. At that time, I provided my marriage certificate to change my driving license.

• In 1991 I divorced

• In 1994/95 I reverted back to my birth name—all that was required for this was to request a new driving license in my birth name.

• I never held a passport or travelled under the married name, and I've kept my birth name ever since.

I am not sure if I have a copy of my divorce order which would show both my married and birth names (I will be doing a lot of digging through boxes today). If I don't, I will need to request a copy. Due to its age, it may be in the BC archives. If this is the case, processing could take up to 3 weeks and if a certified copy is required, a hard copy needs to be sent by post. I live in a remote community, so that adds an extra week.
Would I need a certified copy or would an email copy be sufficient Try to send an email copy and explain why you sent the email copy (how long it would take to get an original one), if they want an original one they will ask

A faster option *could* be ordering a copy of the marriage certificate and submitting that along with marriage and divorce certificates from my 2nd marriage (these would show the connection to my married name as well as me legally using my birth name)
Is it possible the home office would consider these as acceptable proof of name changes? I would try both avenues with an explanation of the timeline

If I can't find my divorce order, I should know on Monday what kind of timeline I am looking at.

How crucial is proof of these name changes for my citizenship application?
If I am not able to obtain the documentation prior to January 17, should I respond to the home office explaining the situation and ask for more time? Try to send something by Jan 17. They need to see this documentation to check your history under different names, so it is needed. Explain that you can only send email copies and you can send certified copies but it will take time

In my previous post asking about 4L as an option it was suggested I may need proof my mother was entirely responsible for me while we were living in the UK.
In addition, since my application, my mother has received her first UK passport.
Should I include my mother's passport information as well as pre-emptively include my her divorce order (awarding her sole custody of me) as well with my proof of name change documentation, or wait to see if it is requested? No, wait to provide this if you are asked. Her UK passport would not be relevant anyway.

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 5:55 pm

How crucial is proof of these name changes for my citizenship application?
If I am not able to obtain the documentation prior to January 17, should I respond to the home office explaining the situation and ask for more time? Try to send something by Jan 17. They need to see this documentation to check your history under different names, so it is needed. Explain that you can only send email copies and you can send certified copies but it will take time