British passport for baby due soon

[Aleccia]

Hi everyone,

In a dilemma here, not sure how to proceed.

I am due to give birth in early March. I want to get a British Passport for my baby to be able to travel in June so my plan is (or was!) to get certificate of PR before birth and then apply for baby's passport with the certificate.

So I'm running late with my application unfortunately for some reasons...Do I have chances of getting the PR in less than 3-4 months if I apply now?? I am worried that I will send my original documents now and if PR certificate is delayed I won't have my passport or any of the other documents to include in baby's passport application if PR is not granted until then.

Does anyone know how long a passport application may be delayed when along with the application for passport you have included all the paperwork for PR to prove you've got it? Because if I apply for the passport once baby is born I'm worried the passport might be delayed because of the paperwork and I won't be able to travel...

Also I read somewhere that you need to have PR before your child is born. What does that exactly mean? That you need to have the certificate of PR at the time of baby's birth or PR (automatically granted) the PR at the time of birth?? So confused!!!

thank you very much

[Jambo]

Do I have chances of getting the PR in less than 3-4 months if I apply now??

I guess you mean less than 3-4 weeks as receiving the PR Confirmation after the birth will not help you with the passport application. I don't think you have a choice now. You will need to apply for a passport directly with the treaty rights evidence. Normally, if the case is straightforward, applying directly will not affect the passport application and it should take 2-3 weeks. If your case is more complex, it might take longer. The Passport Office might also write to you asking for more evidence which might slow things.

Also I read somewhere that you need to have PR before your child is born. What does that exactly mean? That you need to have the certificate of PR at the time of baby's birth or PR (automatically granted) the PR at the time of birth?? So confused!!!

It's the PR status that matters for the citizenship of the child. It's the PR card that matters if you can use the card or need to provide 5 years of evidence.

Why wont you just get the child an Italian passport?

[Aleccia]

Do I have chances of getting the PR in less than 3-4 months if I apply now??

I guess you mean less than 3-4 weeks as receiving the PR Confirmation after the birth will not help you with the passport application. I don't think you have a choice now. You will need to apply for a passport directly with the treaty rights evidence. Normally, if the case is straightforward, applying directly will not affect the passport application and it should take 2-3 weeks. If your case is more complex, it might take longer. The Passport Office might also write to you asking for more evidence which might slow things.

Also I read somewhere that you need to have PR before your child is born. What does that exactly mean? That you need to have the certificate of PR at the time of baby's birth or PR (automatically granted) the PR at the time of birth?? So confused!!!

It's the PR status that matters for the citizenship of the child. It's the PR card that matters if you can use the card or need to provide 5 years of evidence.

Why wont you just get the child an Italian passport?

I thought it would save me the italian paperwork hassle and travelling to the embassy in London...

I meant 3-4 months, as even if I receive the PR certificate from UKBA in May I would still have time to apply for baby's passport then and travel in June, right??

[Jambo]

The Passport Office will need evidence that you held PR status before the child birth. The PR Card (following EEA3) only has issue date. It doesn't state when the (automatic) PR status was obtained. So if it will be issued in May, you will still need to provide evidence that you had PR before the birth although the Passport Office may review the evidence quicker if you can support it with a May issued PR card.

I would just apply for passport directly after the child birth. Would definitely be quicker than waiting for a PR Card (should not take more than 6-8 weeks at most). The risk is that the Passport Office will not be convinced you had PR and in that case you might need to apply using EEA3 or to go down the Italian route.

[Aleccia]

The Passport Office will need evidence that you held PR status before the child birth. The PR Card (following EEA3) only has issue date. It doesn't state when the (automatic) PR status was obtained. So if it will be issued in May, you will still need to provide evidence that you had PR before the birth although the Passport Office may review the evidence quicker if you can support it with a May issued PR card.

I would just apply for passport directly after the child birth. Would definitely be quicker than waiting for a PR Card (should not take more than 6-8 weeks at most). The risk is that the Passport Office will not be convinced you had PR and in that case you might need to apply using EEA3 or to go down the Italian route.

I see what you mean, Jambo, thank you for explaining!
So if I get the PR card after baby is born, I will still need to provide all the info that I would have provided for the EEA3 form to prove that PR status was granted before birth.
In other words, the card will be useless at that point and a waste of time...
I will apply with baby's passport then and fingers crossed (my application involves a lot of paperwork as I've been working for different employers and have been studying too, so CSI etc will be required!)...

[Jambo]

(my application involves a lot of paperwork as I've been working for different employers and have been studying too, so CSI etc will be required!)...

CSI is only required for period of study without employment. You stated you had Italian EHIC so that should be fine.
Have you got P60's to cover the years? might be simpler than submitting payslips. I suggest you add a cover letter that clearly explains how you have exercising treaty rights during the years (maybe do it in a table. See form EEA3 for suggestions). I also suggest you organise the paperwork in a folder so it is easy to understand.

[Aleccia]

CSI is only required for period of study without employment. You stated you had Italian EHIC so that should be fine.

Yes, that is correct. I don't have the card anymore unfortunately but the responsible office in Italy has provided me with a written confirmation that I was insured with them that period of time when I was studying which has been translated by translator. I hope this will be OK?

Have you got P60's to cover the years? might be simpler than submitting payslips.

I have P60s and HM Revenue tax returns records for employment time, which I will submit. However, I don't have my P60 for 2013-2014 yet as the financial year is not over yet, so I guess I should submit all my payslips for this year?

I suggest you add a cover letter that clearly explains how you have exercising treaty rights during the years (maybe do it in a table. See form EEA3 for suggestions). I also suggest you organise the paperwork in a folder so it is easy to understand.

That is a good idea. I haven't claimed any benefits during this time either so I am going to include a declaration of that as well. It's not asked but why not?

[Jambo]

Yes, that is correct. I don't have the card anymore unfortunately but the responsible office in Italy has provided me with a written confirmation that I was insured with them that period of time when I was studying which has been translated by translator. I hope this will be OK?

Should be fine (similar cases for EEA3 application have been approved) but as your case in not a standard one the Passport Office might have difficulties dealing with a letter instead of the card itself so be prepare for some fighting on this one.

I have P60s and HM Revenue tax returns records for employment time, which I will submit. However, I don't have my P60 for 2013-2014 yet as the financial year is not over yet, so I guess I should submit all my payslips for this year?

You just need to cover 5 years. No need to cover this year if beyond the 5 years. If not, then submit payslips.

I haven't claimed any benefits during this time either so I am going to include a declaration of that as well. It's not asked but why not?

That's good. The Passport Office have a strange view (which is not correct) that claiming benefits is not considered exercising treaty rights.

[Aleccia]

Thank you Jambo - thankfully the EHIC confirmation letter will only have to cover 6 months of the 5 year period in my case so I hope they will be lenient to me and will let this one go...
thanks again!