Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

[cornacum]

Hello all,

Apologises if this topic has been covered and I haven't search thoroughly enough.

I am a foreign-born British citizen since 2004. I have married my wife in Serbia (non-EEA country) and we had our son born in Serbia. Since 2015 (birth of our son) they live in UK with me on Spouse visa (currently second extension of 2.5 years).

Out of nowhere, somebody has recommended this link ( https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-br ... -july-2006 ) to me saying that our son can automatically become British citizen and that there is not need to go via spouse visa + 1 dependent route, and that I just have wasted my money?

Can someone please clarify.

Link again: https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-br ... -july-2006

Many Thanks

[CR001]

I am a foreign-born British citizen since 2004.

How are you British or did you become British? None of your previous posts stated how you became British.

You were already asked if your child is not British in your topic from 2016. You failed to answer the question or apparently click the link that vinny provided (clue is the word IS in blue underline).

https://www.immigrationboards.com/immig ... l#p1280525

If you are British through naturalisation after 5 years residence in the UK, then your child born abroad would be British by Descent automatically and didn't need a visa and could have applied for a passport directly.

However, if you are yourself British by Descent, then the child is NOT automatically British.

[cornacum]

Sorry, visa was (and still is) too much stress for someone like me who struggles with any type of bureaucracy.

I became British citizen after asylum seeker with family (but I don't know exactly in what way we were branted BC, but no-one in family was BC ). I was about 10 y/o at the time.

[CR001]

If you were Registered as British as a child, this would have been after obtaining ILR with your family. Your Registration certificate is really important as that is evidence of your citizenship. Your passport is just a travel document. You should ask your parents about your Citizenship Registration certificate or if they don't have it, order a new one.

You are therefore likely British otherwise than by descent, which means your child is automatically British and did NOT need a visa to come to the UK. You could have simply applied for the childs British passport.

[cornacum]

If you were Registered as British as a child, this would have been after obtaining ILR with your family. Your Registration certificate is really important as that is evidence of your citizenship. Your passport is just a travel document. You should ask your parents about your Citizenship Registration certificate or if they don't have it, order a new one.

You are therefore likely British otherwise than by descent, which means your child is automatically British and did NOT need a visa to come to the UK. You could have simply applied for the childs British passport.

Thank you for prompt response.

I have found the: "Certificate of registration as British Citizen".

Lesson learned I guess, money lost, but money saved in the last moment.

Can you clarify that just by "obtaining passport", my child is to belisted as British citizen? No other procedure is required?

Also, when we obtain his passport, do we have to let home office know or just ignore the fact that BRP and Visa status will expire?

Again, thank you for clearing things up.

[CR001]

A child born abroad to a parent who is British otherwise than by descent (as you are), is automatically British by descent and can apply for a passport directly, provided you were British before the child's birth..