UKM application - Registration/naturalization certificate
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:29 am
Hey folks, thanks for reading!
Here's the situation. I applied for British citizenship by descent as a child born to a British mother before 1983 through Form UKM in March of this year. I finally heard back from Home Office only to have them request additional paperwork, namely my mom's "CUKC registration/naturalization certificate."
From what I can gather, they want proof that my mom retained or established herself as a British Subject of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) after Jamaica became independent in 1962 (she was born in Jamaica in 1944). This is despite the fact that Jamaica was a British colony when she was born, the fact that she moved to England in 1948 & lived there till around 1974, and the fact that she had multiple British passports. I've submitted a copy of my mom's last British passport that is clearly stamped "British Subject: Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies," issued in 1969, but apparently this isn't enough.
It makes no sense to me that they would issue my mom a British passport after 1962 if she wasn't established as a British citizen. My mom doesn't recall ever having to do any additional paperwork after Jamaica was granted its independence, nor does the rest of her Jamaica-born family that remains in England to this day.
I have inquired with the National Archives but they were unable to find any record of a naturalization certificate for her & advised that I try the Passport Office as citizenship/naturalization information should have been submitted with the passport application. Home Office has also said that they will do a status check through the Passport Office. I have sent a request for information myself to the Passport Office today & will see what they say.
In the meantime, I'm wondering if anyone else can suggest any other stone that I may need to turn? I haven't run across anyone with a similar situation. I understand the general rules about Jamaicans losing their British citizenship when Jamaica received independence in 1962, but it seems like my mom's situation may be a unique one. I fear it may take hiring an attorney to get a definitive answer.
Thanks for any ideas you can provide!
Here's the situation. I applied for British citizenship by descent as a child born to a British mother before 1983 through Form UKM in March of this year. I finally heard back from Home Office only to have them request additional paperwork, namely my mom's "CUKC registration/naturalization certificate."
From what I can gather, they want proof that my mom retained or established herself as a British Subject of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) after Jamaica became independent in 1962 (she was born in Jamaica in 1944). This is despite the fact that Jamaica was a British colony when she was born, the fact that she moved to England in 1948 & lived there till around 1974, and the fact that she had multiple British passports. I've submitted a copy of my mom's last British passport that is clearly stamped "British Subject: Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies," issued in 1969, but apparently this isn't enough.
It makes no sense to me that they would issue my mom a British passport after 1962 if she wasn't established as a British citizen. My mom doesn't recall ever having to do any additional paperwork after Jamaica was granted its independence, nor does the rest of her Jamaica-born family that remains in England to this day.
I have inquired with the National Archives but they were unable to find any record of a naturalization certificate for her & advised that I try the Passport Office as citizenship/naturalization information should have been submitted with the passport application. Home Office has also said that they will do a status check through the Passport Office. I have sent a request for information myself to the Passport Office today & will see what they say.
In the meantime, I'm wondering if anyone else can suggest any other stone that I may need to turn? I haven't run across anyone with a similar situation. I understand the general rules about Jamaicans losing their British citizenship when Jamaica received independence in 1962, but it seems like my mom's situation may be a unique one. I fear it may take hiring an attorney to get a definitive answer.
Thanks for any ideas you can provide!
