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Hi all,

New to this forum and would really appreciate some advice on how to move forward with my situation as I am quite honestly completely confused.

I am about to start the citizenship process for my wife and two children. For my wifes application no problems but for my kids I am competely confused under what section I should apply and how to go about doing it and link their application to my wifes.

The situation is as follows:
I am a British citizen since birth.
My wife and two children (12/8), are from Papua New Guinea, and hold ILR with BRPs. Previous to this they have been on marriage visas (2 year) and fiance visa (6 months). We have had no problems with the application process or award of any of these visas.

The children are not mine biologically, and my wife has no contact with her former partner. Nor have I adopted/ gone down a legal route of adoption etc as this has not been an issue in the past. This means that they will have to apply in conjunction with my wifes application as opposed to using myself as sponsorship from what I understand.

As my wife has now spent 3 years in the UK as the spouse of a British Citizen we are applying for her Citizenship and want to do it with the kids as well. Would this be under Section 3 (1) Home Secretary's discretion? And if so how do I link the applications on the form MN1 with her AN?

If anyone has any experience in such a case or can point me in the direction of someone who can advise that would greatly appreciated, as I am completely confused as of where to go now and all advice lines I have spoken to have been pretty useless.

Professional consultation would be considered in this case if professional services would be the best option.

Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

Yes, it is section 3(1). You can't link the applications, each application is dealt with on its own. You can send them together though with a covering letter. The children, if granted citizenship, will likely receive their certificates at the ceremony your wife attends to receive her certificate.

Bear in mind that the children will only qualify for citizenship once the mother is approved/granted. Step parents are not recognised for citizenship applications. Also not sure if their biological father has to give consent or not if he is listed on their birth certificates.

Telicwarrior wrote:Hi all,

New to this forum and would really appreciate some advice on how to move forward with my situation as I am quite honestly completely confused.

I am about to start the citizenship process for my wife and two children. For my wifes application no problems but for my kids I am competely confused under what section I should apply and how to go about doing it and link their application to my wifes.

The situation is as follows:
I am a British citizen since birth.
My wife and two children (12/8), are from Papua New Guinea, and hold ILR with BRPs. Previous to this they have been on marriage visas (2 year) and fiance visa (6 months). We have had no problems with the application process or award of any of these visas.

The children are not mine biologically, and my wife has no contact with her former partner. Nor have I adopted/ gone down a legal route of adoption etc as this has not been an issue in the past. This means that they will have to apply in conjunction with my wifes application as opposed to using myself as sponsorship from what I understand.

As my wife has now spent 3 years in the UK as the spouse of a British Citizen we are applying for her Citizenship and want to do it with the kids as well. Would this be under Section 3 (1) Home Secretary's discretion? And if so how do I link the applications on the form MN1 with her AN?

If anyone has any experience in such a case or can point me in the direction of someone who can advise that would greatly appreciated, as I am completely confused as of where to go now and all advice lines I have spoken to have been pretty useless.

Professional consultation would be considered in this case if professional services would be the best option.

Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

This is all achievable &, if you are methodical & organised & have the supporting documentation, not too much to worry about.
Such an application is quite doable without professional representation.
(My family's case was similar from that you have outlined).

You are correct, the children may be registered alongside your wife's naturalisation application.
And yes they will be registered under section 3(1) of BNA ie at Home Secretary's discretion.

It's important to note that you, as step-father, do not figure in the minors' applications & will not be mentioned in the forms; (neither was I in my family's case).

The linkage with your wife's application is done simply by:
a) submitting all applications at the same time;
(each will be on a separate form: AN for wife; a MN1 each for minors);
&
b) you can cross reference each form to the other by a suitable paragraph in the 'further information' sections of the forms.

Note the biological father will be entered on the minor's forms as 'father'.
This is nothing to worry about.

There are questions & sections in form MN1 where you can explain about:

• degree of contact (or no contact) with biological father;
  lack of parental responsibility on part of father.

The above 2 types of reasons being why father's consent is not sought nor given; (of course if it happens the biological father can & does give consent then all good).

The father's (lack of) connection to UK is not an issue in a case like this.

You will find further background HO guidance here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 150402.pdf

It is recommended to apply via NCS at a local council.
For a reasonable fee they will sanity-check your application, copy all documents & forward the bundle to the HO on your behalf.
(You keep your original documents, which is useful whether or not you have travel plans in near future).

Best of luck.

Gents,

Thanks vey much for your constructive replies. This has really helped clarify the situation and will me move forward with this matter. Hopefully this will put this to bed for us.