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Travel with Indian Passport when British Passport is processing

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 7:51 pm
by rockybalboa
In bit of a confused state because of my situation right now. I have received an invite for a citizenship ceremony. However, I am planning to travel in May to Peru and it is visa free for people with a UK ILR traveling on an Indian passport.

If I attend the citizenship ceremony, I have a 3 month grace period to use my Indian passport. However, my UK ILR becomes invalid and I will have to send it for destruction which means I will have to apply for a visa for my travel to Peru. I don't think a visa to Peru on my Indian passport will be accepted as I would have switched to British Citizenship.

I have the option to attend a citizenship ceremony in 2 days. However, since it takes around 6 weeks for a new British Passport to be processed, it will put my trip in the first week of May to Peru at risk. I had plans to travel in June and July to few European countries and was hoping that I could have my British Passport by that time as these countries are visa free for a British Passport holder.

Can anyone please suggest the best alternative over here so that I can travel to Peru in May and to the countries in Europe in June and July?

Re: Travel with Indian Passport when British Passport is processing

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:42 pm
by Ticktack
I believe deep down, you know the answer to your own questions.
You can't have your cake and eat it.

Not sure how you plan to manage to travel in May, June & July. "Without" and at the same time "with" a British passport without making the necessary sacrifice.

My advice is, have the ceremony in 2days and pray that you get your passport in 6 weeks. That would leave you enough time to swing in all plans. If not, you either shelve Peru or you shelve your European trips.

Re: Travel with Indian Passport when British Passport is processing

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:30 pm
by Ben1989
As TickTack says, something has to give.

You cannot travel with your Indian passport while your British was is being processed as you must send your Indian passport as part of your passport application. So you can't come back from Peru and hope to have your British passport through the post.

Your only options:

1) Travel to Peru and not travel to Europe in June and likely July
2) Not travel to Peru and travel to Europe in June and July
3) Risk Peru by applying for your passport immediately

Re: Travel with Indian Passport when British Passport is processing

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:35 pm
by rockybalboa
Thanks for the replies. I am going to cancel my trip to Europe in June as the flight tickets to Peru were quite expensive and do not want to take any chances.

I kind of knew this was my only option. However, I wanted to see if someone could suggest a better alternative.