Married name in First Passport

[Charimito]

Hello!

i've applied for my first British passport, and today got a letter saying that i can't get a British passport with my married name because my birth country passport is in my maiden name and because my naturalisation certificate is in my maiden name too. My birth country doesn't allow passports in married names so changing that document is impossible. Do you know if changing it by deed poll would be enough? That seems to contradict the fact that I can't have two travel documents in different names.

Thanks!

[noajthan]

Hello!

i've applied for my first British passport, and today got a letter saying that i can't get a British passport with my married name because my birth country passport is in my maiden name and because my naturalisation certificate is in my maiden name too. My birth country doesn't allow passports in married names so changing that document is impossible. Do you know if changing it by deed poll would be enough? That seems to contradict the fact that I can't have two travel documents in different names.

Thanks!

Charimito,
You have got caught by a new HO policy on names & identities.
The problem is being caused by your existing passport (in maiden name).

HO (passport division) will not accept people having 2 identities and holding identity documents (passports) in 2 names.
It is ofcourse incompatible with many country's policies and practices as well as being out of sync with the HO naturalisation section.

The whole story is in this thread:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... l#p1196883

If you wish to use your married name from now on and you are able to cancel your existing passport that may be a way forward.
If you want to revert to using your maiden name the way to do that may depend on how long you have been married.

Suggest you ask HO/passport office to detail in writing their objection & their suggested options for you.

It may help if your embassy can provide you with a letter stating & explaining why you can't use your married name in your original passport.

[Charimito]

HI Noajthan!

Sadly I can't cancel my current passport as I need it to re-enter my birth country. Everything I have in this country (apart from 1 bank account) is in my married name, even my driving license is in my married name. I just wanted to get rid of my complicated maiden surnames

[noajthan]

HI Noajthan!

Sadly I can't cancel my current passport as I need it to re-enter my birth country. Everything I have in this country (apart from 1 bank account) is in my married name, even my driving license is in my married name. I just wanted to get rid of my complicated maiden surnames

I see.
That rules out revoking your dual citizenship; (drastic I know & why should you anyway).

So to use your married name for the new passport you will need to persuade HO you cannot change your maiden name passport.
Perhaps you can use the 'maiden name for professional purposes route' & have an observation about it added to the (new) British passport.
That is an option in the new policy - but noone appears to have achieved that yet (or noone has posted about it).

A letter from your embassy would help here;
just your 'say so' will not be enough for HO, (as we discovered in my wife's case, with her use of maiden surnames).

Otherwise your only option may be to revert to maiden name 100%.
In that case have the HO fully explain in writing your options;
- ask them to indicate clearly what they require from you in order to to satisfy them.

fyi - here's the relevant policy:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crac ... -detection

Good luck.

[Charimito]

A governor (whatever that means!) will look into it as they were able to see that I can't change my birth country passport to my married name. I just wanted my passport to be in my married name to make my life easier, so people didn't think that my second surname was my only surname and not get questioned if my daughter is my daughter when entering the uK

[noajthan]

A governor (whatever that means!) will look into it as they were able to see that I can't change my birth country passport to my married name. I just wanted my passport to be in my married name to make my life easier, so people didn't think that my second surname was my only surname and not get questioned if my daughter is my daughter when entering the uK

I hope it works out & you can have the passport in your chosen name.
Otherwise, being forced to revert to a name you had chosen not to use anymore seems quite an interference with your right to a private & family life.

Do post the outcome, it will be of interest to others;
quite a few ladies (who also cannot change either their name or their original passport) were posting in my original thread so it's definitely a topic of concern.

Best of luck.

[Charimito]

Hi there!

It's been almost 2 months since I applied for the passport and still haven't been able to get it!!

I had to give in and just apply for a passport in my maiden name. However 10 days later they asked for supporting documents of the use of my maiden name. Luckily I did have enough documents to support this, but of course I use a mix of both my maiden name and my married name (I have my DVLA, bank account, credit card and NHS in married name) and HRMC, bank account and electoral roll in maiden name.

Does anyone know if a) this will be straight forward from here on-wards, b) will they ask for anything else? c) I need to travel in October, if I have to cancel, how long would it take to get my documents back?

Thanks!!

[noajthan]

Hi there!

It's been almost 2 months since I applied for the passport and still haven't been able to get it!!

I had to give in and just apply for a passport in my maiden name. However 10 days later they asked for supporting documents of the use of my maiden name. Luckily I did have enough documents to support this, but of course I use a mix of both my maiden name and my married name (I have my DVLA, bank account, credit card and NHS in married name) and HRMC, bank account and electoral roll in maiden name.

Does anyone know if a) this will be straight forward from here on-wards, b) will they ask for anything else? c) I need to travel in October, if I have to cancel, how long would it take to get my documents back?

Thanks!!

My wife's case took approx 4 months end to end & hers is one of the ones that hit this problem in the first place ie before the policy was published & there was no clear solution.

a) If they have gone quiet after receiving your extra documents you can only assume it is now in progress.
I doubt an outright refusal to issue a passport is likely, 'just' some delay, stress & inconvenience.

b) No real way to tell unless you call.
Why not call helpline for a progress report & ETA.
That may provide reassurance.

c) See b)

[Charimito]

I've called and ask more than once and I only get a "we can't tell you"... last time I asked they told me they thought that was enough time but that they wouldn't able to tell me for sure...

I just don't want to withdraw my own application because of their slowness!!