Foreign Birth Registration

[chrisinpm]

chrisinpm - We were told for changing the address of our application to send proof of that address (a bill etc) to:
Mr. Xxxxxxxxx
PO Box 13003
Balbriggan County
Dublin Ireland

OK. I sent it to the correct address and included proof so hopefully it'll be processed correctly. Thanks.

[Sulla]

Laurie9434 - I took it to mean 12 months total.

12 months total is quite bad enough. It represents the time the DFA state on their website can pertain to complex applications. Since there is no indication that you have a complex application type, the fact that up to 12 months has been indicated to you is far from great. You have already waited 10.5 months. That is sufficiently disappointing. To suggest a wait time of 1 year, 10.5 months would be unconscionable. I'm sure that this means you should be hearing something within the next month and a half. Let's hope so anyway.

[Mcink]

Hi all.

First time poster. Have been reading other people's comments on the forum and their experiences.

I sent my application in August 2018 to the London embassy. I had a confirmation email in Jan 2019 to say it had been received. I contacted the FBR team in Feb 2019 via the web chat and the guy I spoke with said my application would be dealt with in the next few weeks. As of today nothing further.

So I called the FBR team today. Basically said to wait till January and if I've not heard anything to contact again then. I think from reading others' experiences, I'm likely not going to hear anything until Jan. Just frustrating that loss of 5 months sat in an office. Hey ho I can't change it but 18 months from sending application in to end of the process does seem a long time, even with more people applying.

[Sulla]

Hi all.

First time poster. Have been reading other people's comments on the forum and their experiences.

I sent my application in August 2018 to the London embassy. I had a confirmation email in Jan 2019 to say it had been received. I contacted the FBR team in Feb 2019 via the web chat and the guy I spoke with said my application would be dealt with in the next few weeks. As of today nothing further.

So I called the FBR team today. Basically said to wait till January and if I've not heard anything to contact again then. I think from reading others' experiences, I'm likely not going to hear anything until Jan. Just frustrating that loss of 5 months sat in an office. Hey ho I can't change it but 18 months from sending application in to end of the process does seem a long time, even with more people applying.

First, let me say how much I sympathize with your long wait.

There has been some discussion on this thread before about which date (actual postal receipt or confirmation of receipt from the DFA) qualifies as the start date of the application. It has emerged quite clearly that the date the application is physically received in the post is the one that counts and therefore the date that the application timeline commences. There does appear to be some push-back against this by some people that respond to calls in the FBR section. Nonetheless, your application is currently 11 months old, not 7.

As for waiting until January, that reminds me of the many different things Michael was told. He was informed that he would have to wait until September 2019 at one point - having applied in August 2018. In reality, he took receipt of his FBR certificate before the end of June. As a result, what is said over the phone is not always completely reliable and I would not depend on it. Perhaps calling a little later, getting a different operator and mentioning that you are aware that the timeline should run from postal receipt might yield another result.

All the best to you.

[powerbook1]

Did anyone who submitted their application in a foreign embassy (not London) receive an email notification when their application arrived in Dublin?

The phone agent I spoke to claimed I should, but I noticed from other timelines in this thread, that maybe that isn't the case.

[Pumps100]

I am now 10 months 4 days (Aug 29th, 2018 rec'd). No queries.

To add to the pie Irish school holidays commenced July 1st (until August 31st).

Ian

[jamiepompey]

OK, here goes. First time poster, but lurkage has been happening for ages. Nice to see so many have a happy ending to their stories.

I sent my application last Friday (from the UK) and Royal Mail have confirmed delivery just a few minutes ago. I guess now the wait begins for the office in Balbriggan to acknowledge they have it. Judging by the waiting times at the moment I probably won't hear if I've been added to the register until roughly April/May next year. That's OK. Will probably just get on with my life in the meantime.

My story: My paternal grandmother was born in Dublin before she moved to the UK and married my grandfather. I've collected all the required documents and sent them over. There is one discrepancy in dates. On my grandparents marriage certificate my grandmother lied about her age as she was ashamed of the age gap and her being 11 years older than my grandfather. She said that she was 26 when in fact she was actually 35. Grandfather was 24. This was in 1951 so I guess there was a bit of shame about waiting so long to get married.

Anyway, her DOB is correct on both her birth certificate and on her death certificate, along with it showing that she was the widow of my grandfather as well. Having looked through these pages thoroughly it seems that it's relatively common for there to be date discrepancies so I'm not unduly worried. Has anyone else ever experienced this? The good news is on their marriage certificate and on my fathers birth certificate my grandfathers royal navy registration number is listed on both so I'm hoping that should provide a little more consistency.

One thing, on the guidance notes and on the website it says you only need to send two proofs of address but I have seen people post about needing three (annoyingly after I sent the package). Does anyone have a link to where it says you need three proofs of address.

Anyway, I guess the long wait begins. Will check back with progress. Good luck everyone.

Jamie

[Rbs3]

Hi Jamie, it sounds like you are going to be fine. One discrepancy with the dates would be overlooked if all else looks pretty much OK. I had one discrepancy as to dates, and another discrepancy on the spelling of the Irish surname, and I was issued an FBR without query. I think the officials look across the documents and across the generations and form a view about how confident they are that the evidence establishes the link. It sounds like there will be quite a wait, but you have the right attitude about that. Good luck

[usczkat]

I am now 10 months 4 days (Aug 29th, 2018 rec'd). No queries.

To add to the pie Irish school holidays commenced July 1st (until August 31st).

Ian

I was just thinking this morning that mine has now been ten months and one week since notice of them receiving my application August 2018. I was hoping to get it but my birthday last week but that didn't happen. There does seem to be a slow down since Michael123 got his congrats email. Thus still waiting.

[Larran2019]

Hi all.

First time poster. Have been reading other people's comments on the forum and their experiences.

I sent my application in August 2018 to the London embassy. I had a confirmation email in Jan 2019 to say it had been received. I contacted the FBR team in Feb 2019 via the web chat and the guy I spoke with said my application would be dealt with in the next few weeks. As of today nothing further.

So I called the FBR team today. Basically said to wait till January and if I've not heard anything to contact again then. I think from reading others' experiences, I'm likely not going to hear anything until Jan. Just frustrating that loss of 5 months sat in an office. Hey ho I can't change it but 18 months from sending application in to end of the process does seem a long time, even with more people applying.

First, let me say how much I sympathize with your long wait.

There has been some discussion on this thread before about which date (actual postal receipt or confirmation of receipt from the DFA) qualifies as the start date of the application. It has emerged quite clearly that the date the application is physically received in the post is the one that counts and therefore the date that the application timeline commences. There does appear to be some push-back against this by some people that respond to calls in the FBR section. Nonetheless, your application is currently 11 months old, not 7.

As for waiting until January, that reminds me of the many different things Michael was told. He was informed that he would have to wait until September 2019 at one point - having applied in August 2018. In reality, he took receipt of his FBR certificate before the end of June. As a result, what is said over the phone is not always completely reliable and I would not depend on it. Perhaps calling a little later, getting a different operator and mentioning that you are aware that the timeline should run from postal receipt might yield another result.

All the best to you.

I'm in a similar position to Mcink - I sent my application to the London Irish Embassy in December 2018 and didn't receive any confirmation email. Chased early February and they said they had received it and I should be receiving the confirmation email soon, which eventually came late February. I used the online chat (it was still available to FBR applicants at that time) to ask when my processing time had begun, December when it was sent in or February when I received the confirmation email. I was told that all applications received from August - December at the London Embassy had been held and unprocessed ahead of the move to Dublin, and I should treat the date of my confirmation email at the end of February as my start date for processing my application. That said though, they did have a record of it being received back in December when I inquired before receiving the confirmation email.. so who knows! So confusing

[Pumps100]

This is Sulla's list for August. I've removed Michael from it as he is the only August applicant through the process.

LeifRNR – received August 14th / Pending
Laurie – received August 15th / Pending
Upliam _ received August 22nd / Pending
USczkat – received August 23rd / Pending
Pumps100 – received August 29th / Pending
Nydccub – received August 31st / Pending

Apologies if I've missed anyone out. So LeifRNR should be theoretically be next. But I think there may well be a slow down due to summer holidays.

I'll gladly add any August Received applicants to this list. Just advise.

Ian

[jamiepompey]

I wasn't expecting to update so soon, but, having had Royal Mail Confirm that my application was received at the office today, I then received an email from FBR saying that they had received it. Looks like I'm definitely in the system now. Perhaps things are starting to speed up....

[Hol292]

This is Sulla's list for August. I've removed Michael from it as he is the only August applicant through the process.

LeifRNR – received August 14th / Pending
Laurie – received August 15th / Pending
Upliam _ received August 22nd / Pending
USczkat – received August 23rd / Pending
Pumps100 – received August 29th / Pending
Nydccub – received August 31st / Pending

Apologies if I've missed anyone out. So LeifRNR should be theoretically be next. But I think there may well be a slow down due to summer holidays.

I'll gladly add any August Received applicants to this list. Just advise.

Ian

Mine was signed for at the London embassy on 10th August

[Pumps100]

This is Sulla's list for August. I've removed Michael from it as he is the only August applicant through the process.

LeifRNR – received August 14th / Pending
Laurie – received August 15th / Pending
Upliam _ received August 22nd / Pending
USczkat – received August 23rd / Pending
Pumps100 – received August 29th / Pending
Nydccub – received August 31st / Pending

Apologies if I've missed anyone out. So LeifRNR should be theoretically be next. But I think there may well be a slow down due to summer holidays.

I'll gladly add any August Received applicants to this list. Just advise.

Ian

Mine was signed for at the London embassy on 10th August

What was the date of the email acknowledging your application? Was it also 10th August?

Ian

[Jacqui309]

I see people are starting to get progress on applications from August 2018. Just wish
I would also hear something on my application which was acknowledged on 15 May 2018!! In response to questions about people putting incorrect ages on marriage certificates this was the same for my grandmother and it was queried by the FBR. So I would strongly suggest you cover this in your application

[Sulla]

Did anyone who submitted their application in a foreign embassy (not London) receive an email notification when their application arrived in Dublin?

The phone agent I spoke to claimed I should, but I noticed from other timelines in this thread, that maybe that isn't the case.

Not that I am aware of. Like you, I submitted by hand in China. I received no confirmation that the application arrived in Dublin.

Similarly, Jaxx submitted in Finland and has received no confirmation that it was received from the embassy or in Dublin.

It seems that this only takes place in the case of direct to Dublin applications.

[Sulla]

Mine was signed for at the London embassy on 10th August

Hi Hol. Yes, you were on the original list. In theory, you should be the next to hear positive news. Of course, that is assuming they proceed on the basis of date order received - which they don't always seem to do.

August 2018 applicants and date FBR applications received / added. All received dates 2018.
Sean – received August 2nd (Added to FBR December 19th 2018)
Spav – received August 3rd (Added to FBR December 11th 2018)
Amcbamcb – received August 8th (Added to FBR May 17th 2019)
Hol292 – received August 10th / Pending
Sulla – received August 14th (Added to FBR November 28th 2018)
LeifRNR – received August 14th / Pending
Laurie – received August 15th / Pending
Michael – received August 21st / (Added to FBR June 7th 2019)
Donna – received August 21st / (Added to FBR June 7th 2019)
Upliam _ received August 22nd / Pending
USczKat – received August 23rd / Pending
Pumps100 – received August 29th / Pending
MaddeningBike – received August 30th / Pending
Nydccub – received August 31st / Pending

[Sulla]

I see people are starting to get progress on applications from August 2018. Just wish
I would also hear something on my application which was acknowledged on 15 May 2018!! In response to questions about people putting incorrect ages on marriage certificates this was the same for my grandmother and it was queried by the FBR. So I would strongly suggest you cover this in your application

I agree with Jacqui. While it is true that date discrepancies on certificates can definitely pass without remark, I think that depends very much on the size of the discrepancy and the amount of other documents that do conform to each other and contradict it.

In these cases, the safest route is to pursue official corrections to BDM certificates through the appropriate records office prior to application. This is a free service and relatively swift. An alternative would be to submit a signed and witnessed statutory declaration explaining the anomalous content,

I did both because I believe in overkill. Doing either would be preferable to just seeing how it goes. I mean this from the perspective of your own peace of mind and of course any potential delays that could result.

[Sulla]

One thing, on the guidance notes and on the website it says you only need to send two proofs of address but I have seen people post about needing three (annoyingly after I sent the package). Does anyone have a link to where it says you need three proofs of address.

Jamie

For applicants from the UK, if you follow the citizenship path on the Irish embassy in London website you will find that it now links directly to the standard DFA site. That site has always specified 2 proofs of address, so if you only gave two then that is fine. You followed those instructions.

Most other embassy websites continue to ask for 3 proofs of address in their documentation required section. For instance, those in the United States and China. I discovered this before I applied and queried the embassy about this incongruity. They said that if people lived abroad, 3 were needed.

[jamiepompey]

Ah thank you Sulla, that makes sense. Didn’t realise there was a difference. Well hopefully now my application should be fairly straight forward.

[Mori68]

Question:

I am applying for Irish citizenship through my Irish born grandfather. My father (English-born) never sought Irish citizenship or Irish passport.

My three English-born children were, unfortunately , all born before I knew I could claim Irish citizenship.

My question is: if my father claimed his Irish citizenship and passport could my English-born children seek citizenship on the basis of HIS Irish citizenship?

Can anybody enlighten me???

Thanks.

PS Submitted FBR 4 November 2018. Still waiting ...

[FlyingMum]

My understanding is that had you applied and received Irish citizenship before your children were born, yes, they would have automatically had it too. Unfortunately, it can’t be done retrospectively unless their parent or grandparent was actually born in Ireland.


I’ve not been able to find anywhere if anyone has had any success applying through descent from an Irish born great grandparent.

Hope that makes sense?

[Rbs3]

An Irish born great grandparent only works if the applicant’s parent got FBR before the applicant’s birth. Since 1986 anyway.

[Jaxx22]

Did anyone who submitted their application in a foreign embassy (not London) receive an email notification when their application arrived in Dublin?

The phone agent I spoke to claimed I should, but I noticed from other timelines in this thread, that maybe that isn't the case.

Not that I am aware of. Like you, I submitted by hand in China. I received no confirmation that the application arrived in Dublin.

Similarly, Jaxx submitted in Finland and has received no confirmation that it was received from the embassy or in Dublin.

It seems that this only takes place in the case of direct to Dublin applications.

That is correct, no confirmation of receipt of documents from either embassy or Dublin. I called the dfa last week to inform them of my move (which has now happened) and was told then that my application is in final stages - I don't really know what that means but I guess it means they did receive it all. I didn't have to send new proof of address like others have mentioned though, I don't yet have anything that I could send yet anyway.

So just now waiting and then it will be making sure it gets returned to the correct place!

[Mori68]

My understanding is that had you applied and received Irish citizenship before your children were born, yes, they would have automatically had it too. Unfortunately, it can’t be done retrospectively unless their parent or grandparent was actually born in Ireland.


I’ve not been able to find anywhere if anyone has had any success applying through descent from an Irish born great grandparent.

Hope that makes sense?

Thanks for that.