need clarification on Indefinite leave to enter

[yada]

Hello,

I was born in the uk in 1986 and I lived here for 5 years before returning to ghana with my parents. I returned to the uk on a vist four years ago and have since been living here. I decided to stay back and went to uni and finished last year andcurrently working.

I want to apply for citizenship and I learnt i need to show my parents settled status before i was born. I am not in touch with my parents and I doubt if they had settled status before I was born.

A close relative who am I in touch told me he will help me to get the passport of my parents showing ILE on a condition that when I get citizenship i will help to bring his children to the uk. He sent me a passport of my dad showing he had indefinite leave to enter before I was born. The ink stamp reads " given indefinite leave to enter the united kingdom" issued at heathrow in 1984.

My understanding is that ILE has an expiry date but I cant find any expiry date on this. Also to my own knowledge I doubt if my parents were settled before my birth.

My fear is that hope the ILE was not forged. I am afraid cos I know the penalty.

I also want to ask that if i apply with it and it turns out to be a fake stamp on it. Will the home office hold me accountable.

[vinny]

If a parent had ILR/ILE at the time of your birth in the UK, then you're automatically British. At that time, an Immigration Officer may have issued an ILE, without an expiry date, at the port of entry.

Perhaps your parents' SAR records may confirm their ILE status.

Just apply for confirmation of British nationality status.

[yada]

Hi Vinny,

Many thanks for your post. I have read about the application for nationality status and it seems worth it.

Should I include the copy of my dad's indefinite leave to enter and my uk birth certificate for the confirmation of nationality status.How long does it takes?

As I said earlier, the ILE was sent to me by my dad's relative and am not in touch with my dad to confirm the authencity. I should think I wont be penalised if it turns out to be unreal cos am only applying for confirmation of nationality status and not direct citizenship. What do you think?