UKM application experience and timeline

[expertcitizen]

I have at long last started the process of registering. Most of the time I waited to get all my documentation in place. The South African Home Affairs is notoriously slow and inefficient. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate.

I was born in South Africa in 1972 to a UK born mother, which at the time of my birth was a British citizen. I am a South African citizen and reside in South Africa. I was registered at birth under another name. Shortly after my birth I was adopted by a South African couple and given a different name. I have all the original documentation, including a vault copy of my birth certificate with my original birth name and the name and UK nationality of my birth mother. I have all original adoption documents, court order indicating name change, birth mothers UK birth certificate and passport. I even included my maternal grandparents UK birth and marriage certificates. I also included a cover letter and maternal family tree explaining everything. I am hoping it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

I sent off the application and documents on the 26th June. It was received by UKVI on the 28th of June, the money was deducted from my account on the 2nd July and I also received a standard acknowlegement email with a case number on the same day.

I have not received any email regarding my biometrics yet and was wondering why it's taking so long. How long do you usually wait until you receive a biometrics request email?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my experience so far. Updates to follow.

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

[CR001]

I have at long last started the process of registering. Most of the time I waited to get all my documentation in place. The South African Home Affairs is notoriously slow and inefficient. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate.

I was born in South Africa in 1972 to a UK born mother, which at the time of my birth was a British citizen. I am a South African citizen and reside in South Africa. I was registered at birth under another name. Shortly after my birth I was adopted by a South African couple and given a different name. I have all the original documentation, including a vault copy of my birth certificate with my original birth name and the name and UK nationality of my birth mother. I have all original adoption documents, court order indicating name change, birth mothers UK birth certificate and passport. I even included my maternal grandparents UK birth and marriage certificates. I also included a cover letter and maternal family tree explaining everything. I am hoping it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

I sent off the application and documents on the 26th June. It was received by UKVI on the 28th of June, the money was deducted from my account on the 2nd July and I also received a standard acknowlegement email with a case number on the same day.

I have not received any email regarding my biometrics yet and was wondering why it's taking so long. How long do you usually wait until you receive a biometrics request email?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my experience so far. Updates to follow.

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

UKM is not relevant if a persona is adopted abroad by a British born mother as far as I understand. We did this application for my mom while she was in the UK on an Ancestry visa based on her British adoptive mother and HO refused her as her birth/adoption was not register with the British High Commission following the adoption in 1953. It was a very detailed letter received from HO and we submitted substantial evidence with the UKM application.

The most notable point of the refusal was that SA adoptions were not at that time, done under the Hague Convention, which SA only joined in November 2002. OP you are responding to was born/adopted in the early 1970s.

The adoption was however recognised for Ancestry visas (myself and my daughter and separately my mom and dad).

[KZ303]

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: USA
Applying from: Denver, Colorado
Method of application: FedEx/UPS to UK
Date of application: TBD - Hopefully this week! I'll update the rest once that's done.

Apologies, but I'm not sure I've figured out how to respond inline to threads on this. I am meeting my referees (two licensed attorneys) this week, and hope to submit the UKM form thereafter. (I think my last one may have been too long anyway...)
1) Has anyone actually gone in and found all of their parking tickets to report under the good character section? Is that really necessary? (I'm not sure I'd actually be able to, not because of volume, but because who can recall every municipality over several decades?)
2) For the tax portion, do I need to register in any way with UK? I've only lived there as a small (US citizen) child and have never earned money there.

[Shaun45]

I have at long last started the process of registering. Most of the time I waited to get all my documentation in place. The South African Home Affairs is notoriously slow and inefficient. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate.

I was born in South Africa in 1972 to a UK born mother, which at the time of my birth was a British citizen. I am a South African citizen and reside in South Africa. I was registered at birth under another name. Shortly after my birth I was adopted by a South African couple and given a different name. I have all the original documentation, including a vault copy of my birth certificate with my original birth name and the name and UK nationality of my birth mother. I have all original adoption documents, court order indicating name change, birth mothers UK birth certificate and passport. I even included my maternal grandparents UK birth and marriage certificates. I also included a cover letter and maternal family tree explaining everything. I am hoping it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

I sent off the application and documents on the 26th June. It was received by UKVI on the 28th of June, the money was deducted from my account on the 2nd July and I also received a standard acknowlegement email with a case number on the same day.

I have not received any email regarding my biometrics yet and was wondering why it's taking so long. How long do you usually wait until you receive a biometrics request email?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my experience so far. Updates to follow.

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

UKM is not relevant if a persona is adopted abroad by a British born mother as far as I understand. We did this application for my mom while she was in the UK on an Ancestry visa based on her British adoptive mother and HO refused her as her birth/adoption was not register with the British High Commission following the adoption in 1953. It was a very detailed letter received from HO and we submitted substantial evidence with the UKM application.

The most notable point of the refusal was that SA adoptions were not at that time, done under the Hague Convention, which SA only joined in November 2002. OP you are responding to was born/adopted in the early 1970s.

The adoption was however recognised for Ancestry visas (myself and my daughter and separately my mom and dad).

This is rather disconcerting. My understanding is that there is a clear bloodline to my claim to citizenship. Clear evidence has been provided with my application. My South African born adoptive parents are irrelevant in this application, but evidence was provided to show the name change at birth. Surely I can't be discriminated against just because my UK born mother gave me up for adoption due to circumstances beyond her control at the time when I was a six week old infant?

I was born to a British born mother in South Africa. My birth mother is still a British citizen and resides as a resident in South Africa. I have not seen anything on the contrary in the guidance notes. On the application there a place to fill in if your name changed. They use "adoption" as an example for a name change. As mentioned, evidence has been provided and was explained in the cover letter.

I am still hopeful it will go well.

[CR001]

I have at long last started the process of registering. Most of the time I waited to get all my documentation in place. The South African Home Affairs is notoriously slow and inefficient. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate.

I was born in South Africa in 1972 to a UK born mother, which at the time of my birth was a British citizen. I am a South African citizen and reside in South Africa. I was registered at birth under another name. Shortly after my birth I was adopted by a South African couple and given a different name. I have all the original documentation, including a vault copy of my birth certificate with my original birth name and the name and UK nationality of my birth mother. I have all original adoption documents, court order indicating name change, birth mothers UK birth certificate and passport. I even included my maternal grandparents UK birth and marriage certificates. I also included a cover letter and maternal family tree explaining everything. I am hoping it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

I sent off the application and documents on the 26th June. It was received by UKVI on the 28th of June, the money was deducted from my account on the 2nd July and I also received a standard acknowlegement email with a case number on the same day.

I have not received any email regarding my biometrics yet and was wondering why it's taking so long. How long do you usually wait until you receive a biometrics request email?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my experience so far. Updates to follow.

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

UKM is not relevant if a persona is adopted abroad by a British born mother as far as I understand. We did this application for my mom while she was in the UK on an Ancestry visa based on her British adoptive mother and HO refused her as her birth/adoption was not register with the British High Commission following the adoption in 1953. It was a very detailed letter received from HO and we submitted substantial evidence with the UKM application.

The most notable point of the refusal was that SA adoptions were not at that time, done under the Hague Convention, which SA only joined in November 2002. OP you are responding to was born/adopted in the early 1970s.

The adoption was however recognised for Ancestry visas (myself and my daughter and separately my mom and dad).

This is rather disconcerting. My understanding is that there is a clear bloodline to my claim to citizenship. Clear evidence has been provided with my application. My South African born adoptive parents are irrelevant in this application, but evidence was provided to show the name change at birth. Surely I can't be discriminated against just because my UK born mother gave me up for adoption due to circumstances beyond her control at the time when I was a six week old infant?

I was born to a British born mother in South Africa. My birth mother is still a British citizen and resides as a resident in South Africa. I have not seen anything on the contrary in the guidance notes. On the application there a place to fill in if your name changed. They use "adoption" as an example for a name change. As mentioned, evidence has been provided and was explained in the cover letter.

I am still hopeful it will go well.

My post was not referring g to your birth to BC mother but to myom born to a SA mother and adopted by a BC mother.

Am sure your app will be fine.

[Shaun45]

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

UKM is not relevant if a persona is adopted abroad by a British born mother as far as I understand. We did this application for my mom while she was in the UK on an Ancestry visa based on her British adoptive mother and HO refused her as her birth/adoption was not register with the British High Commission following the adoption in 1953. It was a very detailed letter received from HO and we submitted substantial evidence with the UKM application.

The most notable point of the refusal was that SA adoptions were not at that time, done under the Hague Convention, which SA only joined in November 2002. OP you are responding to was born/adopted in the early 1970s.

The adoption was however recognised for Ancestry visas (myself and my daughter and separately my mom and dad).

This is rather disconcerting. My understanding is that there is a clear bloodline to my claim to citizenship. Clear evidence has been provided with my application. My South African born adoptive parents are irrelevant in this application, but evidence was provided to show the name change at birth. Surely I can't be discriminated against just because my UK born mother gave me up for adoption due to circumstances beyond her control at the time when I was a six week old infant?

I was born to a British born mother in South Africa. My birth mother is still a British citizen and resides as a resident in South Africa. I have not seen anything on the contrary in the guidance notes. On the application there a place to fill in if your name changed. They use "adoption" as an example for a name change. As mentioned, evidence has been provided and was explained in the cover letter.

I am still hopeful it will go well.

My post was not referring g to your birth to BC mother but to myom born to a SA mother and adopted by a BC mother.

Am sure your app will be fine.

@ CR001...

Apologies. The comment was not in response to your post. I'm still hopeful and positive it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

[a_powers]

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: USA
Applying from: Denver, Colorado
Method of application: FedEx/UPS to UK
Date of application: TBD - Hopefully this week! I'll update the rest once that's done.

Apologies, but I'm not sure I've figured out how to respond inline to threads on this. I am meeting my referees (two licensed attorneys) this week, and hope to submit the UKM form thereafter. (I think my last one may have been too long anyway...)
1) Has anyone actually gone in and found all of their parking tickets to report under the good character section? Is that really necessary? (I'm not sure I'd actually be able to, not because of volume, but because who can recall every municipality over several decades?)
2) For the tax portion, do I need to register in any way with UK? I've only lived there as a small (US citizen) child and have never earned money there.

You don't need to register with UK tax in any way. UK tax is based on residency, not citizenship.

Not sure about parking tickets. I do know the good character requirement is on the way out, but I don't know when exactly. The court has already ruled it is discriminatory.

[KZ303]

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: USA
Applying from: Denver, Colorado
Method of application: FedEx/UPS to UK
Date of application: TBD - Hopefully this week! I'll update the rest once that's done.

Apologies, but I'm not sure I've figured out how to respond inline to threads on this. I am meeting my referees (two licensed attorneys) this week, and hope to submit the UKM form thereafter. (I think my last one may have been too long anyway...)
1) Has anyone actually gone in and found all of their parking tickets to report under the good character section? Is that really necessary? (I'm not sure I'd actually be able to, not because of volume, but because who can recall every municipality over several decades?)
2) For the tax portion, do I need to register in any way with UK? I've only lived there as a small (US citizen) child and have never earned money there.

You don't need to register with UK tax in any way. UK tax is based on residency, not citizenship.

Not sure about parking tickets. I do know the good character requirement is on the way out, but I don't know when exactly. The court has already ruled it is discriminatory.

Awesome, thanks! The wording on the reporting requirement is somewhat confusing. On the one hand it says they are not a part of the criminal record, but on the other they will consider them if there's some sort of pattern:
"We will carry out criminal record checks on all applicants. You must give details of all criminal
convictions. This includes road traffic offences (including all drink-driving offences). Fixed Penalty
Notices (such as speeding or parking tickets) do not form part of a person’s criminal record and will
not be considered in the caseworker’s assessment of character unless:
• the person has failed to pay and there were criminal proceedings as a result; or
• the person has received numerous fixed penalty notices.[emphasis added]"
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... r_2015.pdf

[expertcitizen]

I have at long last started the process of registering. Most of the time I waited to get all my documentation in place. The South African Home Affairs is notoriously slow and inefficient. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate.

I was born in South Africa in 1972 to a UK born mother, which at the time of my birth was a British citizen. I am a South African citizen and reside in South Africa. I was registered at birth under another name. Shortly after my birth I was adopted by a South African couple and given a different name. I have all the original documentation, including a vault copy of my birth certificate with my original birth name and the name and UK nationality of my birth mother. I have all original adoption documents, court order indicating name change, birth mothers UK birth certificate and passport. I even included my maternal grandparents UK birth and marriage certificates. I also included a cover letter and maternal family tree explaining everything. I am hoping it all goes well with my UKM citizenship application.

I sent off the application and documents on the 26th June. It was received by UKVI on the 28th of June, the money was deducted from my account on the 2nd July and I also received a standard acknowlegement email with a case number on the same day.

I have not received any email regarding my biometrics yet and was wondering why it's taking so long. How long do you usually wait until you receive a biometrics request email?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my experience so far. Updates to follow.

To understand this, you where born to a UK mother and then adopted by a South African (or other nationality couple)? If this is the case, under my understanding, you are not entitled to apply for British Citizenship. The right to citizenship ceased with your adoption. If, however, your adopted parents where British then you would indeed be eligible to apply.

UKM is not relevant if a persona is adopted abroad by a British born mother as far as I understand. We did this application for my mom while she was in the UK on an Ancestry visa based on her British adoptive mother and HO refused her as her birth/adoption was not register with the British High Commission following the adoption in 1953. It was a very detailed letter received from HO and we submitted substantial evidence with the UKM application.

The most notable point of the refusal was that SA adoptions were not at that time, done under the Hague Convention, which SA only joined in November 2002. OP you are responding to was born/adopted in the early 1970s.

The adoption was however recognised for Ancestry visas (myself and my daughter and separately my mom and dad).

This is rather disconcerting. My understanding is that there is a clear bloodline to my claim to citizenship. Clear evidence has been provided with my application. My South African born adoptive parents are irrelevant in this application, but evidence was provided to show the name change at birth. Surely I can't be discriminated against just because my UK born mother gave me up for adoption due to circumstances beyond her control at the time when I was a six week old infant?

I was born to a British born mother in South Africa. My birth mother is still a British citizen and resides as a resident in South Africa. I have not seen anything on the contrary in the guidance notes. On the application there a place to fill in if your name changed. They use "adoption" as an example for a name change. As mentioned, evidence has been provided and was explained in the cover letter.

I am still hopeful it will go well.

My Understanding is on adoption all parental responsibility as well as citizenship privalidges have been passed to the adoptive parents. If the child was adopted by British parents then the child will indeed be eligible for citizenship (dependent of where born) BUT the relevance of birth parents is neither here nor there. Their was a case a few years ago on this and a challenge and the argument was based on a number of children do not actually know who their birth parents where and places them at a disadvantage. My understanding is if the child was fostered then the birth parental citizenship can be used for an application. However, that same judgement did make provision for grandchildren to seek the usual 5 year ancestry visa which made a bit of a mockery and the intention was to clarify the law on this later (it never happened).

[tips]

Expertcitizen is indeed correct. This case was a while, it was a British woman who had a child out of wedlock with an Indian national and then the child was adopted by an Indian family. The child found out that he had a British birth mother and applied for citizenship based on her nationality. It was refused on the grounds that the mother had given up all claims (including citizenship) on the child at the point of adoption. The case rambled on about parents not understanding the ramifications of adoption etc etc but they did give him the ability to claim an ancestral visa based on his grandparents!! It was a bit of a dogs breakfast of a decision and maybe it has since been repealed but it was a strange scenario.

[tips]

Expertcitizen is indeed correct. This case was a while, it was a British woman who had a child out of wedlock with an Indian national and then the child was adopted by an Indian family. The child found out that he had a British birth mother and applied for citizenship based on her nationality. It was refused on the grounds that the mother had given up all claims (including citizenship) on the child at the point of adoption. The case rambled on about parents not understanding the ramifications of adoption etc etc but they did give him the ability to claim an ancestral visa based on his grandparents!! It was a bit of a dogs breakfast of a decision and maybe it has since been repealed but it was a strange scenario.

I just remebered it was something to do with the citizenship and the term LEGAL parent/s. A child that has been adopted's legal parent/s are now the the parents they work with. the name change you speak of are for those that where born with another name (some countries do not issue new adopted birth name certificates with the adoptive name on it) and the adoptive parents are British nationals then the claim is thru the legal parents. As i said this case was a good few years ago but good luck with the application and let us know the outcome.

[Shaun45]

After reading this I have been in tears. If this is true in my case then it's a serious blow to my chances of obtaining citizenship.

This is so wrong on many levels. I have NO South African blood whatsoever. All my biological maternal family is British/Irish. How can I be prejudiced because I was given up for adoption due to circumstances beyond my biological mothers control when I was born? What say did say did I have in the matter? I have a British soul yet I'm denied my birth right to British citizenship.

Do you have any reference to this case?

I am still hopeful that I will be succesful.

[expertcitizen]

I was trawling thru the citizenship act and found this pearler: Sean i am certain your application will be fine. As this sentence puts your claim firmly in being accepted as a British Citizen:
"British children adopted by non-British nationals do not lose British nationality, even if they acquire a foreign nationality as a result of the adoption."

[Shaun45]

I think they might be referring to "British born" children.

[expertcitizen]

You stated that you had a vault copy of your birth certificate and youbwhere British/Irish. What does it say as to your father? If your father is stated and is indeed Irish then you may have a case for Irish Citizenship.

[Shaun45]

You stated that you had a vault copy of your birth certificate and youbwhere British/Irish. What does it say as to your father? If your father is stated and is indeed Irish then you may have a case for Irish Citizenship.

The vault copy of my birth certificate gives the details of my British born birth mother. The rest of my maternal family (maternal grandparents and great grand parents) are British/Irish.

[Shaun45]

In other words...I was born in South Africa to a British born mother. I am a South African citizen. Shortly after my birth I was adopted in South Africa by a South African couple.
My birth mother was unmarried at the time of my birth...

[expertcitizen]

Did your Grandfather obtain an Irish passport? If so your mother can and so can you.

[KZ303]

How have Americans managed to ship it with return label/envelope? (This seems like it should be the easiest part!) I'd like to send it quickly to the UK with tracking, along with the required return label/envelope for a more leisurely and cheap return.

• I went to UPS - They've told me that they can't do it, I should go ask USPS. (They claim there's an issue with preparing the return label for another country.)
  • I go to USPS - They tell me that they can't do it, and that I should go ask UPS. (I'm given the same excuse.)
    • I go to FedEx - I can create a foreign shipping label, but after the first two reactions, above, I'm not sure that'll work in practice, and it costs like three times as much, or about $130 each way!
    I can't be the first person who's tried this.

[luthersnowak]

How have Americans managed to ship it with return label/envelope? (This seems like it should be the easiest part!) I'd like to send it quickly to the UK with tracking, along with the required return label/envelope for a more leisurely and cheap return.

• I went to UPS - They've told me that they can't do it, I should go ask USPS. (They claim there's an issue with preparing the return label for another country.)
  • I go to USPS - They tell me that they can't do it, and that I should go ask UPS. (I'm given the same excuse.)
    • I go to FedEx - I can create a foreign shipping label, but after the first two reactions, above, I'm not sure that'll work in practice, and it costs like three times as much, or about $130 each way!
    I can't be the first person who's tried this.

I think you can buy a prepaid label online from Parcelforce. Also, if you don’t send a label, they will send your documents back through Royal Mail 2nd Class.

[a_powers]

How have Americans managed to ship it with return label/envelope? (This seems like it should be the easiest part!) I'd like to send it quickly to the UK with tracking, along with the required return label/envelope for a more leisurely and cheap return.

• I went to UPS - They've told me that they can't do it, I should go ask USPS. (They claim there's an issue with preparing the return label for another country.)
  • I go to USPS - They tell me that they can't do it, and that I should go ask UPS. (I'm given the same excuse.)
    • I go to FedEx - I can create a foreign shipping label, but after the first two reactions, above, I'm not sure that'll work in practice, and it costs like three times as much, or about $130 each way!
    I can't be the first person who's tried this.

I couldn't figure out the return envelope problem so I didn't send one. They sent docs back via DHL anyway.

[sarlouisesmith]

How have Americans managed to ship it with return label/envelope? (This seems like it should be the easiest part!) I'd like to send it quickly to the UK with tracking, along with the required return label/envelope for a more leisurely and cheap return.

• I went to UPS - They've told me that they can't do it, I should go ask USPS. (They claim there's an issue with preparing the return label for another country.)
  • I go to USPS - They tell me that they can't do it, and that I should go ask UPS. (I'm given the same excuse.)
    • I go to FedEx - I can create a foreign shipping label, but after the first two reactions, above, I'm not sure that'll work in practice, and it costs like three times as much, or about $130 each way!
    I can't be the first person who's tried this.

I didn't send a return envelope or label and they returned all my documents to me through regular Royal Mail. It took about 7-10 days from the time they approved my application for me to receive my documents.

[KZ303]

How have Americans managed to ship it with return label/envelope? (This seems like it should be the easiest part!) I'd like to send it quickly to the UK with tracking, along with the required return label/envelope for a more leisurely and cheap return.

• I went to UPS - They've told me that they can't do it, I should go ask USPS. (They claim there's an issue with preparing the return label for another country.)
  • I go to USPS - They tell me that they can't do it, and that I should go ask UPS. (I'm given the same excuse.)
    • I go to FedEx - I can create a foreign shipping label, but after the first two reactions, above, I'm not sure that'll work in practice, and it costs like three times as much, or about $130 each way!
    I can't be the first person who's tried this.

I couldn't figure out the return envelope problem so I didn't send one. They sent docs back via DHL anyway.

I couldn't in good conscience send without tracking for return. So, got return from UPS by setting up an "import" per call to their 800 number. I'll put that in an envelope from US to UK that I'll send via USPS with the application, as I've now paid the expensive portion for the return trip. I'd like to think they'd send via DHL, but the form says they'll send 2nd class Royal Mail. Royal Mail says specifically that they don't suggest sending anything valuable via 2nd class... Mom'd kill me if I lost her birth certificate!

Thanks all for your replies. Now I'll finally send and update when possible.

[samanthabw]

I did my biometrics today but I am not sure which address you send the receipt to.
I don't understand the difference between Non-settlement applications and Settlement applications because neither lists UKM on there. I also can't tell if that is just for Visas and not for Nationality.
Did you guys have to send your proof of biometrics done to an address?

[CR001]

I did my biometrics today but I am not sure which address you send the receipt to.
I don't understand the difference between Non-settlement applications and Settlement applications because neither lists UKM on there. I also can't tell if that is just for Visas and not for Nationality.
Did you guys have to send your proof of biometrics done to an address?

You don't need to send anything. The centre or post office does it electronically.