Foreign Birth Registration

[Flatcap_Julius]

Sorry I'm not terribly patriotic. I know that my lot is better than that of genuine asylum seekers - my point is about not being recognised as a citizen of a country. It must be awful fleeing persecution and then being subjected to an indefinite wait.

I feel like the UK has been pushed over a cliff edge by Brexit. I feel like it is a mediocre place with no real identity and no real law enforcement. Brexit affects my right to live in my own homes. I would not have gone to the university I didn't without Britain being in the EU. I don't know who I feel more resentment towards, the stupid people who voted for Brexit or the stupid government that gave them the choice and administered things so badly! Anyway, now we're not in the EU and I suppose at least we all have to deal with it. We will get our Irish passports. Better times will come.

[D Jilla]

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

[duffy1867]

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

Hi D Jilla

I applied on the 18.2.20, posted on the 21.2.20 and docs were received on the 25.2.20 (via tracking number).

I received an email on the 25.2.20 (much later in the day) confirming receipt of documents.

I haven't received any further correspondence since the email in Feb 2020. I don't remember when the offices closed originally, but I would imagine it was around this time...

Hope this helps

[Flatcap_Julius]

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

Hello D Jilla

They used to send a confirmation email for docs received and then they stopped doing it - I don't know when, though. I sent mine recorded too and I have also submitted a Freedom of Information request to know what documents they have received - because I want it in writing, It's only right and proper that people get a confirmation.

[dolewhip]

No new update on my situation, but since it's been 9 days since receiving (and replying to) the address confirmation email, I'm pretty curious what's going to happen next. Again, heard from Team 1:

Application submitted online: 7th October 2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documentation Balbriggan: 24th October 2019
Confirmation of address email: 13th July 2021
Congrats / added to FBR: pending
Certificate received: pending

It seems like Team 1 has been the source of extra frustration for many, having received the address confirmation email in December before the second lockdown.

Am I joining a backlog of applications waiting to be officially added, or is my case different because it was handled post-reopening? For my sake, I'd prefer it to be the latter, but the next week or so should be pretty revealing. Also fingers crossed something starts to happen with applications in the former group.

[Hferverda]

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

I think what you're referring to is the "application received" email. The "confirmation of address" email will come once they are actually processing your application, which probably won't be for a few more months at least if you applied in 02/20. That's bizarre that you never got a confirmation that they received your application as that was before lockdown, but yeah maybe its related. I'd try to contact them via web chat just to make sure they got it.

The email is from noreply@dfat.ie

Good luck!

[Flatcap_Julius]

No new update on my situation, but since it's been 9 days since receiving (and replying to) the address confirmation email, I'm pretty curious what's going to happen next. Again, heard from Team 1:

Application submitted online: 7th October 2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documentation Balbriggan: 24th October 2019
Confirmation of address email: 13th July 2021
Congrats / added to FBR: pending
Certificate received: pending

It seems like Team 1 has been the source of extra frustration for many, having received the address confirmation email in December before the second lockdown.

Am I joining a backlog of applications waiting to be officially added, or is my case different because it was handled post-reopening? For my sake, I'd prefer it to be the latter, but the next week or so should be pretty revealing. Also fingers crossed something starts to happen with applications in the former group.

Heya Dolewhip!

I think the Confirmation of Address email means that they are processing your certificate and are checking that they have the correct address to send it out to - so it's good news!

[louisfh]

Just wanted to post my positive experience.

I sent my application for FBR in Jan 2020. My wife since became pregnant, due August 2021. I used the Passport services webchat to explain my situation. I had previously not had a very helpful agent on the passport webchat, but after trying again they gave me an email address to contact to ask for my FBR application to be expedited.

I provided proof of due date, explained the situation and they managed to add me to the FBR within 2 days and have said my certificate is in the post.

I hope other expectant parents or those who need their FBR expedited have the same luck I did!

[dolewhip]

Heya Dolewhip!

I think the Confirmation of Address email means that they are processing your certificate and are checking that they have the correct address to send it out to - so it's good news!

I'm definitely hoping it's good news! The issue is that a few members here (including jgclancy) received that message back in December, then everything froze again, and they've yet to receive any further updates since.

It sounds like Team 1 (the team I heard from) is the source of this drop-off, so I'm curious to see whether I'm joining a queue that's basically been abandoned, or if my situation is different due to it only now being processed.

What happened to those waiting is completely unfair, but given the other teams progressing smoothly at this stage, I hope they're able to get it together (and in my case, that I'm not joining a 7-8 month wait for the certificate to ship as well). Should be clearer in the next week or so.

[arae9]

One last update from me! I got my Irish passport in the mail today. I applied via passport online (I live in Spain).

My timeline looks like this:

My documents were received in Ireland: September 16 2019
Address confirmation email: December 14 2020
Date added to registry: December 15 2020
Certificate received: April 12 2021

Passport online application sent: May 6 2021
Supporting documents mailed to Ireland: May 17 2021
Irish Passport received: July 22 2021

Still waiting for the passport card and return of original documents

[DKCalifornia]

Hey Dolewhip! At least there was some progress, right? I would be so thrilled to see that notification for my son (June 2019 applicant). We are feeling completely abandoned by FBR staff... hope is really getting dim.

Heya Dolewhip!

I think the Confirmation of Address email means that they are processing your certificate and are checking that they have the correct address to send it out to - so it's good news!

I'm definitely hoping it's good news! The issue is that a few members here (including jgclancy) received that message back in December, then everything froze again, and they've yet to receive any further updates since.

It sounds like Team 1 (the team I heard from) is the source of this drop-off, so I'm curious to see whether I'm joining a queue that's basically been abandoned, or if my situation is different due to it only now being processed.

What happened to those waiting is completely unfair, but given the other teams progressing smoothly at this stage, I hope they're able to get it together (and in my case, that I'm not joining a 7-8 month wait for the certificate to ship as well). Should be clearer in the next week or so.
[Hey Dolewhip! At least there was some progress, right? I would be so thrilled to see that notification for my son (June 2019 applicant). We are feeling completely abandoned by FBR staff... hope is really getting dim.
]

[Nodrick]

No new update on my situation, but since it's been 9 days since receiving (and replying to) the address confirmation email, I'm pretty curious what's going to happen next. Again, heard from Team 1:

Application submitted online: 7th October 2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documentation Balbriggan: 24th October 2019
Confirmation of address email: 13th July 2021
Congrats / added to FBR: pending
Certificate received: pending

It seems like Team 1 has been the source of extra frustration for many, having received the address confirmation email in December before the second lockdown.

Am I joining a backlog of applications waiting to be officially added, or is my case different because it was handled post-reopening? For my sake, I'd prefer it to be the latter, but the next week or so should be pretty revealing. Also fingers crossed something starts to happen with applications in the former group.

I'm one of the Team 1 crowd that had the confirmation of address in December.
I'm going to take hope from this, in that yours has moved along, so hopefully mine might too.

Tomorrow will be 800 days from the day I applied.......

[Angelo_2019]

Looks like they're still working on passports, post and website say FBR is still paused.
Backlog for FBR is still 30,000.

https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id ... rth#g418.q

Additional comments
https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id ... rth#g442.q

At present, there are just over 30,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that await processing. With regard to the specific query on applications received, please see the below table

Year Number of applications processed
2018 17,500
2019 18,500
2020 12,500
2021 (year to date) 3,000

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Passport Service has had to prioritise the provision of emergency passport services, in full compliance with the Government guidelines. The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.

The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas.

- Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications.
- Processing all adult renewal applications (including new applications) within 10 working days.
- Processing urgent and emergency applications.
- Providing customer services through our telephone and web chat team.

Very substantial progress has been made in clearing the COVID-19 backlog: all backlog applications which were completed properly have been processed and related passports issued.

The Passport Service will resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. The Department is committed to allocating further resources to this service to assist with the high volume of applications when regular processing resumes with a focus on reducing turnaround times to pre COVID-19 levels by the end of 2021. In the meantime, in cases of exceptional urgency applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.

I'm at 23 months (Aug 2019) with no reply at all since receipt of documents. I'm hoping they are sitting with a team that has not resumed processing, and not just lost or discarded.

[dolewhip]

Hey Dolewhip! At least there was some progress, right? I would be so thrilled to see that notification for my son (June 2019 applicant). We are feeling completely abandoned by FBR staff... hope is really getting dim.

Agreed, it's a better update than nothing! Just sort of a double-edged sword, given everything else that's happened. I'm pretty curious if our applications move forward or get held back due to the rep on the team assigned to us, or the team itself - this is what's TBD.

I'm one of the Team 1 crowd that had the confirmation of address in December.
I'm going to take hope from this, in that yours has moved along, so hopefully mine might too.

Tomorrow will be 800 days from the day I applied.......

Fingers crossed! I can't understand how this could happen while other applications are progressing smoothly - you'd think they'd be able to reassign to other team members, even if the one who originally sent you an update has been transitioned to other responsibilities.

[duffy1867]

Thanks for the interesting update Angelo_2019

I agree that it's evolving into team pot-luck in terms of who picks up your application!

[Muscat]

(Wishful) thinking ahead to my passport application... I am female and usually use my husband’s surname. I live in France where it’s normal for women to use their maiden name and, indeed, my EU covid vaccination passport is in my maiden name only. So I think it would be useful to have both my maiden and married name on my passport, otherwise I have to carry a marriage certificate around with me all the time. It seems that it’s normal to have your passport issued in your maiden name (I think...?). Is it possible to have your married name as an observation? Or can it be done the other way with passport in married name and an observation of your birth name? It’s not really clear from the info I’ve found online. Finally, we were married in a church in England, but obviously it’s recorded with the GRO. Would this count as a civil marriage certificate? Thank you for any help on this

[MikeyMike]

(Wishful) thinking ahead to my passport application... I am female and usually use my husband’s surname. I live in France where it’s normal for women to use their maiden name and, indeed, my EU covid vaccination passport is in my maiden name only. So I think it would be useful to have both my maiden and married name on my passport, otherwise I have to carry a marriage certificate around with me all the time. It seems that it’s normal to have your passport issued in your maiden name (I think...?). Is it possible to have your married name as an observation? Or can it be done the other way with passport in married name and an observation of your birth name? It’s not really clear from the info I’ve found online. Finally, we were married in a church in England, but obviously it’s recorded with the GRO. Would this count as a civil marriage certificate? Thank you for any help on this

Yes, you can add your maiden name as an observation. Not sure if it can be done the other way around but I expect so. If you want to be sure, contact the passport office or start the online application process to the point where you are asked for your personal details. Either way, you'll need to supply documentary evidence to support both names. I'm in a not dissimilar position in that I will want to include my middle name on my Irish passport but it is not recorded on my birth certificate so I'll need to supply history of usage evidence (I guess old bank statements etc).

[Nodrick]

So an update......

Having had a confirmation of address in December and then nothing but silence, I've had an email today asking for confirmation of address again......
It said I may have been contacted in 2020, but because of the delay they needed confirmation again.

Application : 15/05/2019
Confirmation docs received: 29/05/2019
Confirmation of address: 14/12/2020
2nd Confirmation of Address 23/07/21
Congratulations: TBA
Cert received: TBA

I'm hoping this means it may actually be happening and there is hope for the others on here who are in the same boat.
JGClancy, i got my fingers crossed for you!

[Pgm888]

I also received my second address confirmation email this morning. The first one was in December. I submitted my App in October of 2019. Fingers crossed.

[ripforreallldo]

i sent my online app in march 2020 but because of covid it didn’t make it to balbriggan until mid may. a few months later, i contacted the webchat to see how far along i was because i never received an email saying that had received my documents. i provided them with my mother’s maiden name and they were able to look up my application quickly, so don’t fret if you have not heard anything. someone there has been receiving the post.

[dolewhip]

Wow, big news for the December drop-off crowd!

Hopefully more timely updates to come, and that the congratulations / certificate shipped message isn't far behind.

[TInFE]

Hi all, long time lurker here with a question about the 'confirmation of address' email.

I posted my application on 27 Feb 2020 and haven't received any contact since then. I sent my docs by recorded delivery so I know they were definitely received in Balbriggan; just wanted to know whether anyone is in the same boat / posted around that time and hasn't even received their confirmation of address yet?

I'm thinking maybe it was because the office closed 2-3 weeks afterwards due to the start of the pandemic. Or, maybe the email got sent to my junk folder and I missed it. Can anyone confirm the email address used by the FBR so I can make sure it's not classed as spam?

By the way it's great to see a few people getting their certificates through despite the major slowdown in the office. This forum is pretty much the only place to get a hint of an update as to how things are progressing, so good on you all!

We're probably in a similar place although I received my email for documents:

Date application submitted: 3rd March 2020
Date application received in balbriggan Ireland and email recd: 18th March 2020
Date confirmation of address email:
Date added onto foreign birth register:
Date congratulations email:
Date received certificate at your address:

I regularly check spam although I think this got through (gmail)

The long wait continues ...

[Flatcap_Julius]

Thanks Angelo. Looking at those numbers processed per year it's clear to see where the 18-24 month time frame comes from. I suppose that most people applying for FBR will also eventually be applying for a passport and so processing more FBR claims will invariably lead to more passport applications, making it extremely difficult to clear the backlog of passport applications. The DFA are clearly under a lot of pressure. I just think it would be nice if there were at the very least some sort of online tracking and and acknowledgement of receipt of application documents that would at least be something. Realistically I can't see COVID disappearing any time soon. I guess a lot depends on how the pandemic pans out and also how the DFA get on with clearing the passport application backlog. They can't tell us because they don't know - and then they get people like me whingeing on about it. The fact is I am in a safe country and I have my health - touch wood - and it is going to take some time for the fallout from COVID and Brexit to loosen its grip of iron on the world. Each application is going to be important to the applicant for their own personal reasons. It would be nice if the lines of communication were better, though, and I don't think it would take all that much to make the wait a little more bearable for applicants.

[DKCalifornia]

Congrats to you and Nodrick!! Still nothing for us (June 2019). At least things are moving for some of our long-wait group.
=Pgm888 post_id=2022533 time=1627046170 user_id=251194]
I also received my second address confirmation email this morning. The first one was in December. I submitted my App in October of 2019. Fingers crossed.
[/quote]

[temuni]

Just wanted to post my positive experience.

I sent my application for FBR in Jan 2020. My wife since became pregnant, due August 2021. I used the Passport services webchat to explain my situation. I had previously not had a very helpful agent on the passport webchat, but after trying again they gave me an email address to contact to ask for my FBR application to be expedited.

I provided proof of due date, explained the situation and they managed to add me to the FBR within 2 days and have said my certificate is in the post.

I hope other expectant parents or those who need their FBR expedited have the same luck I did!

That's fantastic! Any chance you could share the email address they gave you? I have had multiple unproductive chats with the passport services webchat and feel like I'm running into a brick wall with the pregnancy.