renunciation / proof of not british citizen / PEO walk in

[pi_infinity]

Hi,

My sister is currently applying for her Singapore passport which she is required to take an Oath of Allegiance. She is being asked to either renounce her British citizenship or prove that she has not become a British citizen.

When she was born in Hong Kong in 1990, she was holding a passport that states that she is a British Dependent Territories Citizen. She became a Singapore Citizen by way of my parents' immigration to Singapore in 1996.

On the UK Borders Agency website it states " If you were a British dependent territories citizen only because you had a connection with Hong Kong immediately before 1 July 1997, you stopped being a British dependent territories citizen on that date."

Do anyone know if there is any need to renounce her citizenship, or just prove that she has not become a British citizen?

If it is just to prove that she has not become a British Citizen, we have so far sent an application to the UK Border Agency for a proof that she has not become a British Citizen on the 11th June 2012. Until now we still have not received any reply. The application states that it requires only 10 days for processing, so we tried to contact the UK Border Agency by phone but to no avail. Hence we sent another application by fax as advised by an employee of the UK Borders on 26th June 2012 with a cover letter to state that it is urgent (as she would become stateless soon if this letter is not available to confirm that she is not tied to the UK because Singapore will not award her a citizenship without it)

Does anyone have any experiences in getting the proof that you are not a british citizen for any reason, and if yes, how long did that take you?

Does anyone know if there is a possibility that it may be delayed, and if it will be delayed does the UK border agency reply with an ETA or reason of why it is delayed?

Finally, does anyone know if there is a PEO or UK borders office that allows walk in without appointments (no matter how long we need to wait)

I would be extremely grateful if anyone can answer even just part of my question. Thank you very much!!

[asim72]

Did you apply on the form and pay a fees for a certificate saying that British citizenship has not been granted?

I had this certificate about 2 years ago. I don't exactly remember how long it took, but it didn't take very long. I am sure it arrived within two weeks time. There is no walk in system at UKBA and there is no same day system for this kind of application. Ringing or sending faxes doesn't help either. UKBA takes as long as they like.

[pi_infinity]

asim22, thank you very much for the reply! With your reply at least I know that there is a possibility that either the Home Office has lost my form or they are just taking their time as it has already been 3 weeks. I have decided to send another form NQ over. I have double checked that the payment details we have provided and the form is the correct one that we sent. Lets hope that it will come back soon.

Also just one more question, did you send any form of supporting documentation over with your application? I know that it is not neccessary as it is not asked for, but will it be easier for them to work with?

Thanks!

[asim72]

I did not provide anything apart from the form and fees. You have sent another form, so now you will end up paying two times the fee.

[pi_infinity]

thank you asim for the information! We are aware that we will be paying double, but it can't be helped, because this is getting a little more pressing as time passes and we can't really take the chance that it may take forever and never return her application or even worse, lose it within the HO.

[asim72]

I wonder though why she did not hand her passport at British embassy in Hong Kong. I am sure that British embassy in Hong Kong would have put down in writing that she has lost her BDT citizenship. The application you have submitted will confirm that she has not been naturalised as British citizen. This certificate may not be enough if singapore want to see express proof that she has surrendered her previous BDT citzenship and passport.

[pi_infinity]

As far as I know, there was no need to surrender the British dependent territories citizen passport. This is because on 1st July 1997 when Hong Kong returned to China, anyone who holds that particular passport and did not choose to switch to the current british overseas national status will lose any form of connection to the UK immediately.

Even in the UK borders agency website it states in the renunciation section: If you were a British dependent territories citizen only because you had a connection with Hong Kong immediately before 1 July 1997, you stopped being a British dependent territories citizen on that date. - I assume that means that my sister cannot renounce her "citizenship" because she has already stopped being a citizen in 1997

She became a Singaporean citizen before 1st July 1997, and by that she currently will not have a connection with the UK, so the only thing she can do is to declare that she isn't a British citizen.

Also, from what I hear from my parents, the problem is that the phone system in the Hong Kong British embassy is similar to the nationality one here in the UK Borders Agency. No one picks up phone calls, and it is all automatic and asks you to email them. In addition, even when we email, we haven't received any reply. It is not possible to just walk into the embassy because we won't be admitted without an appointment as well

If you know more information about this, or if you are aware that I am wrong in any way, please let me know.

Thanks

[asim72]

She can't renounce citizenship, but can still get a letter from embassy outling that under such and such a law, ms x ceased to be BDT citizen on such and such date.

Even the info you have quoted, if it could just be obtained signed by embassy on their stationary, it should suffice.

I think the solution to your problem is very simple and you are just working hard unnecessarily.

Ringing embassies doesn't usually work. I think if you had written to the embassy, they would sure have been able to confirm in writing the position of BDT citizens.

[alvin chiu]

Hello
i've seen your post and i am currently experiencing the similar situation. May i know how you settle your renunciation of BNO passport?