Travelling - Indian passport after UK Naturalisation

[naz444]

Hello All,

I would really appreciate if anyone can advice on the following questions.

I have my oath ceremony on 3rd August.
I am travelling to Germany next week, is it possible that I can travel in my Indian passport after the ceremony.

I understand from the Indian Embassy website that there is 3 months grace period allowed but also see that as soon as I become British Citizen my ILR is not valid anymore.

Does anyone have any personal experience on issues you may have come across with the UK Border agency on your arrival back to UK.

[Jambo]

You should have no problem entering using Indian passport and ILR. Save your time and don't try to explain the situation to the IO. Just enter as before (with landing card etc).

[naz444]

Thank you for the response. However, I have changed the date of ceremony to end of next week (private).
Anyway, I have another trip end of this month to Europe and I firmly believe I will not receive the British Passport before that. I guess I have to travel again in my Indian passport after ceremony.

If I come across any issue with the Border Agency will post it in the forum.

[manyaonisland]

If I come across any issue with the Border Agency will post it in the forum.

did you face any issue?

[electricorange]

Ignoring Jambo's advice (at my own peril), when I returned from the US last week I joined the UK/EU queue and presented my US passport with my nationality certificate. No problem, no delay, and no stamp in the passport.

Your mileage may vary with this approach, but my reasoning was this:

1. As a British Citizen, the immigration officer has no discretion - they have to let you into the country (although, admittedly, you could be detained for a time whilst they obtain proof).

2. Once you are naturalised, your ILR is legally invalid.

3. Given 1 and 2, I would rather be detained or delayed for legally trying to enter the country than have to answer questions about why I'm trying to enter the country on an invalid visa.

Further to the above, an anecdote. Back when I was applying for a COA to marry my wife (a dual UK/Australian national), we both had to submit our passports, but she had to urgently travel abroad for a job interview. We contacted the Home Office for advice, and they said in no uncertain terms - if you need to, travel on your Australian passport, because as a British Citizen, you cannot be refused entry at the border.

Again, your mileage may vary.

[santsharan81]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am in similar situation having to travel post naturalization but no UK passport. Would be interested in knowing if there are more actual experiences of people who faced this in the past.

[umittal]

Hi Friends

I am on ILR and going to apply for Naturalization at council office in Swindon on 28th July(4 days from now). I will need to travel to India in Sept 2014 for a week.

Looking at Naturalization waiting times I don't think I will have my Naturalization certificate by then as its taking 2-3 months.

Now my question is

A) If my certificate is not there by then am I subjected to any restriction because I have made the application?
B) If my certificate do arrive by then what is the procedure I should follow for traveling to India?
C) I have gone through the procedure discussed to travel in this forum but all concerned had BP. In case you only have NC and not BP and are within 3 months of NC what procedure should be followed?
D) Is ILR valid after NC?
E) From when Grace period is calculated? i.e When you make your NC application or the day you receive your NC after ceremony?
F) How long it takes to get BP after NC?

Regards
umittal