Proof of mother's status at time of birth for Passport

[theautomator]

Hello,

I was born in the UK in 1987, but grew up in Canada and never obtained a British Passport. I recently applied for a passport, as my mother had ILR before I was born, making me a British citizen by birth.

However, despite my mother's status, a stamp was never placed in her passport saying she had ILR (just a stamp reading "The holder is exempt from requiring a visa if returning to the UK within 2 years of embarkation"). She left and re-entered the UK several times, some before my birth, without conditions placed on the entry stamps.

She made a request in 1991 to have the ILR stamp placed into her passport (not an ILR application, just a request to add the stamp). The Home Office did so without any issue.

I got a letter back from IPS today after making my passport application stating they require proof of my mother's status at the time of my birth in the form of a letter from the Home Office, since the ILR stamp was added in 1991, after I was born. She can't find any letter from UKBA that would show this, and lost the letter they sent her confirming her status when she requested the stamp.

What would be the best way to get a letter from UKBA stating the date she was first granted ILR? I phoned and the customer service person at UKBA suggested I make a subject access request. Is this the only option? IPS still has my application, but a subject access request can take 40 days!

Thank you for your help

[vinny]

Apply for Confirmation of British nationality status.

[Jambo]

Apply for Confirmation of British nationality status.

vinny,

Would the HO confirm the person is settled in the UK and provide the date or just confirm the person is not a BC?

I believe SAR is your best bet. You need to hope they still have her records from 20 years ago.

[theautomator]

Hi Vinny, thanks for the reply. After looking into it, it appears that form would only be suitable for proving she is not a Citizen, but would not provide proof of date ILR was aquired.

Fingers crossed for the SAR...

I wonder why IPS can't obtain information directly from UKBA, being that they are both the Home Office...

[JAJ]

Will they even respond to a Subject Access request unless the mother makes it?

The form NS is asking the Home Office to look at their files (concerning your mother's immigration status) and issue a confirmation about whether you are a British citizen or not. It is a better option than the Subject Access request.

Did the mother ever become a British citizen?

[theautomator]

Hi,

On the SAR template form from the UKBA website, you can request an SAR on behalf of another person as an agent of that person. There is a place where the person who the SAR is about can sign to give you this authority. I had my mother sign it and also got a copy of her ID.

Form NS looks like it could be just what I need! Perhaps a better option than the SAR. I think this might be what Vinny meant, but his/her link went to "proof that you are NOT british".

While I'm waiting for that SAR, I think I'll complete form NS as well. Thanks everyone.

[Apparition]

They likely won't hold anything on her immigration status when you do SAR or form NS, given the timespan and mess of UKBA (and its other names) over the years.

'Parents immigration status at time of birth' is key. You don't need IRL to be Settled. See Page 14: gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/262095/chapter3.pdf

Why staff say IRL I don't know. The law states Settled; another term is Ordinarily Resident.