New policy regarding passport names for dual nationals.

[ozexpat]

Hi,
I thought I would mention that only last week I received my passport after fighting for 6 months (I know it doesn't seem like long from all of the stories I have read on here). I managed to wear HMPO down and get them to add in an observation, as I wasn't going to be renewing my French passport which expired in December. They didn't seem to understand that in France I will always be known under my maiden name, with them an addition of my married name.
I had to send them my new identity card which has this on it, and so I now have my passport with an observation which reads:
Holder has a French passport, number xxxxxx issued xxxxx in the name of xxxxx (maiden name). This passport expires 09/12/2017.
Holder has French Identity Card issued on xxxxxx in name of xxxxxxx ep (married) xxxxx

Hopefully this will help, and if anyone needs more information message me and I will be more than happy to help with a case of precedence.

Hi ghgi
How did you ask them to add the observation? I'm struggling with a difference in name order (first vs middle names) and when I mentioned doing an observation, the reply was that they don't do observations.

Thanks in advance

[ghgi]

Hi,
I'm not entirely sure to be honest why they did it, I had mentioned to them previously that I wanted one, and I went to my MP to ask for help (they were zero help in the end, just stopped once they got the official "one name policy" line back). I think for me it was that I managed to make someone acknowledge that I would always be known by my maiden name in France, and only have my married name as an observation on French documents, so I would never be Mrs (married name) over there. I told them I had got my marriage registered and that I was getting an ID card, which mirrors a passport in France, so they seemed to accept that once I sent it to them.
If you need help you can always contact me directly and I can try and get something together so they can see precedent. That's the only thing I can go with.

[ozexpat]

Has anyone received a message from HMPO about a deadline to supply new documents (i.e. documents to show that names have been changed to all match)? In the middle of discussions with HMPO about documents I have been requested to supply they have suddenly sent a notice to say that my application would be withdrawn automatically by XX April if the documents are not received, with no refund of application fees.

This is hardly reasonable when I am in the middle of trying to get the right documents (if this is even possible) or letters from embassies. I am not sure how HMPO expect applicants to gather documents from overseas when they hold onto all the documents supplied with the application (including deed poll and other identity documents) and also won't issue a passport for applicants to use for overseas travel.

Thinking about this never-ending totalitarian drama on the flight to Tokyo Narita a few months ago, I realised that the truth behind all this nonsense might have been hiding in plain sight, i.e. THE NEW EXIT CONTROL SYSTEM.

When you fly out of the UK, the Government collects your API data, and use that as your record of embarkation. So, if a Japanese-British dual national with no record of naturalisation checks in a one-way flight using his new Japanese passport (to avoid visa requirements, etc.), the API system only captures an unknown Japanese person leaving the UK without first entering it rather than a British Citizen. I guess that will quite significantly corrupt the data set over time.

That is probably why they are so militant about building up a massive database that actually cross-links between every foreign and British passport.

If they had a proper exit control where every British national is asked to show a British passport, they would be able to simply compare the embarkation data and the API entries and build the necessary record with ease.

Having said that, it is perhaps really for security purposes i.e. detecting everyone who was born here and can potentially fly one-way to certain countries, but do they really think such people will honestly declare? Or, is it simply about nicking certain people for not honestly declaring it?

The exit control makes sense, but at the same time it doesn't. As far as I understand there is not an obligation from dual nationals to continually update HMPO or Home Office about any new passports or changes to their non-British passport. A British citizen can also become a dual national and then start using a second passport which they would have no idea about.

They should really be thinking about what they're wanting to achieve. Or maybe a more flexible system that just records all the passports and names that a dual national uses so they can verify exit records that way? The US also gathers exit data from airlines so it's not a unique problem.

[gba98]

I have been following this post for some time.

I had my own issues: three nationalities, two active passports and one required name change. I didn't agree with the policy (and still don't) and wanted to keep my anglicised first name but had to bite the bullet and change my name through deed poll to match the other active passport. The only advantage of this is that I will have no problems with border control in any country. I think the problem is that if you have to present two passports with two different names this may cause a problem in another country.

I changed my name to avoid discrimination many years ago. I am now not living in the UK but this still isn't the point. It is much easier using a western first name in the west and with expats rather than a 'foreign' name. It also makes applying for employment easier.

I am interested in the potential use of a different professional name to avoid discrimination. I understand that there is a clause that can be used such as "The holder is also known as..." although I have been told that you need to provide evidence. My previous first name was used for years and most of my friends still and only know me as that.

I think new clauses should be added in to HMPO guidelines allowing British Citizens to have a professional or alternative name, even if it is not currently in use, in order to avoid discrimination even if the requirement is to match legal names. This should then satisfy 'security' requirements and allow people to work and live using their preferred names.

I cannot see that the current policy will genuinely prevent either the next terrorist attack or identity fraud.

[maximb74]

Hi again Maxim,

I'm glad to hear of your good news. After us fighting the passport office, we have given up and decided to change the Belarus passport like you did. Can I ask, what document did you provide to show proof of the name change? We have a British marriage certificate. Is it enough do you think. Perhaps you had additional documents? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we are worried about using up our holidays to go to Belarus, but being unsuccessful because of not having the right documents.

thanks in advance for any advice you might have

Hi world_ctz,

Hope you've been successful with your application by now, but if you are still in it - apologies for belated reply - my wife did not change her name when got married, so all she had to do when renewing her Belarussian passport was to change the spelling of her name in English to match that in her British passport. In your case I believe they would want to see a legalised translation (with apostille) of your marriage certificate in Russian. I think Belarussian consulate will do that.

Good luck!

[mtf]

Hi,

My wife is a Polish/British dual national, and she has changed her name from "First Second OLDLAST" to "First Second Oldlast NEWLAST", i.e. converting her maiden surname to a new middle-name and adopting my surname.

Unfortunately Poland doesn't allow its citizens to have more than two forenames, so my wife had to settle for "First Second NEWLAST" in her new Polish passport. Now of course HMPO are refusing to accept my wife's full name. Even though we have an enrolled deed poll stamped by the High Court of Justice (no less!), it appears that Polish legal restrictions take precedence over our own High Court...

Being aware of the guidance in section 6.6 of Annex A (thanks to this forum), we asked the Polish consulate in London to provide written evidence that the new name on my wife's deed poll would not be permissible on a Polish passport. The consulate staff refused, and told us that they will not facilitate Polish nationals changing their names in other countries, if such names would be forbidden in Poland. Instead we printed a page in English from a Polish consulate website, and another page in Polish showing the original Polish legislation on name changes (with a handwritten translation), and sent these to HMPO. HMPO refused to accept these, saying that they will only accept a "letter from the Polish authorities", and not a "printout from the internet".

Any advice? The new guidance in Annex A is a nice gesture to help dual nationals whose "other country" refuses to allow name changes...but if the other country's consulate also refuses (on principle) to provide the documentary evidence requested by HMPO, then we're back to square one.

Obviously any reasonable person would recognise that Polish laws are public documents, and we shouldn't need a letter from the government to prove the existence of a binding public law. A statement from a qualified Polish lawyer should at least suffice, but apparently that's not good enough.

So far we've only interacted with the call centre staff at HMPO, who are rude and powerless to decide anything. Did anyone have more luck by writing to them?

Thanks in advance!

[Holdenj183]

Hi

Can anyone help. This is affecting us directly. My husband is British and I am Filipina. We live in the UK. My husband adopted my children via a UK Court so the children are now automatically British citizens. However when we applied for their passports we received this response about aligning names. We thought Philippine Republic Act 9225 relinquished their Philippine citizenship but after a number of enquiries we are now not so sure.

How hard is it to prove that you cannot change the name in the country of origin? What is the burden of proof?

If physically possible but requires attendance in person by the children, would disruption to schooling be grounds for exceptional circumstances?

[Jonny31t]

Hi

Can anyone help. This is affecting us directly. My husband is British and I am Filipina. We live in the UK. My husband adopted my children via a UK Court so the children are now automatically British citizens. However when we applied for their passports we received this response about aligning names. We thought Philippine Republic Act 9225 relinquished their Philippine citizenship but after a number of enquiries we are now not so sure.

How hard is it to prove that you cannot change the name in the country of origin? What is the burden of proof?

If physically possible but requires attendance in person by the children, would disruption to schooling be grounds for exceptional circumstances?

I am intrigued too. My passport has one name. My citizenship approval came with First name, and surname in the order I want. So I don't know what I will get on my passport.

My home country has no facility to put in surname and first names.

[Kimhibberd]

Hi all.
I am a victim of the ‘one name’ policy.
I applied to renew my British passport which was issued in my married name. My expired Australian Passport is in a previous married name. To change the name on my Australian passport is very difficult to say the least. I have to apply to my birth state for a name change certificate which is difficult in itself, then apply for the new Australian passport. I did not have the desire nor the inclination to go through this long winded process not do I need my Australian process which is why I didn’t bother. I never travel on that passport. I don’t need it. I don’t want to jump through all the hoops and go to the expense of applying for a passport I just don’t need.
The PO advised me to obtain one of those ‘ letters’ stating I will not renew or apply for another Australian passport. When I made enquiries to the Australian High Commission they said they didn’t issue such letters!
I don’t know what to do next. I’m at my wits end.
Is there anyone out there who can give me step by step instructions. Please

[gba98]

I had an old expired passport that will never be renewed.

I had to go through a complicated process involving three passports and two active passports. The names in the active passports have now been aligned.

HMPO are probably being more flexible now if they say you can do this and the name in your Australian passport does not match your British one.

Try going to a solicitor and make a statutory declaration with some background information stating your Australian passport and name and stating: "The last Australian passport issued to me expired on (date) (exhibit no.). I hereby declare that I will not renew such passport...". Then provide HMPO with a full colour photocopy of your last expired Australian passport.

Please take further advice before going through this route but it worked for me for my third passport which had not been renewed since the mid 90s (but the name was my current (birth) name and was relatively aligned except for for regional differences in name spelling and not a maiden name).

The advice on HMPO's phone line isn't always consistent which is why you need to take further advice and find a reliable solicitor who isn't just after your money.

You could always relinquish your Australian nationality but I wouldn't advise this route. I also wouldn't advise trying to hide another passport even if someone advises you to as HMPO can always find out.

[pyroskin]

Hello,

I'm planning to apply for British Citizenship in the next weeks, and with it for a UK Passport. After reading this thread, I'm wondering if I have a problem when applying for a passport. I'm have dual citizenship in Italy and Slovenia (both EU). My surname ends with a character used is Slovenia which is a "c" with a small "v" on top. It looks like this: "č". In my Slovenian passport it is spelt with a "č", but in my Italian passport it is simply a "c". In my life in UK I've always used the simplified version spelt with a "c". Will I likely have problems in applying for a UK passport, when I will have to send both the Italian and Slovenian passport? What could be a possible solution?

Thank you for your help!

[idonno]

All the trumpets and fanfares at the beginning of this very long thread and I can tell you: nowt has changed.

My wife is of Vietnamese origin. In her passport her name is as it is done in Vietnam:
In this order: Family name, middle name No. 2, Middle name No. 1, given name.

From day 1, applying to come here to the UK way back in 2011, ILR, and now naturalisation, she has had this problem with the Home Office insisting on referring to her by her Middle name No. 2, family name. Time and time again, we have tried to get this corrected. Indeed, her middle name No. 2 is given to the vast majority of Vietnamese females, simply because when translated, that is what it says: I'm female! It's a gender ID. Despite supplying information, backing up the order of names as done in Vietnam (even one produced by Interpol, way back in 2006), we are still stuck in limbo land.

And despite what it says at the beginning of this thread about name changes, order of names etc, if you apply for a British passport, the policy is still very much as is. No name change or changes to the order of names allowed. It must be as shown in the holders foreign passport. The naturalisation certificate is the same too.

In the letter received today from the Passport Office it talks about security. How can it be secure when I, as a British person, would look at her British passport and automatically would call her in the order that it is shown. My British passport shows Family name top followed on the next line: given name, middle name! Her true name as it really is wouldn't be shown. When her British passport does arrive it will show Family name then underneath: Middle Name No. 2, Middle Name No. 1, Given name.

This creates a huge legal minefield for a fair number of naturalised people. One question I got asked recently was to give my spouse's name (to be written down as shown in her passport). Yes, you've guessed it. My pension paperwork came through showing my wife's name as 'middle name No. 2, family name' only. No sign of her true given name at all. Smacks very much so of 2 classes of citizens in the UK, even bordering on outright discrimination. I have come to the conclusion that the Home Office is inhabited by strange people who do not live in the real world.

I have fired off a load of paperwork to my MP. Whether it will get anywhere, who knows. Maybe it needs a crowd funding case to go through the courts. It must be wrong when someone is not allowed to be known by their given name. As it is, simply to get her a British passport, she has agreed to accept it as is. She needs to travel. But show that passport to any financial institution etc in the UK and the names on any application and her British passport will not tally at all. It might be fine for use in Vietnam though!

[Springie]

Hi all,

I'd like to share my successful story of getting a British passport issued in a name different from a previous uncancelled passport.

Citizenship ceremony: 26 November 2018
Passport tracking link used and generic responses from HMPO got: 28 November 2018
Letter from passport office asking for original of last Travel Document: 30 November 2018 (dated 28.11.2018)
Original of last Travel Document delivered to HMPO: 04 December 2018
Passport received (no text message): 07 December 2018

A bit of background. I obtained asylum in 2013 and the HO retained all my passports at the time. They then issued me with a Travel Document (blue). In 2016 I got married and changed my name, the HO issued me with a new TD in my married name.

When applying for naturalisation in September, I also applied for JCAP. I included a cover letter with the postal passport application form, which explained the situation and said the following:

► Show Spoiler

Her Majesty’s Passport Office
Ground Floor
Law Society House
90-106 Victoria Street
BELFAST
BT1 3GN

To Whom It May Concern
Re: Passport Application for (Springie)

I’m applying for a British passport during my application to be naturalised as a British citizen, using the National Document Return Service and the Joint Citizenship and Passport Application.

I’m making these applications in my married name – Mrs (Springie). I got married in the UK on xx.xx.2016 to Mr (Springie), a British citizen, and legally changed my name in the UK. The Home Office hold all my current details in my married name and have accepted the name change by issuing 2 BRPs and a Convention Travel Document (expired) in this name.

I had also been issued with but don’t currently possess an expired uncancelled passport in my maiden name and other nationality – (Vogon). This passport is held by the Home Office and was retained by them in 2013 in the process of my application for asylum. The details of this passport are as follows:

Name: (Miss pre-Springie)
Date of Birth: xx xx 19xx
Passport number: xxxxxxxxx
Country of Birth: (Vogsphere)
Issuing authority: xxxx-xxx
Issue date: xx.xx.2010
Expiry date: xx.xx.2015

I’m aware that the passport application rules require me to change my name to my married name on my (Vogon) passport before a British one can be issued in my married name. However, it would be impossible for me to obtain this passport, as I am currently a refugee from (Vogsphere) and
1) I cannot obtain a (Vogon) passport while my refugee protection is in place, and
2) I’d be required by the (Vogon) government to travel to (Vogsphere) to effect the name change first on my internal identity card and then on my passport, and I cannot travel to (Vogsphere) due to safety considerations.

For the reasons stated above, I request that the Passport Office apply the exception stated in Change of Name Guidance, Annex A: use of names in passports paragraph 6.6 point iii and that my British passport is issued in my married name – Mrs (Springie).

Yours faithfully,
(Springie)

Shortly after my citizenship ceremony, I received a letter from the HMPO saying:

"For us to continue with the application, please send us your UK travel document. If it isn't possible, you must explain why in writing."

I posted my last uncancelled TD to the specified address and within the week, I got my passport in my married name, valid for 10 years and with no official observations.

They do appear to be occasionally reasonable!

[Clazg]

Hi,
I thought I would mention that only last week I received my passport after fighting for 6 months (I know it doesn't seem like long from all of the stories I have read on here). I managed to wear HMPO down and get them to add in an observation, as I wasn't going to be renewing my French passport which expired in December. They didn't seem to understand that in France I will always be known under my maiden name, with them an addition of my married name.
I had to send them my new identity card which has this on it, and so I now have my passport with an observation which reads:
Holder has a French passport, number xxxxxx issued xxxxx in the name of xxxxx (maiden name). This passport expires 09/12/2017.
Holder has French Identity Card issued on xxxxxx in name of xxxxxxx ep (married) xxxxx

Hopefully this will help, and if anyone needs more information message me and I will be more than happy to help with a case of precedence.

Hi there,

I'm a dual national French/British Since birth and in having some trouble getting me first British passport due to the one name policy. My French passport, which expires in June, has my birth name but I since changed my name in the UK by deed poll. I'm not planning on renewing my French passport, and having just into Cambridge uni I have no intention to go back to France. I am able to prove that I use my 'new name for everything here and I'm definitely not wanting to try my name in France cause it's a nightmare and I probably couldn't anyway. I've just been sent my documents back with a letter saying they will not do my passport until I change my name on my French passport..
I was wondering if you could help me with writing a letter as you seem to know what elements work!
Really keen to get the British passport before my French one expires

Cheers

[Dishk]

Good afternoon
I really need help my daughter name has been changed by UK deed pool now uk passport office is asking me to change her name in her French passport before they give her British passport I contact them they said they do not recognise uk deed pool I don't know what else to do

[GinaAnd]

Hi All, wonder if you can help at all. Firstly, I am sick to the stomach of having to post this and also spent half day craying today after I found this out only TODAY! So I am a dual National - Slovak by birth and naturalised British in 2008. My first British Passport (for which I had to attend a passport ID check interview) expires on a Brexit day! Having just booked a trip to Japan a week ago for May 2019 I have to get it renewed. The problem - My Slovak passport is in my maiden name. My British one in married name. And today trying to process my British p. Renewal online I find out about this ridiculous one name policy! I phoned PO and had varied responses - one guy was so rude and just hunged up on me. Another lady was understanding and suggested I go for premium one day service application and explain all there - perhaps they will be accepting. I am booked in for Wednesday but worried sick. It will take good 8 months to get my Slovak passport changed to my married name. And with expired British one if they refuse me a renewal I am screwed. BA will not change the name on my flight booking (phoned them already) ... having digged our the naturalization certificate and a copy of the actual naturalisation application - it clearly says there in a comments entred by me that I have maintained the use of my maidan name in my country of origin but assumed my husband’s surname in the Uk. HO issued me with the naturalization certificate in a married name (referring the my other know names as my maiden name). Since I never had my Slovak passport in other then my maiden name - this naturalization application was obviously supported by my maidan name passport. Also, when applying for the actual first UK passport I had produced my Slovak in a maiden name. And they issued me
with British one in a married name. So all the way they never discouredged me or advised me against it, in fact happily gave me a passport with a different name. I was always open and honest about my other surname - and now due to the stupid and discriminatory policy introduced since, I am facing my application potentially being rejected. I am shacking worried.
Do you have any advice for me? I will probably die if I can not travel on our holiday - we have been saving it for so long!! My hubby is also in bits, I am stressed out and crying - I just can’t believe it. Have been through so much shit to get a citizenship in a first place - and now when this is meant to be staightforward renewal I am having problems again - what is wrong with this country?!
Thank you so much!!

[vinny]

If they made a mistake when they issued your first passport in your married name, then they should be able to issue the new passport in your maiden name? Else, if they didn't make a mistake, then they should be able to issue the new passport in your married name?

Moreover, an overly rigid name policy seems to undermine the sensible observation section of the passport.

[Nancy DD]

... here is the new name policy page, which contains two pdf documents:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-guidance

In the first pdf, "Use and Change of Names" (click on "Change of name guidance"), the relevant portions are paragraphs 26 to 28. They allow the issue of a British passport in a name other than that on a person's foreign passport if the person can prove that the foreign country of which they are a citizen won't allow them to change their names, and that they have been using their new name (the name desired on the British passport) 'for all purposes'.

In the second pdf, "Annex A: Use of Names in Passports", the relevant sections are paragraphs 6.5 to 6.7. They reiterate the material from the first pdf, provide a few more details, and specify that in such a case, an observation will be placed in the British passport explaining that the person is also known by their other name on their foreign passport.

This interested me because my existing passport is in my maiden name (which had to be scanned in to submit my supporting documents), but my hope is to get my citizenship in the married name with which I have been registered in this country for almost 31 years, so I was relieved to read this thread. In the 10-page "Use and Change of Names" pdf the only clickable link led to Annex A, so I assume this document has changed since it was quoted here, although the second pdf, "Annex A" is as described.

It might be a complication that my married name was a change by convention, not deed poll or any of the officially required documents listed in the Annex, demonstrating a legal change of name - including my international marriage licence (which is apparently not in the same format as the British one). However I have plenty of documentation to demonstrate that 'for all purposes' it is my married name that is registered with each and every organisation/employer/educational establishment/group/society I have been a member of/involved in since May 1988, and I have contacted my Embassy to request the letter confirming that it is not legally possible to change my name in a national ID card or foreign passport.

What I do wonder about is which name will be on my naturalisation certificate, since all my applications have been made using my married name, the same as on my original residence permit, BRP card, NI number card, UK driving licence, bank accounts/statements, council tax statement, electoral roll, etc. etc. etc.

[HRS]

I got the information I needed to review prior to applying from HMPO in their refusal letter:

"Please see the attached link for our policy. Unfortunately as you have changed your name on your British passport into your married name, we will require your [x] passport to be aligned as we cannot issue your new passport until all passports are in the same name.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... uments.pdf

I wrote this and they approved my application within 1.5 days:

"- Renew my (foreign) passport and change the name to match my application for a UK passport.
- I have started this process in the name of [x] - please see the Chat for confirmation. (doc also in folder). The upshot is that I can proceed with this - but there are 2 drawbacks. The main one is that it transpires that I will have to attend in person in [x] to complete the application. I am 66 and live with my British 77 year old husband and a large old dog in [x]. My husband has been unwell for 2 years with [x] and such a journey would be impossible for him and I would not willingly leave him to attend/lodge the application in person in the foreseeable future. In addition to that personal practical one is the Covid-19 Crisis. I am deferring having the vaccine until the 3rd quarter 2021 when Novovax becomes available in[x]. I request that you consider these 2 issues as exceptions: i.e. " If the customer tells you it is too difficult for them to change their name, you must refer to exceptions: administrative fairness test” and under the "FCDO advice shows there is a risk of travelling due to Covid 19.” and also under "Exceptions: “Customer is in process of aligning their name"

My first preference is for you to issue my UK passport renewal in the same name as the previous one i.e. [x] - as per my application reviewed under your guidelines as indicated above and also accept my assurances that I had always intended to get my [x] passport renewed in my married name and I have consistently used my married name in [x] and the UK for all personal official documents not related to my work/career. You will see also that my previous UK passport was in the name [x] i.e. my maiden name and the name change which creates the discrepancy was due to marriage."

NOTE: they are apparently allowed to discriminate if they are applying a subsequent law - in this case it appears to be The Data Protection" act or a new immigration Act...its not clear and difficult to locate. But there are guidelines which HMPO can use - in the link above - and they are simply not using them. They are not following the guidelines and not even telling you about them. I have given feedback saying this link must be on the Adult Passport Renewal page - and should be identified as being of interest to dual nationals and the use of both maiden and married name for official purposes.

[idonno]

HRS » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:01 pm
I got the information I needed to review prior to applying from HMPO in their refusal letter:

"Please see the attached link for our policy. Unfortunately as you have changed your name on your British passport into your married name, we will require your [x] passport to be aligned as we cannot issue your new passport until all passports are in the same name.
--------------------
It is, of course, a load of rubbish. Believe me when I say I have been there. Short history, my wife is Vietnamese and the Vietnamese naming order is the reverse of the West. i.e. Family - Middle - Given.
She came to the UK in 2011 and was issued a BRP in the same naming order. It wasn't an issue then but once you start to get involved with officialdom, that all changes. HMRC for example would write Dear Ms Thi, which is my wife's middle name! It means female in Vietnam! So "Dear Ms Female". Ye Gods!

Fast forward a few years and naturalisation comes along. And exactly the same problem. The naming sequence was as the BRP, even though it was pointed out on the form what the correct naming sequence should be. It sort of put a downer on what should have been a good day. Months later we wrote to get her a British Passport and came across exactly the same issue you are hitting. Passports must be the same. No point arguing East was meeting West.

Come in my local MP. He did a sterling job, such the naturalisation certificate was altered. As it would cost money to get the newly issued British passport changed, that was allowed to ride. Airlines didn't give a damn and Vietnam certainly didn't.

But earlier this year, as she was opening a shop, it was decided to not only get her expiring Vietnam passport renewed (with, as you'd expect, the same original Vietnamese naming sequence) but once that came back, to get the British passport name changed as she was having problems with HMRC over her actual name. The naturalisation certificate went in with the application. They then asked for her Vietnam passport a couple of weeks later. Expecting previous issue, we didn't beat around the bush but stated that anything less than a properly named British passport would do or the issue would be going to certain individuals in both Houses of Parliament. She was rather surprised to get a British passport with her name in the correct format for UK ID use and in a different format to her (correct for) Vietnam passport.

I do wonder though, whether it really is time these issues were taken to the Courts! Why? We are just going through the same issues again with my Vietnamese step son and daughter. Their BRP's (indefinite leave) were issued in 2019 and have their names in the same wrong order. Such, he is called Mr Thanh, when his first name is Hoang! Banks and DVLA can only apply the naming sequence as shown on his BRP. We have a lot to thank the Home Office for i.e. breweries etc come to mind. Also Ethnic discrimination of the highest order. Maybe time for a crowd funding! Although at his (and her) age, they probably qualify for legal aid of some sort to bring a case against the Home Office.

[Bgsbgs]

Hi,
Another frustrated customer of HMPO here, just wanted to share our story.
My wife got her first British passport 10 years ago. She applied for a renewal in March, and still has no passport 5 months on. She is also a national of Belarus, and her name in her Belarusian passport is spelt differently. With her application she provided proofs that the only name she uses here in the UK is the name in her British passport. She also provided a letter from the Consulate of Belarus confirming that her Belarusian passport cannot be changed in the UK. After initial two months of silence PO requested another confirmation that Belarusian passport cannot be changed in the UK. When they received that, their response after 6 weeks of thinking was that my wife had to travel to Belarus and change her passport there. I have to stress here that at no point did we receive any formal written response from PO, all information from them was passed on the phone by a clerk reading the case officer’s notes. Nor did they return either of my wife’s passports (her British passport had expired by then). So my wife is expected to go to Belarus and return back to the UK on her Belarusian passport. Belarus is not a EU country and a passport holder needs a visa to travel almost anywhere, including the UK. How on earth is my wife supposed to get back to the UK? Obviously, PO have no idea whether it is even possible to change a name in Belarusian passport, nor do they care if it is possible to travel with such passport. To our request to give more details as to how they imagined this to work they said they cannot give advice on that because it’s not their job, but they have to follow single name policy. We sent them a letter with references to Home Office immigration guidelines arguing that what they are suggesting my wife should do is impossible without breaking HO’s own rules. They went into silent mode again for 7 weeks, the last thing we heard was that my wife’s application is being reviewed by the policy department and no final decision has been made yet… As a result of this red-tape my wife had to miss our family holiday… In the meantime, we wrote multiple complaints to PO’s complaints department – waste of time, to our local MP – wasn’t helpful (conservative first-timer), we even wrote to one of the Lords who worked on the amendments to this policy. We talked to a human rights charity and were told that indeed we have a human right issue here but until we get a formal decision from PO not much can be done. This treatment by PO is absolutely disgraceful. My wife is not allowed to contact her case officer by any means of communication. All she can do is send a letter to a PO Box and hope for a letter back asking her to give a call to the call centre so a clerk can read the case notes. The most annoying thing is that we have no traces of communication from PO, no evidence we could use to put legal pressure on them... The only thing we've not tried is going to a national newspaper, otherwise we've run out of options. I guess our situation is not much different from many others on this forum, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Appreciate this post was some time ago, but I am worried my wife might have the same issue. She has a slightly different name on her Belarusian passport vs all other docs (one letter is different - a y instead of an i) due to the Belarusian passport using Belarusian transliteration convention. Would this still be considered a problem by the passport office?

[pkygt]

Thanks for this thread and the people who shared their successful experiences of getting their British passports without changing their non-British passports. I managed to appeal to HMPO and received my renewed British passport without changing my name on my non-British passport.

I have dual citizenship and renew my British passport few months ago. My name on my non-British passport is [First birth name X] + [Middle birth name Y] + [Maiden surname Z]. My name on my British passport is [First name A] + [Married surname B]. I didn't have problem to apply my first British passport but until renewal because of the one name policy!

When I received the letter and my non-British passport from HMPO, their letter didn't say Exceptions but said "you must follow" if going to the country to change name is the way to do so. Thanks to this thread and I learned exceptions from paragraph 6.6 in Annex A : use of names in passports ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-guidance).

I applied by using point iii of paragraph 6.6 in Annex A: use of names in passports. This is "where there is a requirement for the person to travel to their country of origin in order to change their name, and due to exceptional circumstances in their country of origin, they would be placed at a high level of risk.".

The risks I said are : The place of my non-British passport has political unsafety which cause me fear of travelling to there. Also the place is in severe Covid situation that requires compulsory of isolation of 3 weeks but I haven't accrued enough holiday to do so as I started a new job (I provided a copy of my new employment contract as evidence) so I would be at risk of losing my job. The final risk is worry of leaving my husband for a minimum of 3 weeks due to his illness.

Besides applying the exceptions, I also use paragraph 4.1 from Annex A: use of names in passports (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... t_2016.pdf) to prove I have been using the name on my British passport since I emigrated to UK. I provided various evidences to cover different period of time throughout my life in UK. The supporting documents are in colour photo copy and they have P60, certificate of naturalisation, driving licence, bank statement, marriage certificate, etc.

I requested HMPO to renew my British passport based on all the reasons and evidences I provided. I asked to apply observation code OBTO from this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -passports

After 3 days of sending the appeal letter and all evidences, I received an approval email from HMPO for my British passport!

I now have received my British passport with an observation of the details of my non-British passport.

[Boom1]

Hi all,


I am wondering, I want to change my name after naturalisation as well and get a new passport under new name. Unfortunately, I am aware of the rule for dual-citizens for changing name.

But, I am planning to lodge an application to withdraw from my Ukrainian citizenship once I get a UK citizenship certificate and attach the aknowledgement from Ukrainian government to Passport application. What chances that my passport will be approved under new name with such move? what do you think?

[meself2]

I am planning to lodge an application to withdraw from my Ukrainian citizenship once I get a UK citizenship certificate and attach the aknowledgement from Ukrainian government to Passport application.

It does not remove the need to attach your old passport, if thats the reason you planned to do it in such way.
http://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-pas ... d-to-apply

You have a certificate of naturalisation or registration
You’ll need both:

your naturalisation or registration certificate
the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

What chances that my passport will be approved under new name with such move? what do you think?

It is not unlikely for you to face issues.
You may also get an observation on your new passport regardless, as you have a patronymic - see eg viewtopic.php?p=2154198 for a Russian national.

The safest option for you would be to get a passport in your old name, change your name/surrender other citizenship and then get a passport in your new name; otherwise you may be stuck in the country for months without any sort of a valid travel document, if issues do arise.

[Boom1]

[quote=Boom1 post_id=2170183 time=<a href="tel:1720478028">1720478028</a> user_id=290120]
I am planning to lodge an application to withdraw from my Ukrainian citizenship once I get a UK citizenship certificate and attach the aknowledgement from Ukrainian government to Passport application.

It does not remove the need to attach your old passport, if thats the reason you planned to do it in such way.
http://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-pas ... d-to-apply

You have a certificate of naturalisation or registration
You’ll need both:

your naturalisation or registration certificate
the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

[quote=Boom1 post_id=2170183 time=<a href="tel:1720478028">1720478028</a> user_id=290120]
What chances that my passport will be approved under new name with such move? what do you think?
[/quote]
It is not unlikely for you to face issues.
You may also get an observation on your new passport regardless, as you have a patronymic - see eg viewtopic.php?p=2154198 for a Russian national.

The safest option for you would be to get a passport in your old name, change your name/surrender other citizenship and then get a passport in your new name; otherwise you may be stuck in the country for months without any sort of a valid travel document, if issues do arise.
[/quote]



I don’t have a patronymic name in my passport. Now the problem is that I can apply to surrender my Ukrainian citizenship but Ukraine does not want to grant its consent for people to surrender. I want to get rid of it but cannot as they don’t accept and even not considering applications.

So I thought to apply to surrender and then stamped application with application acknowledgment receipt to get a new name and that can help to avoid problems with passport office.