Dual Passports & Visa

[JASON THAI]

Hi I have a 4 month baby boy born in Thailand, My GF is Thai, I already have a Thai birth certifcate for him and this has also been translated in English, I would like to get him a Thai passport & also a British passport, how do I go about this?

I would also like to bring them to England for 3 months next June what should I do regarding visa's for them, will I need help from a lawyer as I am not married to her?

Cheers

Jason

[the scouser]

Hi Jason,

As you are not married to your son's mother, he is not currently entitled to a British passport. For a child born outside of the UK to a British father to qualify for British citizenship, the parents must be married. If you marry your g/f it is possible that your son would then be recognised as being British.

Therefore, as things stand, both your g/f and your son will need to obtain Thai passports and UK visas if they wish to visit the UK. I can't really advise on Thai passports, but you should apply to the British embassy in BKK for the UK visas. I don't think you would necessarily need help from a lawyer. You would need to satisfy the visa officer that your g/f and son intend to leave the UK at the end of their holiday and I would advise posting more specific questions nearer the time.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[GU22]

Jason,

Have a read of Consular Birth Registration from the embassy website.

One important part

British fathers cannot transmit their nationality to illegitimate children automatically (see below). If the parents marry after the child's birth, it is possible that the child's birth will be "legitimated" by its parents' marriage. In order for us to establish whether or not legitimation has taken place, we require both parents to sign paternity declarations in person at the Embassy (the fee for which is Baht 5,250) and the father to complete a "domicile questionnaire". Please ask for the declarations of paternity forms and the domicile questionnaire.

An appointment is necessary for the domicile questionnaire. All declarations and documents should be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the appointment date.

The purpose of this is to establish whether the father has retained a domicile in the UK (this basically means close connections) and can therefore benefit from the provisions of British nationality law. The completed domicile and documentation will be sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Those applying should expect to receive a decision in 8 weeks.

[pattayaguy]

Hi I have a 4 month baby boy born in Thailand, My GF is Thai, I already have a Thai birth certifcate for him and this has also been translated in English, I would like to get him a Thai passport & also a British passport, how do I go about this?

I would also like to bring them to England for 3 months next June what should I do regarding visa's for them, will I need help from a lawyer as I am not married to her?

Cheers

Jason

Jason,

Here's the situation regarding your baby's UK passport.

Me and my girlfriend had a baby boy last year, He was born in Pattaya. We were not Married at the time.

Both of them came to UK earlier this year, Her on a Marriage visa (6 Months) and the baby on a visa accompanying His parents.

I had e-mailed the Home office managed migration department and they said he WAS NOT entitled to a UK passport, even after we had Married.

Last week we were at the PEO (public enquiry office) to apply for their two year FLR (further leave to remain) residency permits. The immigration officer repeated that my son was not entitled to a UK passport.

I e-mailed the UK embassy in Bangkok and they said He was. I then contacted the Nationality helpline

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/contactus...nalityenquiries

and called the helpline number. They said because we were now Married He was entitled to a UK passport.

Today we went to the Passport office, they took His birth cert and translation (My name as the Father on it)

Marriage cert.

My passport. Baby's and Mother's.

They went to make checks then came back and told me He would have His passport in 7 days.

For some reason UK Immigration tells everyone their kids are not entitled to a UK passport if the Mother and Father were not Married at the time of birth.

This is false information. As soon as you Marry your child becomes a UK citizen. As long as you are British otherwise by descent (born in the UK)

Last year they flew Ronnie Biggs Wife to His cell in England. They Married in prison. Two weeks later His illigitamate Son had a UK passport. That's the Law. Immigration know nothing.

[vinny]

See also Baby Born One Day Too Soon For A British Passport, ......left without citizenship.

Unfortunately, the British Embassy have not yet updated their Consular Birth Registration webpage to reflect the better changes in the Law relating to unmarried UK fathers and their children born after 1 July 2006. However, the Home Office have updated their information on Legitimacy and Meaning of "parent" (Chapter 6: General Information, Annex F: Explanation of terms, section 22).

If your child was born prior to 1 July 2006 and you choose to remain unmarried then consider

British Fathers, who are not married, can now apply to register children who are born abroad, with the Home Office. It must be noted this is discretionary. Those applying should expect to receive a decision in 6 months. The fee for this will be £200 plus Baht 3,075 please ask us for form MN1. The fee is not refundable.

Consular Section

British Embassy

14 Wireless Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Tel: (66) 2 305-8333 ext. 2334, 2318, 2273

Fax: (66)2 255-6051

E-mail: [email protected]

With regards to a Thai passport, see Documents required when applying for a Thai passport. The application will have to be done in person at one of the passport offices as fingerprint (or toeprint for babies) and photograph have to be taken on site.

Edited September 6, 2006 by vinny