First British Passport application issue

[theaviator380]

Dear All,

when we received British Citizenship we felt, final hurdle was cleared however my wife is having absolutely nightmare with her first British PP application.

It would be great and helpful if someone advise on this please. I will explain my case in timely manner,

1. Application was made through local Post office, check in and send service on 13th November 2015.

2. Application form, fees everything correct. We had opted for wife's Married name and supported it with original wet inked marriage certificate which is in English language. Post office confirmed as this is acceptable. Wife's naturalization cert. and her Indian Passport is on Maiden name.

3. We received a letter from HM PO that they can not issue her a PP with married name, however they can issue her PP with her maiden name. they wanted my wife to send a covering letter if she agree to this. My wife did send a letter stating she is happy with her PP with maiden name.

4. Few days later, she received letter saying she will have to fill in another application form, get it signed by referee, no need of new photos. We did it as they requested us to do.

5. We received another letter in few days stating, they cannot continue as one person can't have 2 active application, so the asked my wife to send covering letter stating 'she is withdrawing first application made using her married name'. So wife sent another covering letter stating to withdraw first application.

6. In her next call, advisor at HM PO advised us, they will send us her Indian passport and documents back and we will have pay new fees and send all those documents back to them ! (yes it does sound amazing isn't it?, why not do internal transfer of those documents if required?? rather than keeping Royal mail workers busy).

7. Anyway, wife rang them and she explained this is not going anywhere and she need her passport to make travel arrangements. This time she got hold of some advisor who did something sensible, he said, he will leave a note to case worker this is what has happened and he will request to tie up both applications. this will save sending documents to and fro. He also said, no need to pay fees once again and originally paid fees will be used for your application. As they combined this application, she was also issued with a new Case reference number.

8. They had asked her to ring and check the progress, so she rang HM PO yesterday and she was so disappointed, lady gave her only limited info saying, they have sent another letter for identity proof or something which, she won't tell much details will be enclosed in the letter.

So we are the stage where we absolutely have no idea what’s happening with her application. It’s been long stressful frustrating time since application was made . We have missed very important marriage in India for my cousin brother and my family are very sad with all this business.

- Is this typical case? Happened with anyone else?
- What would be suggestion, how we can resolve this?
- Can they not simply call her for interview to confirm whether it’s her or not?

I can’t believe, simple thing have been messed up so badly and this can resolved if they have to within short period of time rather than making it more complicated?

Please advise me on this...very frustrating indeed.

Thanks.

[CR001]

See this thread by noajthan (click) and this link created by Vinny(click)

[noajthan]

Dear All,

when we received British Citizenship we felt, final hurdle was cleared however my wife is having absolutely nightmare with her first British PP application.

It would be great and helpful if someone advise on this please. I will explain my case in timely manner,

...

So we are the stage where we absolutely have no idea what’s happening with her application. It’s been long stressful frustrating time since application was made . We have missed very important marriage in India for my cousin brother and my family are very sad with all this business.

- Is this typical case? Happened with anyone else?
- What would be suggestion, how we can resolve this?
- Can they not simply call her for interview to confirm whether it’s her or not?

I can’t believe, simple thing have been messed up so badly and this can resolved if they have to within short period of time rather than making it more complicated?

Please advise me on this...very frustrating indeed.

Thanks.

Very frustrating.

HMPO seem to specialise in lack of joined-up thinking.

This thread covers other members' experiences with married/maiden name 'catch-22' situations:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... n#p1196883

Given where you are now at in the 'process' you are probably doing as much as anyone could.

Your only other 'remedy' could be to involve your MP &/or file a complaint against HMPO.

Good luck.

[theaviator380]

Thanks to both for quick response. At least good to read, we doing as much as anyone else would have done.

I will read those links/details soon.

I will see what this newly issued letter says,,,as we expecting it to be delivered by tomorrow or by 28-29th Dec. If issue is still not resolved, I will take it further to local MP and even take it to Citizen Advise Bureau.

Thanks again.

[noajthan]

Thanks to both for quick response. At least good to read, we doing as much as anyone else would have done.

I will read those links/details soon.

I will see what this newly issued letter says,,,as we expecting it to be delivered by tomorrow or by 28-29th Dec. If issue is still not resolved, I will take it further to local MP and even take it to Citizen Advise Bureau.

Thanks again.

You are probably doing all you can. Keep pushing them.

Your only hope is to find a sensible caseworker in HMPO (there are some).
Do everything in writing - keep a papertrail.
Do not rely on helpline - if told something via the helpline ask for confirmation in writing.

See if MP will help.
(CAB may or may not be able to help - after all they are essentially volunteers too).

I am sure you will get the passport in the end.
Good luck.

[vella]

Well, we are having the same problem with my wifes passport application.
Applied passport with marriage surname and submitted the marriage certificate.
The case worker says its been referred to policy department 2weeks ago.
With the festive period,i dont think they are in any rush to make a decision. Incredibly frustrating to know that they dont have any policy until now.
But if you look at the passport timeline some of them received the passport by submitting the declaration letter.
So, iam not sure whats happening with passport dept .
I will wait until after new year to hear from them.if not a long complaint to passport office will follow.

[shashank2361]

Same issue Changed the name by deed poll after naturalisation I received and email from VFS taht British passport is absolutely required to surrender the passport , They are not accepting the mail as a proof and they want in writing from consulate that they cant give surrender certificat without British passport, How I am gonna get that,
They got some case from Birmingham consulate that someone was able to get surrender certificate without British passport, Now they are forcing me to get surrender certificate.




This is the mail I received form VFS,

Subject: RE: Surrender of India Passport
From: Info on India Visa in UK (info.inuk@vfshelpline.com)
To: shashank2361@*****
Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2015 11:47 AM
Dear Shashank,
Thank you for your email.
The British passport is a mandatory document to be submitted along with the surrender certificate application. Please
note that you need to obtain British passport first and then apply for Indian surrender certificate. For information on
documents required kindly refer to the following link: http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/Surrender.html and then
click on documents required tab.
For any queries related to Consular & Passport Services, kindly write your email to: Info.PptConsularuk@
vfshelpline.com.
Please note In
view of the spread of the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) all passengers traveling to India will be screened at
the International Airports in India on their arrival. This will also involve quarantine and even hospitalization, if detected,
with any symptoms connected with the flu.
Best Regards,
***************
Information Service Desk
VF Services (UK) Limited