Post
by Parmo1000 » Sun Sep 22, 2019 10:24 pm
I would like to describe the current process for applying for an online UK passport application for a baby born in philippines. Philippines has unique rules because it has no divorce.
I will describe only the most typical situation here, a British father and a Filipino mother with a child born in Philippines in the last few years.
The first thing to think about is if your son CAN get a British passport. YOU must be a British citizen BORN in UK (it's called "otherwise by descent" ) and the mother must not be already married to anyone else . I think you must also have signed the Filipino birth certificates.
1. You apply online (using YOUR name as parent, if you're in UK) upload a photo of your son, make a payment, submit contact details of your countersignatory.
He/she MUST be a british/american/eu/commonwealth passport holder (NOT Filipino).
The photo can be taken with your own camera or phone but there are strict rules.
2. Later, the countersignatory is sent an email inviting them to witness the online photo.
3. If the countersignatory is accepted you are invited to send in documents to the UK passport office , I listed my papers above.
4. After that you just wait, overseas applications seem to be put on hold for 1 month until inspection.
5. After the inspection of your papers, maybe they will tell you to submit extra papers or maybe your application will be rejected.
6. You normally must attend an interview around 2 weeks later.
7. After that, another 2 weeks later, a final decision is made about your application and, if successful, you will receive the child passport by courier.
It all took 2 months for us, but ours was an overseas child application from a UK address with a British countersignatory and British interview location.
Our main problem was finding a countersignatory. If you are applying from UK address, the countersignatory must only know YOU. But if you are in Philippines you must find a Brit/American who knows you both. If you both have the correct qualifications to get a UK passport and submit the papers in my list above you will have no problems. 2 months after application you will get a passport for your son! If you apply after September you will get a brand new dark blue design!
Other possible problems maybe not having baby doctor papers, ultrasound scans, photo of when mother was pregnant. Maybe you'll get away with not having all these. I don't know. I read that nobody has ever failed the interview
