URGENT Letter received from HM Passport Office

[michelle_law]

Hi guys

I'm new here pls help,it's urgent!

I Became British citizen in Dec 2012 through naturalisation but I didn't bother apply for a British passport until 2 weeks ago, I.e. After 1 year.

Received a letter from HM Passport Office today asking me to: confirm the reason for the lapse between your naturalisation and your passport application.

I thought its my choice when to apply for a British passport, am i wrong?

What s the best way to reply guys? Pls help me out here.

Mannnnnny thanks!

[Casa]

I would simply say that you had no need to travel outside of the UK, so there had been no requirement for a passport until now. It's not mandatory to apply for one.

[michelle_law]

Thank you for your reply. That's what I'm about to say in the reply letter.

However last year I did travel between China and UK by holding a Chinese passport on which I had ILR. I was going through customs both end without any issues.

Do you think this night be the reason why they are questioning? Do they think the right procedure is to have a British passport first then get a Chinese visa to enter China?

Thanks again for any reply!

[Jambo]

I would imagine its a security check. Has nothing to do with your previous entry. They just want to make sure it's you who is applying. And not someone who got hold of your naturalisation certificate (ID theft).

[michelle_law]

Thanks, I would really hope so!

Now since you brought up ID theft what can they do with my naturalisation certificate? Say it got stolen by someone, are they going to use it for getting a passport? Once passport issued it will have my information on it will it be of any use to the *theft*? Just wondering ....

[HSMPLOCHA]

Hold on..does China allow dual citizenship. I ask bcos you had ground to travel but chose to travel on your Chinese passport although being naturalised. You reason might not hold ground in my opinion.

If dual citizenship is allowed by China then you can always say you did not need one as the only travel plans were to visit home country that did not require a visa.

[lynxukauq]

Article 9: Any Chinese national who has settled abroad and who has been naturalised as a foreign national or has acquired foreign nationality of his own free will shall automatically lose Chinese nationality.

[michelle_law]

I was hoping after I apply for a British passport, the next trip going back to china I will use uk passport + China visa. But going home with Chinese passport (before I had a UK passport) shouldn't be a concern for the UK passport office right? as we accept dual citizenship here.

Anyway is this the reason they are asking me why I waited a year to apply? Whats gonna happen now? OMG I start to panic!

[Jambo]

The Passport Office don't care about your Chinese citizenship. This is a matter between you and the Chinese authorities. It's purely a security check. You are correct that it will be more difficult to do an ID theft after your passport is issued but as it wasn't issued yet (first passport application), the Passport Office are likely to be more careful.

[michelle_law]

Thanks guru I d like to think its a simple background/security check. But having said that how's sending me a letter a security check? Just so they know I do live in the claimed address?

I have replied by saying I didn't need a UK passport last year and plan to visit some European countries and the US soon hence applied for travel purposes(which is the truth anyway). Is this satisfactory?

How likely am I going to be rejected for a UK passport? Will my chinese passport be taken away cos of what happened last year?

[Jambo]

Well, it's quite easy to verify from several sources (council, credit check, DVLA) that a person lives in a certain address so it's quite reasonable to send you a letter just to make sure it is you who applied for the passport.

Your explanation is fine.

You are British. The Passport Office is not concerned with your issues with the Chinese authorities.

[michelle_law]

So you think I shouldn't worry?

[vinny]

It's probably a standard letter issued to people who applied for passports later than sooner.

[Just Wondering]

So you think I shouldn't worry?

You shouldn't worry.