Wife's Dad is sick, she's in the middle of a citizen application, can she visit him and come back to the UK?

[James1859]

Hello all

My wife's Dad is sick. She hasn't seen her family in 3 years. She will be devastated if her Dad dies and she doesn't see him one last time.

She has a Syrian passport (expired) and she has applied for her British Citizenship.

Although her family is Syrian, they live in the KRG (North Iraq). Is there a way she can visit her Dad and come back to the UK after?

She has her ILR and we have a daughter (5 years old) who goes to school.

What are our options?

Thank you

[CR001]

She is free to travel while she has a citizenship application pending.

However she needs a valid passport to travel, which you state she doesn't have.

[alterhase58]

She could apply for a UK travel document but I guess it would take some time:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document
Both a valid travel document/passport and ILR are needed, otherwise the airline will refuse boarding, certainly for the return trip.

[secret.simon]

She could apply for a UK travel document but I guess it would take some time:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document
Both a valid travel document/passport and ILR are needed, otherwise the airline will refuse boarding, certainly for the return trip.

It is complicated by the fact that she will also likely need an Iraqi visa, but it is unclear whether the Iraqi government would accept a Certificate of Travel issued by the UK government and issue a visa on it. According to Wikipedia, some Middle Eastern countries, such as Qatar and the UAE, do not recognise Certificates of Travel or other Home Office travel documents issued to non-British citizens.

[vinny]

Was she a refugee?

[CR001]

Was she a refugee?

No, 5 years spouse visa.

[vinny]

Then no worries in that regard.

[vinny]

She could apply for a UK travel document but I guess it would take some time:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document
Both a valid travel document/passport and ILR are needed, otherwise the airline will refuse boarding, certainly for the return trip.

Note:

You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if you’re not British and cannot use or get a passport from your country.

[secret.simon]

But does the Iraqi embassy/government recognise a UK "Certificate of Travel" issued to a non-UK citizen?

[vinny]

Doubtful.