Can a British Citizen (Ex-Refugee) go back to their original country?

[positivevives555]

Dear Forum Members,

I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to seek advice on behalf of a friend who is a former refugee, now a British citizen, 10 years living in the UK, she is contemplating a visit to their home country. Given the recent changes in the situation there, she is unsure about the potential implications of such a trip, particularly regarding re-entry into the UK. Could anyone offer insights or share similar experiences? Any advice on navigating this situation would be immensely appreciated.

Thank you

[alterhase58]

Dual nationals need to recognise that a British passport doesn't protect the holder from being harrassed by the authorities of their home country, and it doesn't guarentee British consular support when it might be needed. Effectively in the home country person is a citizen of that country.
If the home country has been declared safe then it might be ok - if not then there's a possibility that UK Border officers might question whether person was really a refugee.
British citizens are free to leave the UK so it's a case of person assessing the potential risks involved. Appreciate that being a refugee often means that one is separated from family and friends for many years.

[lolo2]

Is the friend referred here also a citizen of El Salvador (as per your flag)?

[Frontier Mole]

Refugees once they take British citizenship are free to travel back to their country of origin as freely as any other British citizen to that country.
Does it have risks - of course, particularly if the country has not changed from the time asylum was sought / granted.
Only the individual can make that risk assessment.

[positivevives555]

Is the friend referred here also a citizen of El Salvador (as per your flag)?

yes, El Salvador has changed in the past 2-3 years, from the world murder capital to now one of the safest countries in the world, of course, nobody was expecting this change so quickly but the new president Nayid Bukele is doing things right. lots of people who have more than 30 years outside the country are now going back for the first time.

[positivevives555]

Refugees once they take British citizenship are free to travel back to their country of origin as freely as any other British citizen to that country.
Does it have risks - of course, particularly if the country has not changed from the time asylum was sought / granted.
Only the individual can make that risk assessment.

yes you are 100% right, only concern here is that she can have any problems with the H.O as her previous refugee status.

[positivevives555]

Dual nationals need to recognise that a British passport doesn't protect the holder from being harrassed by the authorities of their home country, and it doesn't guarentee British consular support when it might be needed. Effectively in the home country person is a citizen of that country.
If the home country has been declared safe then it might be ok - if not then there's a possibility that UK Border officers might question whether person was really a refugee.
British citizens are free to leave the UK so it's a case of person assessing the potential risks involved. Appreciate that being a refugee often means that one is separated from family and friends for many years.

Im agree with you, this is an individual evaluation that she has to do, never the less we are just aiming to seek advice from people who were or are in the same situation as there is no information or whatever in the official UK H.O website, on her British Citizen letter is does say " If you hold refugee status in the UK, you will lose this status once you become a British citizen." but that's it, it doesn't give you more information.

also, I'm curious when you say " if the country is been declared safe" by who? the UK government or the country itself?

[alterhase58]

A British citizen cannot hold any type of immigration status - citizenship trumps immigration.
"Declared safe" by the UK Home Office. Generally you can't be classified as a refugee and/or granted asylum if you come from a "safe" country, unless you can convince the Home Office otherwise.

[lolo2]

Is the friend referred here also a citizen of El Salvador (as per your flag)?

yes, El Salvador has changed in the past 2-3 years, from the world murder capital to now one of the safest countries in the world, of course, nobody was expecting this change so quickly but the new president Nayid Bukele is doing things right. lots of people who have more than 30 years outside the country are now going back for the first time.

I was just curious.

Your friend has no longer refugee status, they're a British citizen now and free to travel to their country of origin, always exercising common sense.

I can give you the example of a Cuban family who came to the UK as refugees and naturalised as British a few years ago. They travel quite often to Cuba and never have had any issues at all. The situation in the island is pretty much the same - or probably worse - to that when they left.