Passport hassle

[Compass Call]

Three weeks ago my wife went for her passport interview at the Bournemouth office. I was called in after about three minutes to be told that the interview had been terminated because:-
1. My wife did not understant the questions.
2. The interviewer could not understand my wifes responses.
3. My wife had made errors in her responses!!!!!!!

We were then told that an interview with a certified translator would take place at the Reading office.
Last Saturday we went to the Reading office and the interview took place at noon.
After about 15 minutes she came out smiling and said that she had no problem talking to the interviewer and that the translator had only been required to clarify one question. So she is now waiting the arrival of her passport.

It would seem that hireing the translator was a waste of time and money to us (the taxpayer).

The interviewer at Bournemouth was male, white, British, had a foreign name and an accent you could cut with a butter knife.
The interviewer at Reading was female, black, British, had a British name and spoke with no discernable accent.

My wife said that the interviewer at Reading was very nice and understanding. It seems that she was happy to re-phrase questions to help my wife understand them if she got stuck.
I sometimes wonder just how these departments achieve a standard of interviewer!

We are both very happy that she has got her passport and my wife is looking forward to going back to school to continue with her english studies.

Regards,
Dick & Tim

[Gary & Nok]

Perhaps you should relate your Reading experience to the boss of the Bournemouth office so they can look to see why this happened.
Certainly sounds a bit odd and as you say, a waste of money.

At least Tim has her passport, which is the main thing.

[Compass Call]

Evening all,
Tim received her passport this morning and is over the moon with it. She thinks that the photo of her in it is rubbish.....LOL

Once again we would like to thank all the forum members who have given help and advice that has given this result. Without your help the road would have been much more difficult.

Many thanks,
Dick & Tim

[KhunIanB-UK]

Congratulations and such an easier and cheaper life now, well done :-)

[Gary & Nok]

Congrats from us too Tim (& Dick).

[leeroy221]

Hello,

I stumbled across you thread and would just like to say congratulations

I would like to ask a question if i may....

My wife is Thai and has been in the UK for 2 years now, she arrived on a Fiancee visa and we proceeded to get married.
She was then given a 2 year extension visa? and was told after the 2 years runs out she would have to apply for unlimited leave to remain visa, i cant remember the exact name of it. Anyway, we have recently had the birth of our first son, he is now 3 months old.

What i was wondering is when is my Wife eligable to apply for a British passport? Does she get any special dispensation due to the fact we have a child now?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Lee and Jang

[Gary & Nok]

Lee, after the 2 years of being in country Jang can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) but ONLY once she has passed the Life in the UK test or has attended an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course with citizenship content.

If she has either of these then she can apply for ILR when she meets the date requirements, but if she has not then she will have to apply for a Further Leave to Remain (FLR) for another 2 years. During this time she can pass the test and apply straight away for the ILR.

This is how it stands at the moment but as ever things are changing so it would be best to do what you need to at the earliest opportunity.

Jang would be able to apply for a British Passport once she has obtained the ILR and then applied for Citizenship.

I do not know that she will get any special treatment just because she has a child with you.

If any of my information is wrong someone will correct it.

[peterinkendal]

Leeroy

In order to apply for a British Passport, she first has to be naturalised. Before she can be naturalised she needs 'indefinite leave to remain'. Before she can apply for that she needs to be in UK for 2 years, satisfied the KOL requirements, that is to advance in esol and take a course in esol with citizenship or pass the Life in UK test and to prove that your marriage is still going strong.

You should go to the ukba website and download the ILR form now. That will show you what documents you will need in order to satisfy the home office.

It seems a long and winding road, but believe me, there is an end to it and I can still remember the look of delight on my wife's face when she opened her first british passport.

Unfortunately, having a child does not make any difference. The child is of course entitled to a british passport immediately, but your wife as a few more hurdles to overcome first

[Gary & Nok]

In order to apply for a British Passport, she first has to be naturalised. Before she can be naturalised she needs 'indefinite leave to remain'. Before she can apply for that she needs to be in UK for 2 years, satisfied the KOL requirements, that is to advance in esol and take a course in esol with citizenship or pass the Life in UK test

Help! Mods can you explain why my post is invisible

[Lee]

Help! Mods can you explain why my post is invisible

Who said that.
Hello!
Anybody there?

[Flip]

I must have been away too long and missed an important change. It used to be the case that the spouse of a British passport holder could be apply for citizenship and subsequently, a British passport after living here for 3 years (I think). From what I read above, it now seems that the regulations have changed and citizenship can be applied for on obtaining ILR - which can be 2 years.

Is this correct - a holder of ILR can now apply for citizenship and the 3 year requirement has gone?

Gary, no point in you answering as your post will be invisible again .

[Tobias]

The 3 year rule still applies.

[Flip]

Thanks for that Tobias, I thought it was strange that the requirements seemed to have eased - they usually go the other way.

[colin244]

Flip,

Nothing usually about it actually always

colin 244

[Gary & Nok]

IGary, no point in you answering as your post will be invisible again .

And I wouldn't know either, even though Nok only got hers a little while ago