Hello, I have just completed my sons online application for his British Passport. It seems we have all of the documents required except I was confused by the following: Quote: "2 of the following documents are also required. The documents must show a link to the parent applying, and that the child and parent are resident where they are applying from" 1) Parents Identity Cards 2) Hospital Birth records 3) Mothers antenatal records As the British father of my son born In the Philipines to a filipino mother. I applied for my sons passport. It says" that the child and parent (applying? myself) are resident where they are applying from"But the problem is now, I sometimes visit the Philippines but i am living predominately and working in the UK and not a resident in the Philippines. I had to apply as from the Philippines as that is where my son is applying from, that was the only option allowed on the application. We have Hospital Birth records and Mothers antenatal records but only the Hospital Birth Records includes my name and my wifes Philippine address. It seems to ask me for a Philippine Identity Card that links me as a resident of the Philippines, which I do not have. In hindsight it seems it would have been better if my wife had completed the passport application. Obviously I don't want the application rejected. Should I cancel the application which I already paid for so that my wife can reapply or continue with the application? Any advice greatly appreciated
Hello, I'm here. It sounds as if you have paid already and YOU applied from Philippines. Oh no! So they will want proof of you officially living at the Filipino address. Its best if YOU apply from a UK address. Next best is if the Filipino mother applies in her name but you'll need a (British, American etc) countersignatory that knows her and your son. In my thread, half way through, I give a detailed description of what I did for first child passport application from a UK address. Its far easier and quicker if you make the overseas application from your UK address. Yes, from the information, its not clear that you can make the overseas application from UK address, but you can! You must STILL pay the overseas application fee! http://www.british-filipino.com/ind...ving-philippines-on-a-british-passport.17428/
Ok many thanks for your reply Ian. I did not realize i could apply from a UK address. They also asked for a few extra documents that were not on your list like maternal and paternal grandparents birth and marriage certificates originals which may be difficult to get, especially the maternals. The problem is now is that i already completed the online application. I may try to cancel and reapply from a UK address.
Yes, if YOU make the application as father from a UK address, its easier and quicker but you still need the 2 filipino IDs of the mother, I think only 1 must have her address on it. They will send the passport to HER address by default, so they need proof of her address. Grand parents' birth certificates? Wow, I think that's maybe because a British father made the application from a Filipino address. If YOU make the application from a UK address, the counter-signatory only has to know YOU not the mother. So its easier. He still must identify your child on the passport office website , of course. You can easily show something to prove your UK address. Maybe they will allow you to change your application, they are very helpful. But you'll have to make the new application in paper form with a photo of your son signed by the counter-signatory, like before.
Many thanks for your reply Ian, it sounds a better way of doing it! I am still a bit confused how I apply from my UK address. When I try to add my UK address for an overseas application online as the home adress, the PHILLIPINES is already automatically populated on the screen? Do you remember seeing something like this? Because I have said that the child is living in the Philippines it already populates Philippines as the country and cant be changed.
If you're resident in UK, simply ask your wife to send you a (good) picture of her ID ,plus pictures of the other documents requested. Then send them on. She could also Xerox them and post to you, but that would take longer of course. It is most important, regardless of where you are living, that the correct (child born overseas) application form is filled out though, and correct fee paid. I found that the best way of communicating with the Passport Office (Overseas section) was by email. ASK their advice before cancelling applications, etc. Their 'official' help line is a waste of time. They apparently have no access to your records. I applied for my son's British passport...from the UK, in similar circumstances. He has his passport now.
I don't really understand why this is happening, for most overseas passport applications the child is living in philippines. But you, as the father can apply for your child's passport. That's how I got my son's passport. When I had problems, I used to tweet the HMPO, they were surprisingly helpful. I am busy going to philippines tomorrow to look into this myself