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UK HM Passport office not trusting NSO Philippine Marriage Certificate

Discussion in 'Rant and Rave' started by one world, Mar 6, 2019.

  1. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Whilst applying for my UK born 1st child passport (Child born in the UK).

    The HM Passport Office (Liverpool) have stated that a CSR Form No.5 http://www.british-filipino.com/ind...rriage-philippine-statistics-authority.16821/
    be obtained from the Philippine Statistic Office as they do not recognise NSO Philippine marriage certificate! Despite the home office accepting Official NSO Philippine marriage certificate for each Visa application.

    I have found this requirement for child UK passport applications made from outside the UK, but not inside the UK?
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ppines/applying-for-a-passport-outside-the-uk.

    I have complained twice verbally with Passport office and have lodged a written complaint.

    Verbally, they have responded that it is what they are instructed to demand a CRS No.5 due to existence of fake NSO Philippine Marriage Certificates. They then said that despite what is listed in their Passport Guide or online application advising required documents, they can still ask for more documentation.

    So in my instance, the 3 week issuing process has already taken 2 months and will take another 3 months before the CENOMAR is received from the philippines.

    The Passport office has also stated that they then need to check that the CRS Form no.5 is genuine!
    So why can't they simply check the NSO Marriage Certificate!
  2. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Are they effectively denying that your child is your child?

    In effect questioning your child's citizenship?
  3. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    That's how it feels.

    Having checked the UK gov site, A father can only apply for his childs passport by proof of marriage with mother and that the birth occured whilst married and in the UK (Child birth certificate + marriage certificate + partner valid UK residence permit).

    Child UK Birth certificate and Father UK citizern passport & UK Birth certificate is not enough?
  4. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Maybe in future DNA evidence will be needed!!! as they won't believe any paperwork??
  5. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    It is appalling that you are facing this problem in the UK, I am not married but I got this sorted for my daughter 10 years ago and it did need a DNA test at the time (very expensive), however everything recently has been pointing towards easier registration even for unmarried fathers rather than them making this hard :(
  6. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Maybe applications got more thorough due to either:-

    • More increased scrutiny of foreign mothers by passport office (maybe due to the Syrian baby boom?)

    • Apply vetting rules inappropriately by inexperienced passport office staff?

    • increased detection of forged documents?

    • some applications are chosen to be scrutinised more thoroughly?

      Just a pain....

      Well see what comes of official complaint? If it is due to inexperienced assessor, then maybe will be resolved?



  7. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    NSO certificates are no longer valid and will need replacing with PSA ones.
  8. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    Actually, they were already asking for this document a couple of years ago when I started out on the same process. I was aware of that ... and had already made sure I had it to hand.

    Be prepared for a very lengthy process. Sometimes a year or more until the passport is produced. I also had to attend an interview (in Birmingham) with an official from the Passport Office. All worth it in the end.
  9. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    The present PSA site actually directs to the NSO site to obtain certs in the philippines at the moment.

    Evidently the logo is to change, this shouldn't affect the validity of past forms?

    Attached Files:

  10. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    We had no problems applying for passports for our two kids but that was when our youngest was just 5 or so months old, she’s now 3.5 years old. In all honesty I don’t recollect the NSO marriage certificate but that may well be my terrible memory.

    NSO seems to be old-school documentation with most things now. Will the PSA work any better?
  11. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Was NSO 2014 at time of marriage.
    Meeting the request of passport office PSA CSR No.5 should resolve things. I appreciate it may be necessary for outside UK applications, If the mother hasn't gone through the UK visa process, as marriage status wouldn't have been previously proven?

    But where the mother has gone through the UK visa process andreside in the UK,
    then all necessary checks would have been previously done by the home office.

    Based on PSA memos, i wouldn't be suprised if the CSR No.5 will have an NSO stamp on it?
  12. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    As from this monday (5th March 2019), the UK passport online system has changed.
    It still claims that the child UK passport should be issued within 3 weeks... :lol::mad::lol:
    • Funny Funny x 1
  13. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member


    My son's application is at age 14 months, the marriage certificate wasn't necessary at application, but has been supplied following discussion with passport office.

    They have also confirmed that the application has been made in the UK and parents reside in the UK.

    The online system stated at application that passport processing would be 3 weeks....
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

  15. one world
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    one world Active Member Trusted Member

    Spoken with the passport office again and they have insisted that CENOMA is required and acknowledge that it can take up to 12 weeks to receive. Additionally, the Passport office is independant of Home Office so Passport office cannot enquire with home office regarding validity of previous documents used.

    I personally get the feeling delay tactics are being used due to brexit possibly keeping the passport offices busy with other applications OR to minimise the issusing of EU Red passports?
  16. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    What you're being told by the Passport Office is not entirely correct: it is an agency of the Home Office but, under the Law, cannot share personal information with it.

    Your problem stems from your decision to marry in the Philippines and the unfortunate fact that the Philippines is not a signatory to the Hague Convention that deals with the recognition of government-issued documents by other governments. To prevent any further delays, I would advise you to have all the Philippine government-issued documents authenticated ("red-ribboned") by the Department for Foreign Affairs either directly in the Philippines or through its London Embassy.
  17. Anon04576
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    Anon04576 Well-Known Member

    Marrying in the Philippines may have been the factor but I think bad timing and plain old bad luck are also playing a part as we had absolutely no problems a few years ago.

    Thinking about this, a PSA BC will be required for any possible future visa applications anyhow.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Yep, I've told Mae to obtain new Birth Certificates for herself and our children. We married in Hong Kong and although the marriage was registered with the Philippine Embassy and we do have a NSO version of our Certificate of Marriage, we'll not bother with getting a PSA version.
  19. Nickel
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    Nickel Active Member

    You mentioned about NSO marriage certificate and i think what they wanted was a SECPA copy or security paper copy from PSA as that has been changed feom NSO .
  20. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Maybe sounds crazy, but have you considered getting married in UK. May actually be quicker than waiting for all the correct documentation from Philippines.
    • Funny Funny x 1

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