What the classification of British protected person means
Dear Mr Bassie,
WOULD YOU please explain the classification a ‘British protected person’ and the rights associated with it.
MK
Dear MK,
A person would have become a British protected person on January 1, 1983, if they were a citizen or national of Brunei and were already a British protected person. Also, if persons would otherwise have been born stateless without a country, in the United Kingdom or an overseas territory because, when born, one of their parents was a British protected person.
In most cases, a persons would have lost their British protected person status if he/she had gained any other nationality or citizenship; the territory he/she was connected with became independent and he/she became a citizen of that country.
The rights as a British protected person are as follows: Persons can hold a British passport and receive consular assistance and protection from UK diplomatic posts. However, those persons are subject to immigration controls and do not have the automatic right to live or work in the United Kingdom. Also, those persons are not considered a United Kingdom national by the European Union.
A person may be able to register as a British protected person only if all the following apply:
• He/she is stateless and always have been;
• He/ she was born in the United Kingdom or an overseas territory;
• His/her father or mother was a British protected person when they were born.
Persons are encouraged to contact UK Visas and Immigration if they think that they might qualify as a British protected person. Please be aware that persons may be able to register as a British citizen in extremely limited circumstances if they meet certain conditions.
I hope this helps.
John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-atlaw who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com