Born in the UK but unable to leave ...
AN ORMSKIRK student born in Southport to a British dad says she cannot go on university trips with her pals after being told to prove that she is English before she can get a UK passport.
Sarah Peet, 22, was shocked to discover she is not classed as a British citizen – despite her birth certificate showing she was delivered in the maternity ward at Southport Hospital in August 1995.
The certificate also reveals that her dad, then a builder, was born in Ormskirk, while her mum, then a nanny, was born in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
But Sarah said that when she first applied for a passport around a year ago, she was told that she needed to prove she was English because the document was not enough.
She said that HM Passport Office asked her to get hold of her dad’s birth certificate – something she remains unable to do because she is estranged from both of her parents.
They also asked her to send over her maternal granddad’s birth certificate and maternal grandparents’ marriage certificate, according to a letter sent to her.
The Home Office then suggested two alternatives if she was unable to obtain the necessary documents: to register as a British citizen or to get hold of a Status Letter.
Sarah, who has taken out loans and is working to cover her university costs, said that these options could end up costing her hundreds of pounds, which she cannot afford.
According to the Government’s website, it costs adults more than £1,100 each to apply to register as a British citizen – with an additional cost to provide biometric information.
Because of her struggles, Sarah has recently decided to withdraw her application to get a UK passport, meaning she cannot go on a second-year university trip to Amsterdam.
“I’ve not been able to go out of the country,” said the frustrated student.
“I’ve got a university trip in second year when I go back which I won’t be able to go on because it’s abroad, in Amsterdam.”
Although Sarah’s mum was born in Gibraltar, she now lives in the UK. However, the student is not sure of her whereabouts because she is estranged from her.
“I don’t speak to her,” she said, explaining that due to personal issues, she currently has no contact with her mother and only “a bit” of contact with her father.
At the time of her birth, Sarah’s parents were not married.
“My dad brought me up, so I lived with him,” she said. “I moved out when I was 15 and went to live with my nan for a bit.”
She moved into her own place at the age of 18 and began studying hairdressing at college.
But she realised that the course wasn’t for her, so decided to study childhood & youth studies and criminology at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk instead.
“I first applied for a passport about a year ago. They told me I can’t get one because my mum was born in Gibraltar and my parents weren’t married when I was born,” she said.
In a letter sent to Sarah by the Passport Office in May, she was told she needed to get hold of her maternal grandfather’s birth certificate.
Her maternal grandparents’ marriage certificate is also “required”, the document stated. The writer added: “As agreed, I am returning a photocopy of your birth certificate and a photocopy of your mother’s birth certificate to enable you to obtain the additional documents.”
The letter said her mother’s birth certificate showed details of her former Army granddad’s name, rank, battalion and regiment, which would enable her “to contact the Army to try and obtain the personal details required to obtain your grandfather’s birth and marriage certificates”.
They continued: “If you are still unable to obtain the required documents, then an alternative would be to register as a British Citizen or obtain a Status Letter.”
To inquire about either of these options, Sarah was told she would need to get in touch with the UK Visa and Immigration Service.
However, she said that these alternatives were not possible because she cannot afford them. As well as taking out loans to pay for her university fees and the costs of her student house in Ormskirk, she is working as a shop assistant.
“I can’t really afford the money,” she said. “I’ve withdrawn my application.”
The Legitimacy Act 1976, states that people who have children together before they are married must re-register the birth of their children.
The legislation dates back to a period of time when illegitimate children could not inherit from parents.
In a statement, the Home Office said: “We would encourage Ms Peet to get in touch with the Home Office directly so that we can help with her case.”