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Overseas Passport (English father, baby in Nepal).

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Neilw

Dealing with UK passport office in Liverpool. I am father (White, English married to a Nepali lady). Passport is for our daughter, born in Nepal. (because they delayed my wifes visa)...Nightmare, 16 weeks into this now, 16 phone calls to them, asking for update/progress. Interview attended 6 weeks ago now. They're happy with all paperwork we supplied. But they won't give any timescale. They are investigating if our baby (passport is for a baby. 1 year old), has a criminal record..... Is this typical of them? Or are we lucky so far. ....

Cynic

Hi Neil and sorry to read of your problems.

It sounds nuts, but I guess the baby could have been obtained by some illegal activity (I'm not suggesting it was, just perhaps their procedures require them to check).  Have you contacted your MP about it?

Neilw

Hello Cynic. Thanks for replying. I did contact my MP. This is actually our second application. The first, they withdrew in the 10th week. Because we didn't respond to their emails. They sent to an incorrect address. They scanned our contact details incorrectly. Therefore we received no emails to reply to. My MP gained acknowledgement of their mistake. They admit mistake.
However, they force us to re-apply. (Lucky us, they waived the fee). Huh.
Our 2nd application was received in Liverpool on 29th May '18. I naively hoped they might process more quickly, in light of past cockup.
I've contacted my MP twice. Last year because of my wifes delayed visa and this year because of P/O mistake. He's responded both times, and he's made an effort both times. To no avail.
I'm not sure, but I get the impression that most people are being treated with complete contempt by Home Office.  (I lied. I KNOW people are treated terribly).

Cynic

I know that they were supplying emergency 1-year passports to children like yours, but this is going back to Theresa Mays time as Home Secretary and we've had a few political hiccups since then.  Perhaps it's time to contact your MP again and ask him to find out why they have not considered providing you with some emergency documentation.

Last week on TV here, there was a lot of news interest in a young lad who was stuck in Belgium because the Home Office just out of the blue cancelled his passport.  A few TV interviews later - he was on the next flight back to the UK with an emergency passport.

Another way to raise the profile of your cause; try tuning into LBC radio (you can get it on the Internet), click on the link); they are a talk station but offer opinion broadcasting rather than news broadcasting; they have a twitter site and you will soon recognise which broadcaster to contact to highlight your cause.

Not sure if I've helped, but I wish you the best of luck in reuniting your family.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Neilw

Thanks again Cynic.
I already tried LBC! I was unlucky that time, it was on the turn of the hour and their topic changed. I'm on their list for call backs. Watch this space. Saying that, I'm uncomfortable with airing our situation to all of people. But, if that's what it takes to get my legal, legitimate family home. I will do it.
I'm not sure this UK government really has any conscience any more though. This last 2 years has certainly opened my eyes. I was once proud of my nationality etc. Now.... I'm ashamed to be British.

Neilw

I went to British Embassy in Kathmandu, 3 days after my daughter was born last September. I was prepared to beg for emergency travel documents for baby to travel (in regard that they delayed my wife her visa, thus forcing her to deliver baby there). They wouldn't even see me. I went in person.

rustygecko

See your MP.
Contact the local newspaper about them investigating the baby's criminal record. Is there any reason that you need the baby's passport urgently?

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