canadian citizen w/ UK born father -- the process?

Hey everyone,

I am new here and have some questions about getting myself a UK passport.

I have researched the IPS and UK in Canada website thoroughly. However, I am still not 100% sure if I have grasped the process correctly, so I've come here in hopes of finding out from someone who's experienced it and can shed some light.

Here is my situation:

- I currently live in Canada.

- My father was born in the UK and met my mother here in Canada and married. They gave birth to me 5 years later. My father currently still lives in Canada, although they divorced 5 years after my birth. I have their original marriage certificate.

- I was born in Canada after January 1st 1983 so I had to get my father's long form UK birth certificate.

- My name was recently changed, so I have ready the Proof of Legal Change of Name document and my long form birth certificate.

- I currently hold a Canadian passport and Canadian citizenship, and am interested in getting dual citizenship with Canada/UK.

There's a few things I'm confused about:

1. I realize since this is my first UK passport, they may require an interview. Will this interview be held in the UK as per the IPS website, or in Ottawa as per the UK in Canada website?

2. Do I have all the necessary documents? Am I missing anything?

3. What costs will I need to pay, besides the 72 pounds for the passport application?

4. The moment of truth -- maybe I've made the assumption all this time that I'm eligible and I'm not actually at all -- based on my info, am I in fact eligible??

I thank you all in advance for your help.

Sincerely,
GAC

Hello, I can totally understand your frustration! I spent months looking for the information to do this. I was successful in getting my dual citizenship and passport, and I can say once I found out how to do it it was a very easy process. I did all of this back in November 2007, just before a few of the rules changed. The cost for my application i believe was about £450.

I did phone the British High Commision (Ottawa) for advice and I can say the gentleman I spoke with was very helpful. If you do call, be sure to have all your questions written down so you can ask exactly waht you want as they charge by the minute. Tell them your father was born in the UK and you want to apply for dual citizenship. They will ask you a couple questions and tell you which form to get.

However check out the UK Border Angency at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/

Hope this helps.

If you do not qualify through your Father check out the "Right of Abode" which is through your Grandparents.

Thanks a lot for all your info!

I will call that number so I can at least have some peace of mind about what I need to do. I was reluctant about it because of the pay-per-minute pricing just to talk to someone, which I find a bit ridiculous.

Did you get interviewed at all? If so, where did it take place?

Also, overall, does it sound like I qualify? It's so confusing to tell on all these websites. They've changed their wording several times over the past year, where at one point I was certain I qualified and now I'm not so sure.

I look forward to anyone else willing to shed any light on this situation.

Sincerely,
GAC