A question for brit expats with children and foreign national wives
My wife is travelling alone next month to UK with our baby daughter (who is also British like myself), but my wife is a foreign national.
Has anyone in this situation had a problem with immigration at the airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) travelling on a non EU passport with a child (on a British passport)?
We have heard stories whereby mothers have had problems with immigration because the father of the child was not present. My wife’s passport is in her maiden name which could make things worse as our baby has a passport in our family name e.g. mine.
I have already contacted the embassy and they will try and pass on to the right people. I have already contacted the border agency in Uk, the visa section in Qatar who couldn’t answer this and just gave me the airport number which just a telephone information line. I’m not sure if I’m even going to get an answer other than I have to contact someone that I have already contacted.
Thanks
Thanks all for your help except for MRST2009( you obviously didn’t read my post did you ??)
For your information we are all here in Qatar, my wife holds the family visa since she is the international lawyer
I finally solved it
This is a trip to the UK NOT Qatar ( note mrst2009 !)
The UK embassy forwarded my email to the visa section for UK.
You need the following
Marriage certificate (we were married in UK and this links us together).
British Birth Certificate of child ( this links mother and father to child )
Photocopy of fathers passport ( this demonstrate the father id )
These details are linked to our previous entry last month and as such we make regular trips to the UK.
It’s just that my wife heard many scare stories and like any parent was anxious
To add to this I will write a short note explaining the details and provide a recent photograph of our family showing what we all look like and it can be compared to our passport photos
Yes medohaqatar
Best to provide more than needed documentation including my contact number; just hope I’m not flying when they actually arrive at immigration.
your options:
1, your letter with embassy chop
2. Apply family visa and send to her, so entry in Qatar is easy as all are listed on the visa
Fly over and pick them up, dont stress your wife traveling alone with the kid... be a man
don't forget as well that your child is a British Citizen, they have to let the child enter ! your wife ?? But they are unlikely to not let the mother in. Getting out could be more troublesome particularly if she has no visa in her passport allowing her entry and exit on residents status to the UK.
A colleague had a Chinese (Citizen) wife and she was allowed to travel between UK and here freely with the child who was British, but then she did have the right of abode in the UK, but her passport was still in her maiden name
agree, also make sure the letter includes yours, the mothers and childs, full names, dates of birth and passport numbers, so that the letter can only be used by your family. and take the birth and marriage certificate as well. Unlikely to have a problem, but better to have more documentation than needed, and proof of your consent for specific persons.
P.S. Don't bother with the UK Embassy, worse than useless to the point, if emergency situations arose, I would try to get help from another commonwealth country first.
Hi,
I would highly recommend that you provide your wife with a hand written letter of permission indicating your awareness that she is traveling with the child, as well as scan copies of your passport and other ID. I would also be available by mobile phone upon her arrival at UK customs. Best of luck.