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Post by htmb on Mar 2, 2024 17:21:12 GMT
I hope your passport comes through soon, Tod. It sounds like having a UK passport will surely make it easier for you to travel to France! Prepaying for trains and hotels and declaring all your movements seems like a real pain.
The Italians make it very difficult when applying for citizenship recognition and, oddly enough, every consulate has a variety of their own different requirements and procedures to follow. In the US there are now huge backlogs of people applying for recognition (the Italian line flows through each generation from the last relative born on Italian soil, as long as there are no breaks in the line). The helpful Facebook support group I joined when I was first researching my line (about 2017) had 10,000 members at that point. Now they have 60,000, plus most Italian consulates in the US have tremendous applicant backlogs.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 2, 2024 17:30:22 GMT
Tod, mainly what I want to say is how wonderful it is to see you back on anyport.
It makes me tired just reading about the tortuous process you're going through to get your British passport! (Ditto Htmb's process for her Italian citizenship.)
I can absolutely understand why you're willing to go through so much to get that passport, though, since it seems like you must go through an equal amount of tra-ca each and every time you travel abroad.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 2, 2024 22:15:52 GMT
Hey tod! Good to see you, and to hear that progress is being made on the passport front.
Sorry you aren’t well and hoping you are all better soon. (I feel ill just reading the list of bueaucratic hoops you’ve had to jump through!)
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Post by tod2 on Mar 3, 2024 9:49:41 GMT
Tod, you seem very capable of wearing them down, just like I did with the French authorities several times over the years. Whenever I grew despondent at the mammoth task of keeping HMPO happy by feeding them as best I could, with their ever additional requests, the sentence sent to me by Kerouac kept my focus on never giving in. That's the honest truth.
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 3, 2024 10:00:21 GMT
Well done you!
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Post by tod2 on Mar 26, 2024 14:42:33 GMT
Hey! I got 911 911 911!! This in our family means something very important or urgent.
The Passport office wanted me to telephone them and make an appointment for an interview. With the help of my son I was able to do the necessary and have an appointment for 3rd April at 10.15 UK time. There are certain formalities: No person is allowed to be in the room with me. Secondly, I am not allowed to refer to any notes. The interview is conducted over Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) which my son has already but they sent me a link to download it.
Another step forward!! As Wednesday is my Hairdo day I will be as spivvy as possible to impress the interviewer,,,,LOL
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 26, 2024 14:48:45 GMT
Oh, Tod ~ I know your wonderful personality and all the preparation you've done for this passport quest will have you sailing through that interview and charming the interviewer besides.
Hooray for getting to this step in the process!
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 26, 2024 15:27:29 GMT
Tod, you have already jumped through so many hoops this sounds like you're ready for the final steeplechase!
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Post by htmb on Mar 26, 2024 15:29:32 GMT
Fantastic news, Tod!
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 26, 2024 16:32:02 GMT
I would suggest you wear your Union Jack dress!
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Post by htmb on Mar 26, 2024 17:38:06 GMT
Perfect!
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Post by tod2 on Mar 28, 2024 13:44:33 GMT
Thanks to you all - That's an idea Mick! I will scrummage through my wardrobe and find something Red-white- and blue. OR OR OR, should I not wear some Impala skin adorned with beads and a very fashionable item here....The Impala tail made into a crown......like this? tinyurl.com/bdh3hrx5
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 28, 2024 14:08:04 GMT
Just make sure there is a framed photo of King Charles visible in the background while you are interviewed.
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Post by htmb on Mar 28, 2024 14:09:00 GMT
Oh, I needed a laugh!!!!! Thanks so much, Tod!
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Post by tod2 on Apr 3, 2024 14:37:11 GMT
Well folks today was the day. My interview went very smoothly thanks to my "Technical" and computer-wise son Jordan. He was in front of the screen when the Interviewer came online and he merely said he was assisting me to be ready for the interview and handed me the seat in front of the screen. Now I know you would like to know what he asked me? First of all he wanted to know if I had ever done a "Team" meeting online, and I said no never. He was a jovial chap with smiles all the time and I hope this was to go easy on me, not lead me into a false sense of security... First off I had to give him my full names and spell them. Then my husband names likewise. Not sure in what order the questions came but next was questions about my parents. Where was I born. Why we they in Kenya. Did I have any siblings. After more family questions about my schooling, career after school and my marriage including how did my husband and I meet, how long before we married, and on and on. Here is where I went a bit wobbly when he asked why I had not submitted my original marriage certificate. This threw me as I was confident I had but had not explanation . But when I told my husband about that question he immediately said "You sent it with my application" Duh!! This worried me as the Interviewer told me that HMPO were looking to give me a British Citizenship Passport because my husband had a direct link to the UK through his father and not because my birth certificate recorded I was a British Citizen by Birth. If he was wanting the original certificate I would have to send it to them as my husbands application documents have been returned. I will ask the Agents handling my application to please advise them that I have it here.
Glad the interview is behind me and now look forward to that little black book...or was ir dark blue?
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Post by htmb on Apr 3, 2024 16:10:29 GMT
Hopefully, it wont be long before this suspense ends on a positive note!
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 3, 2024 16:29:13 GMT
Unfortunately the passport will no longer be the burgundy cover of a few years ago.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 18, 2024 16:52:21 GMT
Dear Everyone, I did it. My UK Citizenship Passport is on its way with DHL.
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Post by htmb on Apr 18, 2024 16:57:52 GMT
Oh, my goodness!!!!!!! Hurrah! What a champ!
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 18, 2024 16:59:21 GMT
HOORAY for you, dear Tod!!! Fabulous news & what a relief for you!
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Post by mich64 on Apr 18, 2024 20:16:10 GMT
Outstanding news Tod! Congratulations to you both for your perseverance!
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Post by fumobici on Apr 19, 2024 1:16:29 GMT
Dear Everyone, I did it. My UK Citizenship Passport is on its way with DHL. Well done, eventually they usually cave.
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Post by whatagain on Apr 19, 2024 9:22:21 GMT
At last !
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 22, 2024 16:22:28 GMT
Dear Everyone, I did it. My UK Citizenship Passport is on its way with DHL. Brilliant! We are proud of you! Well done xxx
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