James said: The only sure way of establishing your British Citizenship is to be BORN in the United Kingdom, or applying for British Citizenship once you have settled in the UK for the required number of years. James Sinclair jimsin12@aol.com My experience was somewhat different! My father was in the British Army, sent out from the UK to India, he met and married my mother, who was born in India of a British father. My Birth Certificate states: Born OUT of the UK, but my mother with great forethought had our births registered at the British Consul. I was able to get a British passport, but my daughter was denied entry to the UK, as she was married to an Indian citizen. I successfully argued with the Home Office, that as my father was sent to India, and did not go there of his own volition, his children had no choice but to be born in India. He registered my birth with the army, and later my mother did the same with the consul, therefore I should be deemed to have been born in the UK! The Home Office accepted my argument, an official from the Home Office rang me, apologised, and said my daughter and granddaughter would be allowed to settle in the UK. You never know until you try!! Rosemary ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I think that Rosemary’s message (below) exemplifies the (in-my-opinion) awful situation regarding British citizenship and nationality status as it used to be when the Home Office made their determinations on a case-by-case and often capricious basis. The British Library is PACKED with records of people from all backgrounds asking about citizenship or passports, particularly after 1947. Since members of my family were among those, I have researched many of the records and am struck by the arbitrary nature of the decisions. It is appalling. People, even siblings, with exactly the same circumstances were treated differently. One good thing about the European Union is that it forced member countries to make transparent laws about these things and to make the laws apply to everyone equally. I am not sure if the EU has been completely successful in Britain’s case, but I think things are better and much less arbitrary than they used to be. I hate to think what will happen if Britain leaves the EU. I suppose it will go back to the same old arbitrary and personal decisions about immigration and citizenship. Several members of this list have described how personal appeals had to be made to the Home Office in order to get a good resolution to the issue of their status. That system was/is completely undemocratic and unfair and creates openings for corruption, racism, sexism, and just plain prejudice. Anthea Tillyer (who was treated just like everybody else when applying for US citizenship) On Aug 17, 2015, at 9:52, Rosemary Taylor via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: My father was in the British Army, sent out from the UK to India, he met and married my mother, who was born in India of a British father. My Birth Certificate states: Born OUT of the UK, but my mother with great forethought had our births registered at the British Consul. I was able to get a British passport, but my daughter was denied entry to the UK, as she was married to an Indian citizen. I successfully argued with the Home Office, that as my father was sent to India, and did not go there of his own volition, his children had no choice but to be born in India. He registered my birth with the army, and later my mother did the same with the consul, therefore I should be deemed to have been born in the UK! The Home Office accepted my argument, an official from the Home Office rang me, apologised, and said my daughter and granddaughter would be allowed to settle in the UK.

Hello List, Anthea, are you able to quote a British Library catalogue record, so that these records are documented for further research? I have searched in the British Library catalogue and found the odd reference here and there, but nothing which corresponds with your description which indicates many applications. Cheers Maureen On 18/08/2015, at 8:33 AM, Anthea Tillyer via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > I think that Rosemary’s message (below) exemplifies the (in-my-opinion) awful situation regarding British citizenship and nationality status as it used to be when the Home Office made their determinations on a case-by-case and often capricious basis. The British Library is PACKED with records of people from all backgrounds asking about citizenship or passports, particularly after 1947. Since members of my family were among those, I have researched many of the records and am struck by the arbitrary nature of the decisions. It is appalling. People, even siblings, with exactly the same circumstances were treated differently. > > One good thing about the European Union is that it forced member countries to make transparent laws about these things and to make the laws apply to everyone equally. I am not sure if the EU has been completely successful in Britain’s case, but I think things are better and much less arbitrary than they used to be. I hate to think what will happen if Britain leaves the EU. I suppose it will go back to the same old arbitrary and personal decisions about immigration and citizenship. > > Several members of this list have described how personal appeals had to be made to the Home Office in order to get a good resolution to the issue of their status. That system was/is completely undemocratic and unfair and creates openings for corruption, racism, sexism, and just plain prejudice. > > Anthea Tillyer (who was treated just like everybody else when applying for US citizenship) > >