British Squady Refused British Passport!
Discussion
I am very suprised this is not being talked about on PH, perhaps it is but i have not found it.
Apparently a squaddy of british born and bred parents who was born in rhodesia / zimbabwe (sp?) but went to school in the uk and then joined the british army and served all around the world including the latest iraqi conflict has been refused a passport by blunkets wise men becuase he has spent too much time out of the country serving with the british army. This is the most shocking thing i have heard all year. Its beyond ridiculous. Both his parents are white and british born, this on its own should give someone a right to a pasport let alone the fact he has been serving in the army all his life. We will happily welcome assylum seekers so why can t this guy have a passport?
Apparently a squaddy of british born and bred parents who was born in rhodesia / zimbabwe (sp?) but went to school in the uk and then joined the british army and served all around the world including the latest iraqi conflict has been refused a passport by blunkets wise men becuase he has spent too much time out of the country serving with the british army. This is the most shocking thing i have heard all year. Its beyond ridiculous. Both his parents are white and british born, this on its own should give someone a right to a pasport let alone the fact he has been serving in the army all his life. We will happily welcome assylum seekers so why can t this guy have a passport?
Here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4091871.stm
Edited to include article and say
to sparky. 
>> Edited by crazylegs on Monday 13th December 20:33
The BBC said:
Ex-Army officer 'denied passport'
A former Army officer who served in Iraq and Kosovo is being denied a British passport, his family has said.
Zimbabwe-born Captain Warwick Strong was turned down because he was out of the UK on duty, his father Colonel Jeremy Strong claimed.
Passport applicants must have lived in the UK for five years, without leaving for more than 90 days in a year.
The Home Office said the Passport Office is unable to grant documents when "nationality issues are pending".
Capt Strong arrived in Britain in 1998 and attended Sandhurst Military Academy.
He left the Army two months ago, after serving with the Royal Artillery for six years.
He holds an ancestral visa, which has been renewed until October 2006.
Capt Strong's father, from Cirencester, said his son had been denied British citizenship because he had been posted abroad while serving Britain.
If he had worked in a bank, he would now qualify for a British passport
Col Jeremy Strong, father
"He's gone out to protect the interests of the country and the free world in Kosovo and Iraq and he's been denied citizenship through no fault of his own.
"If he had worked in a bank, he would now qualify for a British passport because he would not have been outside the country for 90 days.
"The government uses him and then when he wants something back like a passport, they say `No thank you'."
Col Strong, who lives in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, recently approached Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for Cotswold, who is planning to raise the issue as a point of order in the House of Commons this week.
Mr Clifton-Brown said: "When I received the details about it, I nearly hit the roof. It just seems to me so totally wrong."
A Home Office spokesman said it could not comment on individual cases but added: "The Passport Office has no discretionary powers and has to follow rules as laid out.
"If there is a nationality issue pending or unresolved it would not be able to grant a British passport."
Edited to include article and say
to sparky. >> Edited by crazylegs on Monday 13th December 20:33
Sky News
Monday December 13, 07:35 PM
Ex-Army Officer Denied British Passport
A former British Army captain who fought in Kosovo and Iraq has been told he does not qualify for a passport. Warwick Strong was reportedly denied citizenship because he spent too much time abroad with the Army.The 29-year-old, who was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Britain six years ago, has served with the Royal Artillery.
His passport application was turned down partly because he spent more than 90 days a year out of the country on duty.
His father, Colonel Jeremy Strong, and grandfather both reached the rank of Colonel in the British Army.
Col Strong said the rejection was a slap in the face from the Government and said his son was "disgusted about it".
"He's gone out to protect the interests of the country and the free world in Kosovo and Iraq and he's been denied citizenship through no fault of his own," he said.
In order to qualify for a British passport, the applicant must reside in the UK for five years and not be out of the country for more than 90 days in any year.
Capt Strong arrived in Britain in 1998 and attended Sandhurst Military Academy.
He left the Army two months ago after serving with the Royal Artillery for six years and holds an ancestral visa, which has been renewed until October 2006.
A Home Office spokesman said it would not comment on individual cases.
Monday December 13, 07:35 PM
Ex-Army Officer Denied British Passport
A former British Army captain who fought in Kosovo and Iraq has been told he does not qualify for a passport. Warwick Strong was reportedly denied citizenship because he spent too much time abroad with the Army.The 29-year-old, who was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Britain six years ago, has served with the Royal Artillery.
His passport application was turned down partly because he spent more than 90 days a year out of the country on duty.
His father, Colonel Jeremy Strong, and grandfather both reached the rank of Colonel in the British Army.
Col Strong said the rejection was a slap in the face from the Government and said his son was "disgusted about it".
"He's gone out to protect the interests of the country and the free world in Kosovo and Iraq and he's been denied citizenship through no fault of his own," he said.
In order to qualify for a British passport, the applicant must reside in the UK for five years and not be out of the country for more than 90 days in any year.
Capt Strong arrived in Britain in 1998 and attended Sandhurst Military Academy.
He left the Army two months ago after serving with the Royal Artillery for six years and holds an ancestral visa, which has been renewed until October 2006.
A Home Office spokesman said it would not comment on individual cases.
Sky News said:
In order to qualify for a British passport, the applicant must reside in the UK for five years and not be out of the country for more than 90 days in any year.
Personally i think as in similar cases to the gurkhas, those who fought in the armed forces deserve fast track rights over and above normal "assylum seekers" (for want of better description).
But really, they haven't said he can never have a British Passport, just that he needs to complete the above task.
I mean really, the rest of us have had to pass the test of being able to stomach this shite for more than 5 years for the priviledge of a passport why shouldn't he!
Yes, but the rules don't change because he was fighting for the country. He was here on an ancesteral Visa (same as I was) and if you are out for more than 90 days in a year then you don't qualify. He would have know this.
As it happens, I have been in the UK for longer than he, I've not been out of the contry for more than 30 days in the last 6 years, and I am still no closer to a passport either.
Anyone can join the forces. You can't change the rules because he was in the forces, or you will create a gaping loophole for all and sundry to get their hands on a passport.
edited because this foreigner can't spell.
>> Edited by timsta on Tuesday 14th December 01:04
As it happens, I have been in the UK for longer than he, I've not been out of the contry for more than 30 days in the last 6 years, and I am still no closer to a passport either.
Anyone can join the forces. You can't change the rules because he was in the forces, or you will create a gaping loophole for all and sundry to get their hands on a passport.
edited because this foreigner can't spell.
>> Edited by timsta on Tuesday 14th December 01:04
timsta said:
You can't change the rules because he was in the forces, or you will create a gaping loophole for all and sundry to get their hands on a passport.
Sorry but WTF are you talking about? You're suggesting that people will join the British forces to get a passport, not withstanding the fact that they may get sent to a warzone somewhere around the world?
Last I checked it wasn't a case of joining up for 5 minutes then deciding you don't like it. (Although it wouldn't exactly be hard to have a clause in the passport application saying 5 minutes in the Armed Forces doesn't count).
centurion07 said:
You're suggesting that people will join the British forces to get a passport, not withstanding the fact that they may get sent to a warzone somewhere around the world?
Yep, exactly what I am sugesting. I know people that have, and they now have their passports. Of course, it doesn't work if you are out of the country for more tha 90 days, as the article says.
timsta said:
Yep, exactly what I am sugesting. I know people that have, and they now have their passports. Of course, it doesn't work if you are out of the country for more tha 90 days, as the article says.
Well more power to 'em then. More worthwhile than just sneaking in the back door & milking the benefits system!
and this guy was in the artillery!Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff