British Protected Passport Help

HER

My mother has a British protected passport which was issued when she arrived from Uganda in 1972. She never changed it from all those years and never had any problems especially visiting India apart from when we were going to visit Dubai via London.

This is what flagged the protected passport situation to us as we had know idea that our mother’s passport was any different.

We are going to America in September/October and don’t want any problems.

Is there somewhere where we could apply for a normal British passport? She has been in the country from the 70’s and worked all her life up until retirement.

Thanks

bni

Is your mother a British citizen, because a British protected person is a limited form of nationality that allows you a British passport but doesn't give you the right to live and work in the UK or in the EU.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/othernationality/britishprotectedperson/

If she is a citizen, she should simply apply for a normal passport. If she is still a British protected person, she will need to apply for citizenship first:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/applicationtypes/noothernationality/

In terms of the USA, I'm not sure if your mother as a British protected person would qualify to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme that enables British people to travel to the US without a visa - she might be required to apply for a visitor's visa in advance.
The American Embassy in London will be able to answer this question for you (and I would definitely ask to make sure because US immigration is not very friendly or understanding).

Also bear in mind that even if you are travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme are now required to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which is made and approved online before you travel.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

bni

Actually, just had a little read on the ESTA FAQ and your mother would definitely not qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme because first of all you need a machine readable passport which she wouldn't have if it was issued in the 70s. And secondly if she is a British protected person she doesn't have the unrestricted right of abode in the UK which is another requirement.

So I would think that your mother needs to apply for a visitor's visa as soon as possible (which I'm not sure if she would qualify for or not).