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odi · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 1

hi there, hopefully you can help me, i was born in South africa in 1976, my mum is scottish and my dad was born in south africa but moved to scotland when he was very young, i grew up in south africa until the age of 14 then we all came to the uk. I have been living and working here ever since, unbeknown to me my father had not registered us here when we arrived so i think we are here illegally, i want to register as a british citizen but i'm afraid that i will be deported, i cant get a licence to drive a car or buy a house, i cant even go on holiday. please can you help me i have no one else to turn to.

thank-you

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4418 Location: Bath

Having a Scotish mum makes it ok from what i gather, but do check and read the link below which should put your mind to rest.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/applying/british_nationality/advice_about_nationality/bn6_-_british_citizenship.html

bythewayer · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 3 Location: u.k.

Also in confirmation Scottish mum o.k. see
[edit] Right of Abode in the United Kingdom

As South Africa was a foreign country (under United Kingdom law) between 1 January 1973, the date the Immigration Act 1971 came into force in the UK, and 1 January 1983 (when the British Nationality Act 1981 came into force) South Africans were ineligible to hold Right of Abode unless they also held citizenship of another Commonwealth country, or the UK itself.

This particularly affected South Africans born before 1983 with British born mothers, who would otherwise usually have been eligible for Right of Abode in the UK.

However the changes to British nationality law on 30 April 2003 have allowed those born in South Africa between 8 Feb 1961 and 31 December 1982 with a UK born or naturalised mother to apply for registration as a British citizen by descent. With this comes a right of abode in the UK. This concession is not specific to South African citizens. See British nationality law