Published on 12, July, 2020
Lost0ne87 said:My mum and dad worked in the uk for most my life and they are applying for British passport and what not.
I'd get involved in their process. It will be far easier if they are involved. If you were born in SA you will have a South African passport also dual nationality by the sounds of things. Looking at the entitlements you have claimed and the duration (since 2012?), it seems you have some sort of citizenship. If you've been here 30 years immigration would have been on the case by now, I'd imagine. The details seem a bit thin for me to make a complete judgement. As said in another part of the thread EU Nationals who are already here are not going to be deported. You've been here a long time.
I'd call your parents as soon as possible. It's all well and good asking people you don't know, (and can't answer your questions properly) on the internet, but the only people that can tell you properly, and quickly enough to end the worry are your parents. They could just tell you that you have citizenship. Worry over, problem solved.
Here are the steps to take tomorrow or when you can.
1. Call your parents! They will know what your passport is, and citizenship status. If they tell you it's all well and good, get your passport. If it's fine no need for step 2. Stop worrying.
2. If it's not good there ask your parents if you can get involved in their process for citizenship. If not get as much paperwork as you can and go to step 3.
3. People have suggested CAB here. The CAB is probably not the first place I'd go. Their caseload is massive, and I'd say that they aren't used to dealing with autistic clients regularly. If you have problems dealing with this sort of stuff, there are Autism Advocacy groups. They can help you apply for and/or find out your Legal Citizenship Status. They are also experienced and sympathetic to autistic clients.
This explains advocacy.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advocacyandautism
There is a directory of Autism Advocacy groups in the UK.
https://www.autism.org.uk/directory/browse/cid=51~aid=1.aspx
If you can't find your Autism Advocacy group get back here and let me know the area or city you live in. Just pop it in the replies.
Most of all don't worry, as much as you can. It might never happen.
I got no passport what so ever. I did have a Belguim passport but that was revoked and I had no passport since and that I can't understand its so messed up. I am getting a solicitor of some sort to sort this out. Has said once I have chance but that was some time ago. Just had a bill and its some bit and said nothing if I indeed have a chance. Things change so I'm a bit worried.
I live in the cearphilly area.
Did you ask your parents? It could just be as simple as asking them about it or asking them for help.
Lost0ne87 said:I am getting a solicitor of some sort to sort this out. Has said once I have chance but that was some time ago. Just had a bill and its some bit and said nothing if I indeed have a chance. Things change so I'm a bit worried.
First of all you may not need a solicitor. You might have citizenship. A passport doesn't necessarily mean you are a citizen. Any solicitor who is their salt would be able to clarify the situation, even slightly. It sounds like you are being took advantage of or the solicitor is a clown.
Again ask your parents. It's the first thing to go to.
Lost0ne87 said:I have indeed been Christned but in Belguim. I am still claiming dla but it's going to be changed some other payment at any time and I have a National Insurance number.
I'm not a solicitor but I know enough to tell you more than the "solicitor" you have spoken to.
You have a National Insurance number. You need to be eligible to study or work in the UK. This means you are in the tax system.
You get DLA, to be eligible you need to have either UK citizenship, or be from the EU or Switzerland. So going by that YOU AREN'T CONSIDERED AFRICAN.
Lost0ne87 said:I have given every paper that they asked for, getting it sorted by a solicitor of some sort and he asked £2500. Whenever I asked the people that care for me why it's so expensive they say it's because it's such a complex case.
Someone is having you at it. You NEED to get in touch with your parents. PLEASE!
£2500 should more than cover a citizenship application. You have even provided them with all the information. Something doesn't add up. Either the solicitor is scamming or your carers are. Ask for all the paperwork that the solicitor has given, and an invoice or quote from the solicitor, depending on how far it is. A real solicitor would be able to tell you your status, and what needs to be done.
First of all stop letting the TV, or in the worst case, your carers wind you up about being deported.
Secondly, and most importantly, CALL YOUR PARENTS, something doesn't add up here with the things you are saying you have been told. Really, I'm pretty pissed at reading that people can't tell you a thing. It stinks of bullshit. Sorry to be frank, but it just doesn't seem right.
If you can't here is the number for an Advocacy service near you.
https://www.scope.org.uk/support/services-directory/caerphilly
Please call your parents though. Really.
The email address of gwent police is contact@gwent.pnn.police.uk and not as above wrongly as ending in ok (wrong) whereas it should be uk (correct)
1, You must not send or give any money to anybody.and this means solicitors on the phone however urgent.
2, You must not give details of your credit Cards or Bank details over the phone or in person to anybody and this means solicitors however urgent.
2, You must not give any contact details to anybody such as your address and telephone number.
I BELIEVE YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED FOR MONEY AND YOUR BANK DETAILS.
I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO GWENT POLICE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM - I BELIEVE YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED OF ALL YOUR MONEY.
YOU MUST DIAL "101" STRAIGHT AWAY AND GIVE THEM YOUR CONTACT DETAILS.
or YOUR CARER can do this for you if you are unable to do so as a vulnerable person.
YOU CAN CONTACT THEM BY EMAIL AT contact@gwent.pnn.police.ok
Their website is www.gwent.police.uk
YOU WILL NOT BE DEPORTED IF WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE.
until you have advice Free advice from either the CAB or as Cloudy Mountains advised as enclosed THEN APPLY TO BECOME A BRITISH CITIZEN.
"You have just been told your solicitor, about who you know nothing about, but wants £2500, Works for the Government as an immigration Lawyer" That cannot be tru
1, Any solicitor who works UNDER YOUR INSTRUCTIONS will WANT YOU TO SIGN A CONTRACT of HIS TERMS. ie you know who he is, and where he is based. You should have been advised to use the services of a local solicitor... You can always then check about the solicitor and what he specialises in.
I just been told something interesting he is a imgration lawyer that works for the government.
Do try the helplines and places Cloudy Mountains has recommended here. See if NAS can help too with the advocacy side of things
You are still a Belgian citizen despite not having a passport; you can't be rendered stateless in international law.
I don't have citizenship of any kind, British nor Belguim. I had a word with my mum and all that deal with me.
nexus9 said:The free legal service for people with disabilities seems to be the key. Someone who can offer advocacy during stressful interviews for example.
I think that having someone to explain it and be able to realy the information who is experienced would be the best way forward too. Handing £2500 over to someone who can't explain this all seems very dubious.
Some people think that being able to explain complicated things in a verbose way is intelligence. I think the opposite is true. If you can explain something in clear and simple terms that everyone can understand it, for me that is a far more useful skill. You can make making a cup of tea sound like Uncertainty Principle, but that is idiocy. Advocacy is a very admirable skill. If people were less interested in sounding like geniuses, and more interested in communicating, there would be far less problems in the world. I think LostOne87 has bumped into a few people who fall into the latter.
nexus9 said:And what about NAS itself? Could they refer someone who could help with advocacy in a situation like this?
Maybe LostOne87 should call them. Good suggestion.
nexus9 said:Whilst CAB are limited, they are at least free. You need to keep your money until you get advised by a trustworthy source that you may need to purchase certain documents
I used to have to deal with CAB when I worked in drug rehabilitation. They really are stretched, and they struggle to allocate time and resources. I'd refer people, and it was so hit and miss. For the past 20 years the CAB has been being systematically forced into a state of redudancy. Fucking shameful. I agree totally about the money issue, and the advice on what needs to be paid and when. People need resources like that, so that they have more control over decisions they make. Leaves less room for the sharks.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/local-citizens-advice-details/?serialnumber=101039
That's Caerphilly's only CAB. If you are reading LostOne87.
I've scoured the internet for stuff in Caerphilly. Doesn't seem there's much in the way of advocacy. It's all the usual stuff in the way of Autism Support. All for young people and kids. That's fine, but there are some adults that need help too!
Whilst CAB are limited, they are at least free. You need to keep your money until you get advised by a trustworthy source that you may need to purchase certain documents
And what about NAS itself? Could they refer someone who could help with advocacy in a situation like this?
The free legal service for people with disabilities seems to be the key. Someone who can offer advocacy during stressful interviews for example.
Lost0ne87 said:Yes I asked about a british citizen which I don't have.
You do have some form of legal status. Looking at the things you do have it's a certainty.
Lost0ne87 said:I was the one that I was thinking getting a loan, no one else. If I were to pay this guy I will have nothing left in the bank
Don't get a loan until you know you need it for sure. Don't get a solicitor either until you know you need one for sure. This could be way simpler than you think. I think you are panicking and jumping the gun. No use getting yourself into debt, or paying money that you may not need to.
Lost0ne87 said:But I can get his number, my dad does talk to over on email. Know my dad does not really like me talking online about and it's hard to ask questions about it. The stress is getting him.
He may not like it, but he will have to help you. Explain that you don't understand the situation, and it's very stressful for you too. Find out what your legal status is here. Write it down, then come back if you need to ask any questions about it. I'll try my best to explain it to you.
Try not to panic. From what I can tell, you aren't in danger of any hassle for the forseeable future.
No problem at all, I'm glad I can try to help.
I will ask again about it
Yes I asked about a british citizen which I don't have. I was the one that I was thinking getting a loan, no one else. If I were to pay this guy I will have nothing left in the bank
I can only phone as he is indeed in London and I'm south wales. But I can get his number, my dad does talk to over on email. Know my dad does not really like me talking online about and it's hard to ask questions about it. The stress is getting him.
Thanks all the info you have given
nexus9 said:There are plenty of wind-up merchants who just can't seem to help moving in like sharks at the first sight of vulnerability or distress. Another shining example of human nature.
I'm worried about this kid. He seems to not have much help. You know me, I'm having to keep my *** together here! It just doesn't seem right.
Lost0ne87 said:And also to add it may not get accepted and have pay more money. it's a joke
Here is a free legal service for people with disabilities.
https://dls.org.uk/about-us/our-history/
Lost0ne87 said:I have asked my mum just now on skype but she doesn't know what to say, I showed her this thread. I know that my staff are not scamming me but you are right this a bit much to ask since I would say I'm a british and have a right to stay.
Did you ask your mom if you have citizenship. She can either say yes or no. That's the question you need to ask.
Lost0ne87 said:I been told it should cost around £1500 and the solicitor did not charge all the hours which my dad said bullshit and I would have to agree. I can't remember completely but he charged for 300 of pounds an hour, something like that.
The average fee for a solicitor is £100 per hour for a Junior, and £200 for a Senior, maybe nearer £300 per hour in Central London. That's for a case that is usually a criminal case. An immigration case is usually charged as a set fee. If it is as you say it's unusual to be charged a set fee, and then an additional rate. I also find it a bit puzzling that they could charge so much money, and not be able to clarify anything to you.
Lost0ne87 said:Solicitor also helps woman that owns the company that the support workers work for.
Can I ask who suggested that you see the solicitor? Also who is suggesting that you take loans? I'd just like to find out.
Lost0ne87 said:This is for the citizenship and it does not cover a passport.
Once you are a citizen, a passport is just a thing that you use to travel with or use as identification.
Lost0ne87 said:Also I must add I went to my Belguim embassy in London and they said my passport is void and I need to apply for a citizenship but he did not do much research as he did not know that my parents worked in uk, if they did not he said I have no chance to become british.
In the time being, for your own piece of mind. Get a Belgian passport, just as a piece of ID. It doesn't cost £2500. It's only £70. You are fine to stay here, the law hasn't changed and might not. You should have told the guy at the embassy that your parents work here. If your passport is void you would have been deported by now.
You have some sort of legal status to be here.
You have a NI number.
You are claiming DLA/PIP.
You have some form of legal status to be here. I'm just trying to find out what it is so I can explain it to you.
Lost0ne87 said:I have been told that I was born when Africa was not in the british commonwealth and that's why it's more difficult.
Yes, South Africa did leave the Commonwealth for a while. That doesn't matter because at some stage you became a Belgian citizen, because you had a Beigian passport. This means regardless of being born in South Africa, YOU ARE NOT A SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZEN. You have also been issued a NI number, this means you have the right to work, study, and have tax status in the UK. You are also claiming DLA/PIP, this means that you are allowed to be here. Also the fact that your Belgian passport is void means that you have some sort of legal status to be here. Visa's are usually revoked when a passport expires. Since you are claiming DLA and have a valid NI number, you have some right to be here.
You are either an EU or UK citizen. Your country of birth is totally irrelevant at this point. You aren't going to be deported to SA.
Can you Skype your dad and find out anything? Also can you tell me who is suggesting that you need to apply for citizenship, and who is asking you to apply for loans?
And also to add it may not get accepted and have pay more money.
Cloudy Mountains said:First of all you may not need a solicitor. You might have citizenship. A passport doesn't necessarily mean you are a citizen. Any solicitor who is their salt would be able to clarify the situation, even slightly. It sounds like you are being took advantage of or the solicitor is a clown.
This is for the citizenship and it does not cover a passport.
I just had a automatic reply from the site you suggested and it said this:
Unfortunately, we can’t respond to your email if it falls into any of the following categories:
If you are seeking specific advocacy, legal advice or medical advice
Also I must add I went to my Belguim embassy in London and they said my passport is void and I need to apply for a citizenship but he did not do much research as he did not know that my parents worked in uk, if they did not he said I have no chance to become british.
I have been told that I was born when Africa was not in the british commonwealth and that's why it's more difficult.
I will contact that site you linked
I have asked my mum just now on skype but she doesn't know what to say, I showed her this thread. I know that my staff are not scamming me but you are right this a bit much to ask since I would say I'm a british and have a right to stay.
I been told it should cost around £1500 and the solicitor did not charge all the hours which my dad said bullshit and I would have to agree. I can't remember completely but he charged for 300 of pounds an hour, something like that.
Solicitor also helps woman that owns the company that the support workers work for.