Raj Gill from Grays, Essex, found himself in a challenging situation as he endeavors to bring his surrogacy newborn baby back to the UK from Cyprus.
According to BBC, Gill traveled to Cyprus just two days prior to his son’s birth on January 29th. Currently, he is facing the expiration of his temporary visa for Cyprus on April 26th while awaiting the issuance of his child’s British passport.
Expressing a sense of abandonment by UK authorities, Gill emphasized the urgency of returning his 11-week-old son to the UK for necessary vaccinations. Despite completing all required paperwork promptly after his son’s birth, Gill claims that his application has not been processed since February 12th. He highlighted the predicament of being the sole caregiver for his child in Cyprus, where remaining beyond the visa expiration could lead to penalties, legal ramifications, or even imprisonment.
Having dedicated 18 years to teaching at Lee Chapel Primary School in Basildon, Gill opted for surrogacy after unsuccessful attempts to find a partner. His concern extends beyond his immediate situation to the welfare of his children if he faces legal consequences for overstaying his visa.
While the Home Office refrained from commenting on specific passport cases, they acknowledged that additional verifications are typically necessary to confirm a child’s nationality before issuing an emergency travel document.
