A Perthshire dad has issued a warning to other travellers after a misunderstanding about his wife’s immigration status left her stranded in Thailand.
Nick Holt, who lives in Braco, says newly naturalised UK citizens should “very aware” of the rules after Kajitpan Nampila – known as Jiw – was turned away from a flight home.
Jiw – who hails from Thailand – was enjoying a trip to her homeland with Nick and their son Poom when she was told she could not return to Scotland, where she now lives.
As a result, she is having to stay with family near Bangkok while she tries to sort documentation to get back to the UK.
Nick – who has travelled home with Poom – says the situation has been “emotionally draining”.
The 55-year-old said:Â “I’m not usually an emotional person, but there are times during this where I’ve just wanted to curl up in the corner.”
What led to Jiw being refused flight home?
- January 2014 – Jiw and Nick get married in Auchterarder. Nick is living in Germany, but the couple are wedded in Scotland so his family can attend.
- May 2014 – Jiw and Poom move to Germany to live with Nick.
- September 2015 – The family move to Cambridge.
- July 2016 – The family move again, this time to Braco.
- August 2022 – Jiw is granted UK citizenship, meaning her previous settled status and indefinite leave to remain are superseded.
- September 2022 – The family attempt to get Jiw a UK passport but realise they won’t be able to get one in time for their October trip to Thailand. However, after consulting with the Home Office, the family are of the understanding she can travel on her Thai passport without a visa using the indefinite leave to remain.
- October 8 2022 – The family fly to Thailand.
- October 21 2022 – The family attempt to fly back to the UK, but Jiw is not allowed to board the plane by KLM due to a lack of proper documentation.
- October 22 2022 – Poom and Nick return to Perthshire while Jiw waits in Bangkok.
Nick said: “Since Jiw had her citizenship ceremony, she is not eligible to travel back to the UK on her Thai passport with her indefinite leave to remain, but rather she must travel back only on a UK passport.
“We’re now planning to get a visa which will let her come back using her Thai passport.
“I think it’s going to take roughly two weeks.
“As soon as she has that visa we’ll get her on the first flight home.”
‘I’m now feeling exhausted’
Nick admits they had not been fully aware of the rules.
He added: “I’m now feeling exhausted.
“We’ve been in touch with the office of MP John Nicolson and they’re helping us deal with things.
“We didn’t realise that the moment you go through your citizenship ceremony your settled status disappears and you’re not supposed to travel without a British passport.
“Now you have a mother who is separated from her son and a wife who is separated from her husband.
“Be very aware that if you get British citizenship your EU settled status cannot be relied upon, and you absolutely require a UK passport to travel and return to the UK.”
A Home Office spokesperson says airlines are responsible for checking passengers have the right documentation before boarding.
A KLM spokesperson said: “Passengers are responsible to travel with the right documents.
“Since the visa is required to travel back from Thailand to the UK.
“This passenger was not in possession of such a visa.
“To comply with rules and regulations for the entrance of the country we could not allow her to board her flight.”
Conversation