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rosepink · Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 8 Location: E MIDLANDS

My friend has an Argentinian passport but had English mother and german father. He left Argentina when he was a very small child and subsequently worked and lived in UK.

He is now 67 years old and not working. He lives in Spain and has done for many years. He once lived and worked in Uk and his sister and son live in UK. He is in receipt of some UK SRP, as he contributed here for at least 17 years if not longer.

He has lost a lot of money and would like to return to UK. We wonder if he would be entitled to medical care or any other benefits as he has no property or assets. He cannot find his birth certificate and I suggested he go to Argentinian embassy in Spain to try for a copy. This would show his perents were from EU countires which might help?

He has a UK Nat Ins number, as as he gets SRP, and so we wonder if he could apply for other benefits if he comes to UK. Could he apply for a UK passport through his mother?He wants to live here permanently but it seems cannot rely on his sister or son for support.

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated!

steven · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 148 Location: Dumfriesshire

tell him to check his passport to see if it states no right to UK benefits, if it doesn't then I'd say he's passed the first hurdle.
However he will probably need to sit a residence test to establish that he no longer has any ties to the country he is leaving and has no plans to return.
hope that helps

rosepink · Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 8 Location: E MIDLANDS

Thanks Steven but he does not yet have a UK Passport to check this, only an Argentinan one. I think he needs to try and see if he would qualify for a UK passport through his mother first perhaps? Thanks anyway!

steven · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 148 Location: Dumfriesshire

I'd still check his passport as I never mentioned a UK one.

rosepink · Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 8 Location: E MIDLANDS

Thanks Steven. I have not yet had any other reply from this forum, so i will ask him to check in his passport , as you advise. I do not think he has been to UK for many years. Not sure what would have been stamped into his Argentinian passport last time he came , or when the UK authorities started to put riders such as "must not rely on UK benefits "type entries.
Do you think i might need to consult an immigration lawyer rather than a welfare benefits expert?

steven · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 148 Location: Dumfriesshire

[quote="rosepink"]Thanks Steven. I have not yet had any other reply from this forum, so i will ask him to check in his passport , as you advise. I do not think he has been to UK for many years. Not sure what would have been stamped into his Argentinian passport last time he came , or when the UK authorities started to put riders such as "must not rely on UK benefits "type entries.
Do you think i might need to consult an immigration lawyer rather than a welfare benefits expert?[/quote]

Hiya
It wouldn't do any harm to double check with immigration but check the passport first.
Also even if it does or doesn't state that, he would definately need to sit a residence test before any benefits will be awarded, which all takes time.
Hope that helps