Yahoo News Gateshead dad remains separated from three children after passport office sends only one of them a passport
A dad remains separated from his three children after only one of them was approved for a passport.
Carl Wylie, 40, married his wife Zandile, 31, after moving from Gateshead to South Africa in 2020. The couple went on to have three children - four-year-old twin daughters Harley and Holly and one-year-old son Freddie.
When Carl, who was employed as a data analyst, was made redundant in March this year he returned to Gateshead to work to support his family.
They had to give up their home in Cape Town and Zandile and their children moved in with a relative in Soweto, a township in South Africa, which Carl says is a dangerous area.
Carl applied for a British passport for all three of his children so his family could move to the UK. However the passport office only sent him a passport for Harley and refused his other two children.
Carl, who is from the Felling area of Gateshead, said: "How can one twin child be British and the other one not? It's the lack of common sense that's very frustrating. I have been on the phone to them 40 times easily.
"It's hard, it's very distressing being apart from them. It's affected them greatly because their father's not with them. They're trying to understand why their father's not with them. This has made me cry too many times."
Carl said that the rules in South Africa mean that it is difficult for him to stay. He said he was unable to get his own bank account or sim card for his phone and that he had to rely on Zandile, who is from the country, to do everything for him.
The dad-of-three said he began applying for British passports for his children in October last year. He said he initially sent the passport office copies of the birth certificates required instead of the original copies but later sent the required documents.
He said that, despite explaining that he was now living in the UK, the birth certificates sent by the passport office back to the home in Cape Town, where they no longer live. After making a complaint, he managed to get the the paperwork back.
However Carl couldn't believe his eyes when he received one passport for Harley and nothing for his other two children. He said the error has led to him being separated from his wife and children, who have been without power in Soweto for nine days, even longer.
The passport office has now asked him to resubmit the applications. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with his family, Carl also travelled to London and applied for South African passports for his children.
He said: "I'm trying to get both passports for them. It's a case of first come first serve.
"Currently I'm staying at my mother's at the minute. Once we have confirmation that they are coming over I will be looking for a place to rent. We'll be in the Gateshead area surrounded by family.
"My mother has only met the twins once, when they were one years old, and she is yet to meet my son Freddie. He's named after my grandfather."
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the family to ensure they receive the support and direction they require regarding the applications. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
