Cyprus-Forum.com

[GreekIslandGirl]

My father is Jordanian, and my siblings are younger than me and we are all from the same mother
My grandparents are Cypriot, we are not refugees
My mother left larnaca when she was a baby with my grandmother in the 30s
And I was born abroad

OK - from what you say, it's not a gender issue but a matter of records from pre-1960 which catches you out but not your siblings.

You said the last time you tried was 2004? I don't think the system was computerised then and it could well be a lack of communication somewhere breaking the system down. If your father was Cypriot, the old records were easier. Since it was your mum, name changes and such make it a little harder to track.

You need to reapply now. The Citizens Help centres (preferably in Larnaca if that's where your mum was born) could access the records more readily now and guide you.

You shouldn't need a lawyer but there are people who are much cheaper that can guide you through the process and it shouldn't take more than a few weeks or months if you kept an eye on the process whilst in Cyprus. Trying to do it from abroad could take 6 months or so as I know from others.

[Paphitis]

My father is Jordanian, and my siblings are younger than me and we are all from the same mother
My grandparents are Cypriot, we are not refugees
My mother left larnaca when she was a baby with my grandmother in the 30s
And I was born abroad

OK - from what you say, it's not a gender issue but a matter of records from pre-1960 which catches you out but not your siblings.

You said the last time you tried was 2004? I don't think the system was computerised then and it could well be a lack of communication somewhere breaking the system down. If your father was Cypriot, the old records were easier. Since it was your mum, name changes and such make it a little harder to track.

You need to reapply now. The Citizens Help centres (preferably in Larnaca if that's where your mum was born) could access the records more readily now and guide you.

You shouldn't need a lawyer but there are people who are much cheaper that can guide you through the process and it shouldn't take more than a few weeks or months if you kept an eye on the process whilst in Cyprus. Trying to do it from abroad could take 6 months or so as I know from others.

The whole system is the biggest joke!

I made my children citizens and I never experience so much rubbish and nonsense. I mean far out it was frustrating for something that should have been done in 20 minutes. And that is with a far simplified set of circumstances than those faced by the OP so I can only imagine what it might be like for her.

But anyway, I don't want to discourage the OP. She should apply now and follow the process through no matter what obstacles she faces, but I don't envy her predicament one bit.

Those Iparho Offices are awful to deal with.

Anyway, you need a lot of patients in dealing with Cypriot Authorities. They can be very dysfunctional in my experience.

[Ashino]

I talked to lawyers and they said they never heard of such a law (which is: a Cypriot mother can't pass her nationality to her children born before 1960 Cyprus Independence Day from Britain but a Cypriot father can), the lawyers got confused and said they will call migration to check with them and call me back, I am still waiting for their call

Every time I tell my story all people get confused about it
You can all check the Cyprus government website for the nationality and you can find who are eligible for it and my case is not included

I tried to apply for residency but I was treated as an alien and said that I should be working
I am an old woman I can barely walk
:'(

[Paphitis]

I talked to lawyers and they said they never heard of such a law (which is: a Cypriot mother can't pass her nationality to her children born before 1960 Cyprus Independence Day from Britain but a Cypriot father can), the lawyers got confused and said they will call migration to check with them and call me back, I am still waiting for their call

Every time I tell my story all people get confused about it
You can all check the Cyprus government website for the nationality and you can find who are eligible for it and my case is not included

I tried to apply for residency but I was treated as an alien and said that I should be working
I am an old woman I can barely walk
:'(

Just apply again.

Just a word of advice. Never wait for their call. Sometimes, they will never return it even if they did promise.

You need to apply again, and in person. It is better to apply in Cyprus if that is possible.

I too was declined citizenship a long time ago through the Cyprus Embassy. Never dealt with them again, and went straight to the source in Cyprus.

Just apply for citizenship through your mother, and grand parents. The laws are likely to have changed since 2004.

Try it on your own first and if necessary see if you can get some help from relatives in Cyprus before getting a lawyer onto it. Leave that as your last resort.

You should be able to get citizenship. At the very least, you will get Permanent Residency and you can sort the citizenship out later.

Anyway, good luck. Just don't get frustrated and be patient.

[Ashino]

I am now in Cyprus and I tried to reapply again in person and yet they say you are not eligible for the nationality because of that law I mentioned before and that's it they told me a lawyer will not be able to help you because this is the law, I have visa for 2 years they said I am allowed to stay for 3 months only in Cyprus then I have to get out of the country and come back again and then also stay 3 months then go out and come again and so on so furth :'( I am too old to do all this traveling

It has been 10 years I am trying to apply in person every time dreaming that this law has changed and each time they said you are not eligible:'(

I still didn't hire a lawyer because they got confused about it
This is indeed a confusing issue to me too
You can check the Cyprus government for nationality and you will see my case is not among them

I am very frustrated and I don't know what to do :'(

[DrCyprus]

You need to sue Cyprus so they can change the law.

[DrCyprus]

I am now in Cyprus and I tried to reapply again in person and yet they say you are not eligible for the nationality because of that law I mentioned before and that's it they told me a lawyer will not be able to help you because this is the law, I have visa for 2 years they said I am allowed to stay for 3 months only in Cyprus then I have to get out of the country and come back again and then also stay 3 months then go out and come again and so on so furth :'( I am too old to do all this traveling

It has been 10 years I am trying to apply in person every time dreaming that this law has changed and each time they said you are not eligible:'(

I still didn't hire a lawyer because they got confused about it
This is indeed a confusing issue to me too
You can check the Cyprus government for nationality and you will see my case is not among them

I am very frustrated and I don't know what to do :'(

Also have your children write newspaper articles presenting your case and send them to all the big newspapers.

[Paphitis]

I am now in Cyprus and I tried to reapply again in person and yet they say you are not eligible for the nationality because of that law I mentioned before and that's it they told me a lawyer will not be able to help you because this is the law, I have visa for 2 years they said I am allowed to stay for 3 months only in Cyprus then I have to get out of the country and come back again and then also stay 3 months then go out and come again and so on so furth :'( I am too old to do all this traveling

It has been 10 years I am trying to apply in person every time dreaming that this law has changed and each time they said you are not eligible:'(

I still didn't hire a lawyer because they got confused about it
This is indeed a confusing issue to me too
You can check the Cyprus government for nationality and you will see my case is not among them

I am very frustrated and I don't know what to do :'(

Ashino,

I got rejected once for the same reasons as you. My father left Cyprus pre 1960 and I even had one arrogant of a fuck Cypriot Ambassador tell me that I am not Cypriot and can't ever get Cypriot Citizenship.

I persevered and got it but I had a lot of help and a lot of meson. Everything is possible.

My suggestion is for you to make an appointment to see the District Attorney in Cyprus. Make sure you understand where you stand with the relevant laws. Whilst you're at it, enquire about applying for permanent residency so you don't have to leave every 3 months.

Then, get someone to arrange for an appointment with the relevant Minister. This is your best chance for success because this law if it exists is an unjust one and they know it too. They can rubber stamp your application straight off the bat and they have legal discretion to do it.

My understanding however is that this law has changed and that citizenship can be obtained or inherited from a grand parent. Your Grand Mother however might not count.

[GreekIslandGirl]

I talked to lawyers and they said they never heard of such a law (which is: a Cypriot mother can't pass her nationality to her children born before 1960 Cyprus Independence Day from Britain but a Cypriot father can), the lawyers got confused and said they will call migration to check with them and call me back, I am still waiting for their call

I think this is the form you might need:

Application type M124
It can be submitted by adults, who were born either before or after the 16th of August 1960 and are British citizens or citizens of any State of the Commonwealth and have completed one year of legal residence in the Republic.
Accompanying documents:
· Birth certificate of applicant
· Certificate of clean criminal record of the applicant
· Photocopy of applicant’s passport
· Photocopy of receipt for the amount of 80.00 euros paid as fees
The application should be submitted in duplicate and one of the two application forms should bear two stamps worth 8.54 euros.

But it seems you are tied up by needing British connections since Cyprus was a colony when you were born.

http://www.cyprusembassy.net/home/index ... ge&cid=111

[Paphitis]

I talked to lawyers and they said they never heard of such a law (which is: a Cypriot mother can't pass her nationality to her children born before 1960 Cyprus Independence Day from Britain but a Cypriot father can), the lawyers got confused and said they will call migration to check with them and call me back, I am still waiting for their call

I think this is the form you might need:

Application type M124
It can be submitted by adults, who were born either before or after the 16th of August 1960 and are British citizens or citizens of any State of the Commonwealth and have completed one year of legal residence in the Republic.
Accompanying documents:
· Birth certificate of applicant
· Certificate of clean criminal record of the applicant
· Photocopy of applicant’s passport
· Photocopy of receipt for the amount of 80.00 euros paid as fees
The application should be submitted in duplicate and one of the two application forms should bear two stamps worth 8.54 euros.

But it seems you are tied up by needing British connections since Cyprus was a colony when you were born.

http://www.cyprusembassy.net/home/index ... ge&cid=111

Yes but citizenship is inherited, usually from the father.

If your father was born before 1960 and never held Cypriot citizenship, then the process is a lot more complicated than just filling out a form and providing the supporting documentation.

As a matter of fact, some people of Cypriot inheritance are unable to gain citizenship because of this law. This was the case about 15 years ago when I first applied. The laws may have changed but I can see where the OP is coming from because I had experienced it.

Nevertheless, the OP should speak to another source because she could be given the wrong information.