• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie policy (EU)
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Video
  • Write for us
Today Headline
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • POLITICS
    • News for today
    • Borisov news
  • FINANCE
    • Business
    • Insurance
  • Video
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • ENTERPRISE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
    • HEALTH
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • SPORTS
  • Travel and Tourism
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • POLITICS
    • News for today
    • Borisov news
  • FINANCE
    • Business
    • Insurance
  • Video
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • ENTERPRISE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
    • HEALTH
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • SPORTS
  • Travel and Tourism
No Result
View All Result
TodayHeadline
No Result
View All Result

British couple still stuck in Ukraine waiting for surrogate baby’s documents

February 12, 2022
in News
0
British couple still stuck in Ukraine waiting for surrogate baby’s documents
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


A British couple in Ukraine have described the “bizarre” and “worrying” wait for their surrogate-born baby’s emergency travel document.

Thousands of Britons are being urged to leave the country immediately over growing concerns that Russia could launch an invasion in the coming days, despite diplomatic efforts to avert war.

Ben Garratt, 40, and his wife, Alice, live in Queen’s Park, north London, but moved to Kyiv in December where their son was born thanks to the “very different surrogacy laws” in Ukraine that allow for a swifter IVF and surrogacy process.

Ben Garratt and baby Raphael
Ben and his wife were originally trying to secure a British passport for Raphael, but are now waiting on an emergency travel document instead (Ben Garratt/PA)

Mr Garratt, who works in stakeholder engagement at London North Eastern Railway, said he and his wife are growing increasingly concerned after the Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to encourage UK nationals to leave.

He told the PA news agency: “It does add to our worry, we’re thinking about basic things that we need to do to make sure that we’re ready to leave as soon as possible.”

“If we take the advice at face value, it means the UK and also the US government are worried that Russian action is imminent – that makes us want to get out.”

The couple, who were originally waiting on a British passport to be issued for baby Raphael, are now also trying to secure an emergency travel document.

“We’re essentially stuck in Ukraine until we can get the required British paperwork to allow our son born here to leave,” Mr Garratt said.

“When we first arrived, that means getting him a British passport but given the current situation, it means getting him an emergency travel document.

“It’s getting frustrating because we’re being told by the UK Government to leave the country… and we still don’t have the document we need.”

Mr Garratt is due to have an interview with the passport office in Kyiv next week to provide proof of his son’s British citizenship.

“They want to do a two-hour phone interview with me, but that’s not until Wednesday,” he said.

“It is bizarre, but I think it’s based around the normal assumption that the people applying for an emergency travel document, perhaps, are already definitely British and maybe they’ve just lost their passport somewhere, as opposed to being a newborn baby who needs to go through that process.”

Ben Garratt and baby Raphael
Ben Garratt said it is ‘worrying’ that the Foreign Office are now urging UK nationals to leave Ukraine (Ben Garratt/PA)

Mr Garratt said much of their fears revolve around making sure they have ticked every box required on Raphael’s paperwork.

“There’s always the worry that we’ve missed something or, you know, I’ve got a large folder and lots of bits of paper I’ve taken colour copies of, and there’s always the worry that we’ve missed something.

“The key individuals we’ve been talking to in the Government and outside the government have been really helpful and very reassuring, but it’s the bureaucratic processes that add concern and frustration.”

Friends and family have been in touch, urging Mr Garratt, his wife, and Raphael to get home.

“We have had a flurry of messages from friends and family.

“Last night, when the travel advice changed, some (were) checking if we’d seen it – of course we’d seen it.

“Some were asking, ‘oh, you’re back in the UK, right?’

“I reply, ‘no, we’re not back in the UK’ and they’re saying, ‘no – why? That’s ridiculous’.”

Despite the anxiety surrounding their son’s travel documents, the couple maintain life in Kyiv remains “normal”.

“All we know, just what we see from taking Rafi for a walk every day, everything seems normal,” Mr Garratt said.

“There’s tourists outside the churches and cathedrals taking photos – it’s feels very normal out there.

“But I don’t know what abnormal in a big city like this would feel like.”

Tags: babysBritishcoupledocumentsStucksurrogateUkraineWaiting
Previous Post

15 Things You Should Avoid When Using a Rapid Antigen Test

Next Post

Rob Whittaker’s great mate explains how he upsets Israel Adesanya, analysis, preview

Related Posts

News

US abortion ruling: Clarence Thomas wants to put limits on gay marriage and access to birth control

Protesters are planning demonstrations outside...

Read more
News

The scene outside the Supreme Court after Roe v. Wade was overturned

The decision in the case,...

Read more
News

Ukrainian forces to withdraw from eastern city of Sievierodonetsk

The last Ukrainian troops holding...

Read more
News

The Washington Outsider, Wesam Basindowah’s NGO Coalition Reveal Houthi Land Mine Disaster in Yemen During UNHRC Session

Panel discussion on Houthi use...

Read more
News

Women’s State of Origin: Five memorable moments as New South Wales reclaimed the shield

New South Wales outlasted Queensland in...

Read more
Load More
Next Post
Rob Whittaker’s great mate explains how he upsets Israel Adesanya, analysis, preview

Rob Whittaker’s great mate explains how he upsets Israel Adesanya, analysis, preview

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Dog Groomer Opened Shop In ‘Middle Of Night’ To Give Stray Dog Haircut & Found Beauty Beneath Matted Fur

Brazilian pilots meet ‘11, 500mph craft’ during ‘Night of the UFOs’

Lost Dog Held Hostage By Suspicious Elderly Women

Haunted Alexa? Man Claims He Spoke To A Ghost Through His Amazon Device – WATCH!

50 Funny Dog Names That Will Make The Entire Dog Park LOL

Geena Davis looks to the future as ‘A League of Their Own’ turns 30

Boris Johnson: rail strikes ‘unnecessary’ and ‘a terrible idea’ – video | UK news

ultimate guide, how to watch, when does it start, live stream, where is it, full card, betting odds, Glover Teixeira vs Jiri Prochazka, light heavyweight championship, Jack Della Maddalena, Valentina Shevchenko vs Taila Santos

About Us

Todayheadline the independent news and topics discovery
A home-grown and independent news and topic aggregation . displays breaking news linking to news websites all around the world.

Follow Us

Latest News

50 Funny Dog Names That Will Make The Entire Dog Park LOL

Geena Davis looks to the future as ‘A League of Their Own’ turns 30

50 Funny Dog Names That Will Make The Entire Dog Park LOL

Geena Davis looks to the future as ‘A League of Their Own’ turns 30

Boris Johnson: rail strikes ‘unnecessary’ and ‘a terrible idea’ – video | UK news

  • Real Estate
  • Education
  • Parenting
  • Cooking
  • Travel and Tourism
  • Home & Garden
  • Pets
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • About

© 2021 All rights are reserved Todayheadline

No Result
View All Result
  • Real Estate
  • Education
  • Parenting
  • Cooking
  • Travel and Tourism
  • Home & Garden
  • Pets
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • About

© 2021 All rights are reserved Todayheadline

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist