Hi, I'm a 69 yr old grandmother, living in the UK. MY granddaughter lives in Auckland, she is 26yrs old her mother left the UK with her when she was 8 yrs old, she's attended schools and college and currently is on a Uni course. Her mum has NEVER bothered to get residency for her. Her mum married a New Zealand chap around 13 yrs back, and she has a child born there, he's 14 yrs old.
My granddaughter returned to the UK for one month visit at almost 14 yrs, we renewed hers and her mothers British passports and visas at that time.
Recently my granddaughter renewed her British passport in NZ as her boyfriend has booked a holiday in Melbourne , when she went to collect her travel docs, they said if you leave on this British passport you'll be deported on your re-entry, she was devastated. The holiday had to be cancelled, and her friends clubbed together and she saw an immigration lawyer (serious money) she was told her mother had to renew her own expired British passport, then apply for residency. Her mother is quite selfish and despite being given the money to get the relevant docs has not done so.
My granddaughter has lived in NZ almost 18 years, she's desperate to resolve matters, my question is, can she do this without her mother getting these docs? As she really is holding my granddaughter over a barrel. My granddaughter ran away from her at age 17yrs, and family in the UK supported her along with loyal friends.
I don't have the money now as I'm retired and desperately want to help her out of this dilemma. Her whole life is there. Can anyone help me?
All replies will be gratefully received