I’ve spent £45k having a baby – now I might have to quit my job because the government won’t let me bring her home
NEW dad Graeme Batsman is currently facing losing his job or having to abandon his wife and newborn in eastern Europe.
That’s because the couple, who had a baby through surrogacy in Belarus last month, have been told that registering their daughter in the UK could take 12 weeks.
Graeme, 37, and his wife Maura, 41, have already spent £45,000 on surrogacy.
They’ve been in the war-torn country - which sits between Russia and Ukraine - for the last six weeks.
Their daughter, aptly named Bella, was born on June 5 and the couple have been desperately trying to find an exit plan since.
However, they were shocked to learn they may have to wait another 12 weeks for the Home Office to register Bella’s birth and issue the newborn with a passport.
Cyber security expert Graeme has been told by his employer that they are expecting him back to work next week on July 15 and will not allow him to work remotely from Belarus.
The UK government advises against all travel to the Eastern Europe country due to active Russian military operation.
There is some risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine - which experience a full-scale invasion from Putin's Russia over two years ago - may spread to Belarus.
Graeme and Maura started the surrogacy process before the violent conflict kicked off in February 2022.
“There will probably be people out there judging us, saying well ‘why Belarus?’ but we technically came here before the war, “ Graeme, from London, said.
“People who have a desire to have a child don’t really care about politics.”
Graeme and Maura, who is originally from the Philippines, met in early 2021 and married a year later.
They wanted to start a family but were told they could not conceive due to medical complications and that even through IVF, their chances of success were slim.
Not wanting to give up on having a child, the couple decided to explore the option of surrogacy, which is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple.
It is a common misconception that surrogacy in the UK is illegal, says Stowe Family Law partner Liza Gatrell - but she assured it is totally legal and urged prospective parents to speak with a family lawyer before making big decisions to go abroad.
How to bring your surrogate child born abroad to the UK
You should seek independent legal advice to confirm that the child in entitled to enter and remain within the UK. In many instances this entitlement will be linked to the status of the intended parents.
If the child is entitled to British Citizenship, and in order for them to travel to the UK, you must apply for a UK passport from overseas.
Because surrogacy is often complex, applying for a UK passport will also be complex and can take several months, the UK government warns.
It may take time for the local authorities to understand the baby’s immigration status before the UK passport application can begin.
You should allow time for these processes, including planning for a lengthy stay in the country where the child is born.
Make sure you have enough money and other essential items, such as any medication you may not be able to source whilst you are there.
Graeme and Maura considered the UK and other countries before deciding on the Republic of Belarus, in Eastern Europe, as they felt it has favourable rules.
In February 2022, they arrived in Belarus a few weeks before Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine.
They were given the green light by a clinic after undergoing a series of background and medical tests.
An embryo was successfully implanted into the surrogate mother in August 2023, with little Bella being born in June this year.
There will be people out there judging us, saying ‘why Belarus?’ but we technically came here before the war. People who have a desire to have a child don’t really care about politics
Graeme Batsman
She was named after the country where she was born.
Graeme and Maura paid the surrogate mother around £275 a month for 10 months and a £13,000 fee once the baby was born, as well as her daily expenses.
They were looking forward to returning home but first Bella must be registered in the UK and be issued with a passport – which is proving harder than they expected.
To facilitate the process, Graeme has paid £3,000 to enlist the help of UK immigration specialist law firm Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP who provided him with a 19 point “to-do list”.
Obtaining Bella’s birth certificate has also taken an additional three and half weeks, and is now having to be translated into English.
The couple have had to provide a letter explaining why they chose surrogacy, medical records and evidence of their stay in the country, including flights, hotels and insurance receipts.
Upon submission, Graeme will have to pay the Home Office registration fee of £1,214, plus additional costs for passports.
Graeme has been warned it could take more than 12 weeks to process, and having already taken time off work, he fears losing his job.
If you say to the British Embassy in Belarus, ‘I’m going to lose my job’, they don’t care. You have to literally be dead and then they might help you
Graeme Batsman
“I’ve taken five or six weeks off so far,” he said.
“I then managed to extend it by two weeks, which my company wasn’t very happy with.
“Now they say I have to come back on the 15th of July which is in seven days time.
“I, of course, can’t work here because Belarus is considered a ‘naughty country’ – so I didn’t bring my work laptop because I’m not allowed to.”
His only alternative is leaving his wife and new born baby in Belarus on their own - a decision he is not willing to take.
“My wife would have to stay here in the apartment by herself and look after the baby,” he said.
“She would have to stay here in the apartment which is on the fourth floor and doesn’t have a lift.”
Graeme is also concerned their 90-day tourist visas are due to expire on August 19, which means they could soon be fined and deported.
The desire to have a child is rather high, so people will probably do whatever they can
Graeme Batsman
Even if their application is successful in time, driving the 1,400 miles back to the UK will not be easy for Graeme and Maura who have to cross several borders.
Once back in the UK, the couple must then file a parental order with the High Court, a document which confers parental responsibility upon an individual, that Graeme said will cost an additional £255.
In total, he estimates spending around £45,000 on the surrogacy and administrative process.
His application was submitted on July 5 after pleading with the British Embassy in Belarus to expedite the process.
“If you say to them, ‘I’m going to lose my job’, they don’t care,” he said.
“You have to literally be dead and then they might help you.”
Asked whether he would recommend having a child through surrogacy in Belarus, Graeme said: “The desire to have a child is rather high, so people will probably do whatever they can.
“Whatever country you do this in, it’s going to be expensive and the application won’t change drastically.
“We started this two and a half years ago and it’s been a constant fight.
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“I’m sure one day it will be positive but it’s not pleasant.”
The Home Office has been approached for comment.