Essex man stuck in Cyprus after surrogate baby born

A father says he has been "abandoned" by UK authorities in his attempt to bring his newborn baby back home.

Raj Gill, from Grays, Essex, arrived in Cyprus two days before his son was born by surrogacy on 29 January.

But he is waiting for his child's British passport to be issued and his temporary visa for Cyprus is due to expire on 26 April.

The Home Office said passports were not issued until all checks were "satisfactorily completed".

The office of the Conservative MP for Thurrock, Dame Jackie Doyle-Price, said it had made an "urgent inquiry" with the government over Mr Gill's case.

The 49-year-old said he completed the documentation for his son in the days following the birth, but that "nobody has looked at my application since 12 February".

He said he "desperately" needed to get the 11-week-old back to the UK for immunisations.

"It's stressful," he said.

"Unfortunately, as there is no-one else to look after [my son], I have no choice but to remain in Cyprus despite knowing that I will be classed as an overstayer from 26 April."

An overstay would mean Mr Gill risks being fined, prosecuted or even jailed.

He added: "If that happens then what happens to my children?"

Mr Gill, who has taught at Lee Chapel Primary School in Basildon for the past 18 years, said he looked to have a baby by surrogacy after not finding a partner.

"Being a primary school teacher myself, I love my children and I thought I wanted some of my own," he said.

The Home Office said it would not comment on individual passport applications, but said additional checks ordinarily take place to confirm a child's nationality, before an emergency travel document is issued.

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