Get Oliver British Citizenship !!!

Hiya, my name is Oliver and I’m a Polish trans guy who’s been living in England since 2006. I’m an MA student and work part-time. I’ve been thinking about starting up this fundraiser for a while as I have been trying to save up for a British Citizenship for about eight years now, since I was seventeen, but the cost of living especially now has made this feel especially impossible.

It's got to the point where my situation feels quite precarious and increasingly urgent as my medical transition goes on. I have no UK documents, and under outrageous Polish law I’m unable to legally change my gender and name without taking both of my parents to court and receiving their consent: this is especially difficult as I am estranged from my father.

Whether it’s giving my legal information to employers or showing my ID in shops, I am constantly having to out myself as trans, and going abroad has become a bit of a nightmare as the automatic passport gates seem to more often than not refuse to recognise me as the person in the photo (feels a bit gender affirming and also really scary and unsafe; like trying to pass for a passport that’s not yours, even though legally it is still somehow the correct document). If I get British Citizenship, I’ll be able to get a UK passport, change my name across both countries eventually (keen to keep that sweet EU citizenship), and get my gender legally recognised which feels more and more necessary especially in the current hostile political climate.

I find it really hard asking for money, but following the heartwarming success of my top surgery fundraiser a couple years ago I have decided to give it another go as I don’t really feel like I have another choice and keep finding myself back in my overdraft. I have already done the required ‘Life in the UK’ and English language tests, but the additional costs I need to cover are £1330 for the citizenship itself as well as £5 for a gender recognition certificate and £82.50 for a British passport – therefore, the amount I am fundraising for is £1417.50 (plus GoFundMe fee).

I know money is tight for everyone at the moment, but if you can help even with a fiver or more if you can, I’ll be extremely grateful. Please share this around on socials and with people you know even if you can’t donate.

Lots of love,

Oliver