A British couple has spoken of their concerns over being stuck in Ukraine waiting for their newborn surrogate baby’s birth certificate
Ben Garrett and his wife, Alice, from London, moved to the city of Kyiv, in Ukraine in December last year to await the birth of their son Raphael.
The couple decided to go to Ukraine to take advantage of the country’s swift IVF processes and surrogacy.
But since relocating to wait for the birth, the country has seen mounting tensions with neighbouring Russia, with the international community calling for non-natives to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.
Ben told the Press Association about his growing fear.
He said: “It does add to our worry, we’re thinking about basic things that we need to do to make sure we can 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 which makes us want to get out.”
Ben said it had been a frustrating time as they had been trying to prepare for interviews to get the documents they require to leave but have been told by the UK government to get out as soon as possible.
He is due to have a two-hour interview via phone on Wednesday next week and he is hopeful of being given an emergency travel document so the family can go home.
The 40-year-old 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 a newborn baby who needs to go through that process.”
Ben said there was little evidence out on the street about an impending invasion or possible war.
He said: “There are tourists outside the churches and cathedrals taking photos – it feels very normal out there.
“But I don’t know what abnormal in a big city like this would feel like.”
Are you in a similar position to Ben and Alice? We’d love to hear your story, email mystory@ivfbabble.com.
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