A couple have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after immigration officials refused to process an emergency passport application for their infant son.

Their battle with officials began on June 29 when the mother of the 18-month-old — who has asked not to be named — was notified by the Lahey Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, that she had to have surgery to an injury on her arm this month.

The mother, who has three older children from a previous relationship, submitted emergency passport applications to the Department of Immigration the next day, along with a letter from the Lahey Hospital explaining why she needed to travel.

She said that she was told that, while it was doubtful that her older children qualified for an emergency passport, her youngest son definitely would.

She told The Royal Gazette that this did not concern her as she knew that her older children could stay with their father while she was away.

She added that her husband was working in Jamaica and they could not afford the cost of a return flight to Bermuda or for him to take three weeks unpaid leave.

She added: “Also, my infant son is still being breastfed and he’s never been to a nursery or anything like that — we can’t afford it. It was vital that he came with me.”

The mother said that her parents lived in the US and were unable to travel to Bermuda, but had agreed to care for her son at their home while she was in hospital and recuperating.

The mother said she was satisfied that all arrangement were in place for her to travel to the US with her son — assuming he was issued with a passport.

But five days after submitting the emergency passport applications, she received an e-mail from a Department of Immigration official telling her that the applications had been rejected.

The officer stated: “I have received the letter and unfortunately this department is unable to provide emergency passports for your children. Medical applications are case-by-case and have to meet emergency requirements.”

The mother replied instantly, explaining why it was essential that her youngest son had a passport. No reply was given.

The mother tried contacting the department without success and eventually visited its offices on Tuesday last week. She said she was informed that her son did not qualify for an emergency passport because she had had 18 months since his birth to apply for one.

In a subsequent, desperate e-mail, she said: “I put in for my kids’ passports three weeks ago because I am travelling for surgery abroad. I was told upon handing in my applications that I would definitely get one for my infant but not my oldest kids.

“All three children’s passports got denied, including my infant son who is still breastfed.

“I am travelling medically for three weeks and my infant son needs to travel with me. I asked to why he could not be allowed his passport when he is an infant and I was told because I had a year and a half to get a passport for him.

“I did not plan to get injured and have to travel and I definitely didn’t plan to go away any time soon as I can’t afford groceries, so why would I use $89 that I struggle already to get a passport that I didn’t think I was going to need.

“I find it crazy because other people who apply for medical passports have time to get passports as well.

“I am leaving the island on Wednesday and still am not comfortable leaving my breastfed baby who has never been to nursery.

“I am pleading with you that you allow my infant to get his passport so he can travel with me and be in the care of his mother.

“I have no family here and my son’s other family resides in Jamaica. I am in desperate need of a passport for him.”

The mother flew to the US on Wednesday leaving her son in Bermuda with his father, who has been forced to leave his native Jamaica and give up work for three weeks and to provide cover.

Before flying out, the mother told The Royal Gazette that she had had no communication from the Department of Immigration, despite repeated calls for updates and advice.

She said: “It’s ridiculous. I never applied for passports because we had no intention to travel and we couldn’t afford the fees anyway.

“Why would I spend money that I don’t have on something that I don’t need? For them to say that I should have applied earlier makes no sense, it shows a complete lack of understanding.

“I didn’t plan to get injured and I didn’t plan to have surgery. But this was an emergency and I felt I had no choice but to take at least my youngest son with me.

“We have bills mounting up and now my husband will miss out on a salary for at least three weeks. It’s been so costly and stressful.”

Questioned about the incident, a ministry spokesman told The Royal Gazette: “The ministry regrets this situation and is determined to assist clients in emergency circumstances.

“While the ministry cannot speak to individual cases, each application is assessed based on its own merits.

“As a policy, the Department of Immigration encourages locals to obtain a passport as soon as possible from birth and keep it valid. This is vital as locals often travel overseas.

“Due to limited physical book stocks, emergency passports must be issued only when the required criteria are met by the applicant. To be eligible for an emergency passport, applicants must need to travel overseas for medical reasons.”

The application guidelines for emergency passports are available online here.