British passport for my daughter

[vamos 0]

We've decided to move back to Scotland so instead of getting a U.S passport and a visa for my daughter we thought it would be more straight forward to get a British passport. My daughter was born here in San Antonio in May. The passport application notes aren't clear on whether I can submit the application without first registering her birth with the Embassy or if I would in effect be doing this by sending the application itself. Has anyone here applied for a British passport for their (U.S-born) kids before?

[English Muffin 59]

I can't answer the question about the UK passport but I thought I'd better make sure that you are aware that she'll need a US passport anyway, unless you never plan to take her with you on any future visits to the US.

[vamos 0]

I actually just read that before refreshing this topic. That's not a big deal. We can arrange that some time before we leave or with the consulate after we get home.

[SunDrop 59]

We've decided to move back to Scotland so instead of getting a U.S passport and a visa for my daughter we thought it would be more straight forward to get a British passport. My daughter was born here in San Antonio in May. The passport application notes aren't clear on whether I can submit the application without first registering her birth with the Embassy or if I would in effect be doing this by sending the application itself. Has anyone here applied for a British passport for their (U.S-born) kids before?

Assuming one of you is a USC and another a UKC, why not get her both?

I was born outside of the UK to British parents and hold 2 national birth certificates. One is my French one and the other is British, from when my parents registered my birth at the British consulate. For the sake of immigration to the US, I was very easily able to get a copy of my birth certificate by applying to the GRO online. I don't even want to begin trying to get a certified copy of my French certificate, even though I have a photocopy!

I will - if we have children - register their births because it is irrefutable proof of their entitlement to British citizenship, and all the perks that go with it, especially as you are planning on residing in the UK now. You can register births with the consulate anytime in the first 12 months after their birth. However many years down the line, she will easily be able to recover her birth certificate and it is also helpful for generations to come if they want to trace their family history - all for helping genealogists! lol... Also, you will easily be able to avoid any challenges to her entitlement to services because they are questioning her citizenship.

You just don't know what will happen x years from now with immigration and entitlement to help should the need arise.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

since the US does not recognize dual citizenship the child will need a US passport for return visits to the US

[vamos 0]

That's good advice, thanks for taking the time to respond. Since there are so many things that we'll have to do before leaving I guess I was looking for the simplest option. I don't however want to restrict my daughter's options in the future by seeking out convenience in the present. I don't believe I would be doing that by not registering her birth before we apply for the passport but it's worth thinking about.

[vamos 0]

The answer is here: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-brit...h-registration/

"Although we welcome applications to register the birth of children born in the USA to British-born parents, you should be aware that this is not obligatory. A registration certificate is a useful document to help establish a child's British nationality, but it is perfectly acceptable to apply directly for a British passport, without first registering the birth."

[Jo1973 0]

It might be wise for you to register the birth and get a copy of the birth certificate from the Consulate if you don't already have one. If you don't have a b/c this may very well cause problems years down the line trying to get a hold of one.

If you do register, it's best to get it done before 90 days after the birth, once after that time limit you have to provide all the hospital records information etc (something like that anyway).

[SunDrop 59]

It might be wise for you to register the birth and get a copy of the birth certificate from the Consulate if you don't already have one. If you don't have a b/c this may very well cause problems years down the line trying to get a hold of one.

My point exactly.

As to restricting choices. You're not in an official capacity, but by not registering her birth with the British consulate, thus not getting a British birth certificate, you are potentially complicating bureaucratic processes. It is possible that she won't always have a valid British passport and by not registering her birth right to UK citizenship, you're effectively forcing her to maintain a valid passport at a much higher cost than the much cheaper and easily available birth certificate. I'm a little baffled by the reluctance to do something that can only make life easier for her in the long run.

Who knows what changes are going to be made to immigration and citizenship regulations in either country over the course of her life. When I was born in France in the mid-70s, I had the right to French citizenship. At the time of my birth, anyone coming of age (18) would have to take citizenship or renounce the right to it, irrespective of where they were living at the time. I waited until my 18th birthday, contacted the French Embassy in London and was advised that the rules had changed about a decade ago, and I should have applied BEFORE my 18th. At the time, I was going to go to school to become a teacher. In order to teach in France, you have to be a civil servant. In order to be a civil servant, you have to be a French national. No more option of working in France or any of her territories as a teacher for me! And I REALLY wanted to go to Martinique or Guadaloupe to teach English...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I don't think the OP is not considering getting a British passport since she's moving back to the UK.

The child will need a US passport if she plans to return here, however, even on a visit as she is a US citizen and must enter on a US passport

Edited January 23, 2010 by Trompe le Monde

[Jo1973 0]

Best route would be to register the birth and get the Birth Certificate, holding off getting the passport. (My daughter only has a US p/port but does have a British Birth Certificate as we registered her straight after birth etc.)

Once you have the b/c you can feel relaxed. She does not need a UKP/port to enter UK as she will have bc and US p/port. Once in UK then get a hold of a p/port (will be cheaper anyway).

Best point really is not to leave the US until you have that bc.

[SunDrop 59]

I don't think the OP is not considering getting a British passport since she's moving back to the UK.

The child will need a US passport if she plans to return here, however, even on a visit as she is a US citizen and must enter on a US passport

Yup, you're very right. And therefore doesn't also need a British passport to get out of the US or into the UK but she should get a UK birth certificate in the US.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Although the link vamos provided from the British Embassy in Washington DC tells us it's not necessary.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Trompe le Monde

[SunDrop 59]

Although the link vamos provided from the British Embassy in Washington DC tells us it's not necessary.

To apply for a British passport, no. If they don't apply for a British passport, because it's been recommended that they get a US passport so she can re-enter the US in the future, then she won't have any proof of her right to British citizenship.

Not recommended to have absolutely no proof...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

But I'm not sure you read where the OP said they were applying for a British passport right now to go live on the UK, so certifying their child's birth with the embassy is not necessary.