Having a baby in Australia vs. America

[cherryswife 3]

Hi all

my husband is keen for me to, when we start a family, have the baby at home in Australia because the baby will automatically be a US and Aus citizen.

First of all, I don't even know if I am eligible for medicare, I emigrated on CR1 to the US in October.

Secondly, we could just fill out forms for the baby to have Australian citizenship by descent (dual citizenship is important to hubby).

Any thoughts on this topic? Can it be done? Is it worth the effort? I think I would rather just have the baby here in the States.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

[Inky 1,110]

If you have the baby in Australia you have to fill out CRBA file for it interview and also file and pay for a US passport.

[LBeachey 45]

It appears Australia has a process similar to the US's CRBA; as long as the OP is still a Australian citizen, the baby would qualify:

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/descent/

Seems simpler than flying to Australia.

[Dave and Shannon 9]

Hi all

my husband is keen for me to, when we start a family, have the baby at home in Australia because the baby will automatically be a US and Aus citizen.

First of all, I don't even know if I am eligible for medicare, I emigrated on CR1 to the US in October.

Secondly, we could just fill out forms for the baby to have Australian citizenship by descent (dual citizenship is important to hubby).

Any thoughts on this topic? Can it be done? Is it worth the effort? I think I would rather just have the baby here in the States.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

i dont think it really matters where its born... either way it will have dual citizenship... the only plus about having it in Aus is the baby bonus i dont know how young babies are on planes and how long you would stay over there.... totally up to you guys though

[VanessaTony 3,567]

As you know the baby will de dual no matter where you give birth.

Medicare rules are here: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/new-residents.jsp As long as you return to Australia less than 5 years after moving you'll be fine. If you wait you have to prove that you've moved back to Aus. Here's the form about re-enrolling: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/register/files/1856-20-medicare-enrolment-returning-residents.pdf

That said, I never reported I moved... so I don't know how they'd know. And my address is my parents address. Here's info on getting a new card: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/update/index.jsp Apparently if it's been expired more tan 6 months I'd need to prove residency.

I've thought about this a bit. The US is $$$. Tony and I have discussed moving back to Aus once I've attained naturalized to have kids in Aus and also get him Aussie citizenship (helps with the whole "mum is dual, kids are dual, dad isn't" thing). Australia has the whole baby bonus thing. Medical in the US scares me. I'm always wondering about something happening that's not covered. I feel safer financially having the kids in Aus, not to mention the CRBA (to get USC for the kids) process is something I've read about a bit, and my mother and the rest of my family is in Aus (and honestly they would be more involved than Tony's family).

Whether we actually end up doing it that way depends on a lot of factors, but it's definitely not off the cards because it DOES make a whole lots of sense to me.

[cherryswife 3]

Wow, thanks for the input people. Especially the medicare info, I had wondered about that.

The cost of birth here in the states scares me. I do not work and my husband just started a new job. We don't have insurance.

Getting paid to have a baby (baby bonus) vs paying a buttload to have a baby here - well it does make sense to go back. So many variables to take into consideration though. Thanks again everyone!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Wow, thanks for the input people. Especially the medicare info, I had wondered about that.

The cost of birth here in the states scares me. I do not work and my husband just started a new job. We don't have insurance.

Getting paid to have a baby (baby bonus) vs paying a buttload to have a baby here - well it does make sense to go back. So many variables to take into consideration though. Thanks again everyone!

I should mention there are residency requirements for the baby bonus as well. Here: http://www.familyassist.gov.au/payments/family-assistance-payments/baby-bonus/

[SDuke 3]

Where did you guys get information regarding dual citizenship etc?

[SDuke 3]

Wow, thanks for the input people. Especially the medicare info, I had wondered about that.

The cost of birth here in the states scares me. I do not work and my husband just started a new job. We don't have insurance.

Getting paid to have a baby (baby bonus) vs paying a buttload to have a baby here - well it does make sense to go back. So many variables to take into consideration though. Thanks again everyone!

The only thing you would have to look out for in Australia is Medicare and centrelink. Because they are "government departments" per say, they have access to incoming and outgoing "passengers record". When I went back to America to visit my fiance, the day I returned, I ended up going to see a specialist - i went to medicare to get the rebate and I was heavily questioned about it and they knew all about my travel even though I have never mentioned it. My friend also was receiving Newstart allowance from centrelink when she went overseas, and didnt notify them that she left (pretty much so she could still collect the payments, naughty!!) and they sent a letter to her saying that her payment had been suspended because she left the country. So they have their ways......

I have also heard of stories about parents divorcing, and the mother not being allowed to take her child back to England because the father is a USC and wont allow it. But with that being said, that could just be a rumour to scare. Maybe look into insurance in the US - I will be going on my husbands insurance, and as long as I am not pregnant when I join, I will be covered - $20 gaps for obgyn visits and a one off $250 hospital payment when i give birth, which is ALOT cheaper than what I would have had to have paid with my private health in Australia.

[Austramerican 83]

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input in this thread. I always think ahead and I have talked with my fiance about when we have kids, and I was thinking about them at least being able to go to school in Australia, so this gives me a lot to think about.

[cherryswife 3]

The only thing you would have to look out for in Australia is Medicare and centrelink. Because they are "government departments" per say, they have access to incoming and outgoing "passengers record". When I went back to America to visit my fiance, the day I returned, I ended up going to see a specialist - i went to medicare to get the rebate and I was heavily questioned about it and they knew all about my travel even though I have never mentioned it. My friend also was receiving Newstart allowance from centrelink when she went overseas, and didnt notify them that she left (pretty much so she could still collect the payments, naughty!!) and they sent a letter to her saying that her payment had been suspended because she left the country. So they have their ways......

I have also heard of stories about parents divorcing, and the mother not being allowed to take her child back to England because the father is a USC and wont allow it. But with that being said, that could just be a rumour to scare. Maybe look into insurance in the US - I will be going on my husbands insurance, and as long as I am not pregnant when I join, I will be covered - $20 gaps for obgyn visits and a one off $250 hospital payment when i give birth, which is ALOT cheaper than what I would have had to have paid with my private health in Australia.

Whoa! May I ask who your insurer is? Those are excellent prices.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Where did you guys get information regarding dual citizenship etc?

Here is the info on dual nationality: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/dual_citizenship/

Here is the info on registering a birth of a child born overseas to an Aussie: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/born_overseas/

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The only thing you would have to look out for in Australia is Medicare and centrelink. Because they are "government departments" per say, they have access to incoming and outgoing "passengers record". When I went back to America to visit my fiance, the day I returned, I ended up going to see a specialist - i went to medicare to get the rebate and I was heavily questioned about it and they knew all about my travel even though I have never mentioned it. My friend also was receiving Newstart allowance from centrelink when she went overseas, and didnt notify them that she left (pretty much so she could still collect the payments, naughty!!) and they sent a letter to her saying that her payment had been suspended because she left the country. So they have their ways......

I have also heard of stories about parents divorcing, and the mother not being allowed to take her child back to England because the father is a USC and wont allow it. But with that being said, that could just be a rumour to scare. Maybe look into insurance in the US - I will be going on my husbands insurance, and as long as I am not pregnant when I join, I will be covered - $20 gaps for obgyn visits and a one off $250 hospital payment when i give birth, which is ALOT cheaper than what I would have had to have paid with my private health in Australia.

My husband was insured with Blue Cross Blue Shield up until recently. The coverage through them was REALLY good as well. I'm bummed we're not with them anymore

[Travis and Meghan 24]

Ah, having kids in America honestly scares me, we won't be going back to Australia when we decide to have kids

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ah, having kids in America honestly scares me, we won't be going back to Australia when we decide to have kids

you WON'T be going back to Aus? Or you will?