British Expatriate Network

Hey all,

I was wondering - my kids were born in the USA, I'm a Brit and Mr Mango is American. If we were planning to move to Europe, starting out in England and moving on when Mr Mango got his citizenship (3 years), should I get my kids British or American passports? I would definitely not want them to lose their rights as US citizens, but would like for them to have all the benefits of holding a UK passport and being a part of the EU should we move to Europe.

Oh, to be confused !!! ???

Get both. If they are going to live in the UK or EU, then they would need British passports. They'd need American passports to leave the US.

But getting a passport doesn't have any impact on their citizenship. Being born in the US gives them US citizenship. Having a British parent gives them British citizenship. Neither of these can be take away from them.

Thanks... So, I'd probably get them the US one to leave here with and go to the UK with, and then get them the UK one from London for future use. What would I need to show to get them their British passports? Just their US birth certificates with my name on as their mum?

You can get a British Passport for them while you're still in the US. This gives you all the info: http://www.britainusa.com/sections/artic...01&a=25300

They're a bit slow at the mo though. We still haven't got ours and it's been a while now....

grin  Thanks you guys.  I think I will go ahead and get them both while we are here.  We aren't going anywhere anytime real soon, so that should work out fine.  Nell, how long has it been since you applied?

We sent ours off on the 22nd August, but we are having Riley registered as well as getting a passport and I know you don't have to do both if you don't want to. They took the money from our credit card for the passport about 10 days ago, so hopefully it won't be too long now.

The American passport was really quick though. We paid extra for it to be expedited and we got it in about 11 days.

*******

Thanks for that link. The hubby and I were wondering the same thing as Mango as we'd like to get peanut her British passport as soon as possible - once she arrives in Jan, as well as her American one. We're planning a trip back to the UK this summer and I wanted to make sure we had everything we'd need.

Just an update - the passport has arrived this morning. So that was about 6 weeks total for both the British registration and the Passport.

Hi Nell... Congrats on getting your little Riley's passport back. I am filling the forms out right now, and am stumped when it comes to getting the photos signed by a countersignatory. It says that they have to be a British person in authority. What did you do about that? I am trying to go online to check the notes that accompany the form (I didn't print them out) but the website is temporarily unavailable. :sad:

Also, since I can't check out the notes right now, do you know the fees off the top of your head?

Thanks :wink:

I've just renewed Lucy's passport and I think the fees are $95 inclusive of return postage charges. If you're paying by credit card then you need to print off the form and fill it in...they do the rest.

WRT countersignatory, it says you need a person of good professional standing who has known you personally ( not the child) for at least a year. You could use your Dr., OB/GYN, Dentist etc as it doesn't need to be a British citizen, or indeed anyone who holds a professional qualification. I know Mike has signed several applications for guys in his office. I got Lucy's signed by a friend who is British and a music teacher at a private school here in town.

Debs x smile

Cheers Debs wink

I'll just get the kids doctor to sign the photos, as my baby has her first year check up next week.

Getting three US and UK passports all at once is turning out to be pretty EXPENSIVE!!! sad I'll just get them to work it off when they get older twisted .

Is the doctor British? They need to be British and provide their passport number. Just doing our kids' renewals right now.

Monster, I thought they had to be British too, but look what Debs just said. On my application forms, it does say that they need to provide their passport number. I will call the British Consulate in DC on Monday to find out for sure.

Well I looked at the website earlier today as we are doing the apps as I type and a point was made that they now need to be British passport holders and willing to provide their passport number. It may be a very recent change, though.....

http//www.ukpa.gov.uk/_2_howtoapply/2_completing.asp