Hello,I am expecting my first child in July this year and I was wondering how you go about registering the birth of children in the UK.So that they can obtain a UK passport etc. I am a UK Citizen and US perm resident my husband is a US citizen.
Allison.
Allison, do what we did...absolutely nothing !
Carefully read the following document on the embassy web site
http//www.britain-info.org/consular/dualnatc.asp
The kids get UK nationality by right through their parents, and US nationality through being born here. BUT the US (in theory) does not recognise dual nationality (the UK does), so (in theory) if you get a UK passport for your child this could indicate that they no longer wish to be US citizens. Whether this is ever enforced is unlikely, but if you stay in the US and then a problem appears 18 years later becuase the kids find that they need a green card to work.... (highly unlikely, but that's how the rules read).
Your children will always retain the right to get a UK passport should they need one, but for now I wouldn't bother as there is the potential that it could cause problems later on.
We have twins who are 2 today, and another on the way in late March. My wife is a US citizen, so hopefully the kids will grow up having the best of both worlds.
Thanks. That is a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. However if children do not have British passports do they need to have visa's when visiting the UK for longer than a two week holiday? smile
Allison
Ally, All my children were born here (Brit Mum, American Dad). They all have US passports and were all on my UK one. I say "were" because mine has expired and as I am now a US citizen I don't need one.
I think there is not an issue until they reach 18 and then they have to choose.
On 2002-02-20 15:25, Allybags wrote:
Thanks. That is a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. However if children do not have British passports do they need to have visa's when visiting the UK for longer than a two week holiday? :smile:
Allison
US citizens don't need visas to visit the UK for stays upto 6 months.
Hi Ally,
Actually speaking from recent experience- I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Children born here in the U.S. that have at least 1 UK parent do not have to choose which nationality they want to be when they are 18. You should contact the Registrar at the British Embassy to register the birth of you child. I think I paid around $95 to register my son in October. You will need to pay extra if you want a copy of the birth certificate. The birth records are then sent to the U.K. at the end of the year and you could always ask someone back home to apply for the certificate for you and it would be considerably cheaper. It is true that by virtue of being your child they are automatically a British citizen however I just felt alot better having my children registered with the Embassy. You don't have to obtain their British passports but it makes things a lot easier if you do decide to do so in the future.
On 2002-04-02 16:38, Bromleygirl wrote:
It is true that by virtue of being your child they are automatically a British citizen
Unless you are a (British) male & not married to the (American) mother - then the child is American only :sad:
Unless you are a (British) male & not married to the (American) mother - then the child is American only
Either parent can be British to ensure British citizenship, for those born after 1982
http://britain-info.org/consular/dualnatc.asp
On 2002-04-03 23:51, monster wrote:
Unless you are a (British) male & not married to the (American) mother - then the child is American only
Either parent can be British to ensure British citizenship, for those born after 1982
http://britain-info.org/consular/dualnatc.asp
Except illegitimate children of British males, such as my daughter. I looked into it.
_________________
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. :sad:
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: was on 2002-04-04 11:34 ]</font>
Except illegitimate children of British males, such as my daughter. I looked into it.
________________
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. :sad:
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: was on 2002-04-04 11:34 ]</font>
Children born in the United States to a father (or, if born after 31 December 1982 to either a father or a mother) who is a British citizen by birth, registration, naturalisation or settlement in the United Kingdom are British citizens by descent.
I don't see anywhere on the site that excludes children born out of wedlock to British fathers. If this child is yours then she is British too.
My daughter was born before we were married and has a British certificate of birth abroad.
From
http//britain-info.org/consular/bnatlaw.asp
8. ... Citizenship may now be transmitted through either the male of female line, except that in the case of an illegitimate child it can be acquired only through the mother.
I downloaded the form to register my daughter's birth. It requires info on the marriage. There was no marriage.
was --re my reply
I'm sorry I had my lenses out and didn't see the dash, so I read that the child was American only unless the father was British and not married to the mother.
<blind smiley> grin
No prob Monster smile
I'm still going to write to the embassy I think, to see what my options are. I mean, we've been living together for 6 years, we own our house together (both names on the mortgage) and we filed an affidavit of fatherhood to get my name on the birth certificate. You'd think this would count for something with the Brit authorities.
was, just have your sprog become proficient in tennis or an olympic sport -they'll soon be knocking down your door offering citizenship lol
Maybe one day she'll be able, in true American fashion, to buy the country wink