passport for baby

[missytequila]

Does anybody know how I am to go about getting my baby a uk passport?

I am american, husband is UK citizen, baby will be born in London... after the birth what do i do?

You apply just as you would for any other British passport - pop along to your local post office for the pack and it will have all the guidance and information that you need.

It's dead easy, I applied for one for my DD when she was 5 months old. She had her photo taken at the local photo shop lying down on a big piece of white cardboard - photobooths don't work at that age

I would go into the post office and ask for a form it come with an info pack that explains everything including what you need regarding citizenship etc.

It might take normal than longer though so dont delay the registration.

Why would you want a UK and not a US btw? very nosey I know just interested.

Your child needs both passports. By law, he/she must enter the UK on a British passport, because he/she is a British national. The same goes for the US.

For the British one, you just apply for a passport. It will cost about £60 with photo and cost to send documents back securely (as you are not a British national upon the child's birth, you will need to provide evidence that he/she is entitled to British nationality, as it is not automatic at birth. So you'll need to provide a marriage certificate at least).

For the American one, you will need ot make an appointmet at the US Embassy for after the child is born (because the child must now appear in person). You can download all the paperwork you will need to fill out to bring to the appointment. The child will receive a Certificate of Birth Abroad, a US passport and his/her Social Security number.

Are you married? And what is your immigration status?

If you have ILR, then your baby would be entitled to British citizenship, but if you don't, then it's unlikely your baby would be entitled to British citizenship.

As far as US citizenship, you make an appointment online at the US Embassy and take all the documents, but there are some you need to send copies of ahead of time. Your DH needs to go with you, but if he can't then you get a notarized statement witnessed by solicitor. All the forms are on the US Embassy web site.

And yes, there is a cost for teh US one, too.

It's higher than just the passport costs because of the birth certificate.

'If you have ILR, then your baby would be entitled to British citizenship, but if you don't, then it's unlikely your baby would be entitled to British citizenship. '

The child will have British nationality even if one parent does not have ILR. As long as one parent is British, the couple are married and the child is born in the United Kingdom.

Again, British nationality is not automatic from birth, so when you apply for the child's passport, you will need to provide supporting documents (marriage certificate, for example).

And you do need both passports if you plan to travel between the UK and the US.

The easiest way to apply for a passport is to fill the form in online (UK Passport agency website). They will then send you the typed up form in the post, for you to finish off.

You can look at the form to see what details they ask for. Basically, to confer British citizenship, the British parent has to provide details of their own claim to citizenship, usually birth in the UK. The non-citizen spouse also has to provide info on their birth, but it is not a big deal.

The baby will need a US passport too. For that, you need to go the the US consulate and get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and then use this to apply for a passport. It all has to be done in person at Grosvener Square.

My understanding is that if the father is British, but the mother isn't, then British citizenship for any subsequent children is determined on her status. If it's the mother who is British, then this isn't an issue, as citizenship follows the mother.

'My understanding is that if the father is British, but the mother isn't, then British citizenship for any subsequent children is determined on her status.'

It isn't if the couple are married. I had FLR when my first was born. But she was a British national from birth because I was married to her father, who was a British national, and she was born in the UK.

Both parents can confer citizenship.

Fair enough Expat. I may be confused about parents not being married and the rights therein. For instance even though DP is British, what was in issue was my immigration status.

Hijack: Any idea where I can buy hominy? Am trying to do chicken posole...

It works differently if you are not married, that is true.

But OP wrote 'husband' so it can be assumed it won't be an issue in her case, above providing a few further documents.

The child does need a US passport as well, however, if ever planning to go to the US.

Yup. You're right. I misread it.

If the British father is not married to the foreign mother, then I believe the acquisition of British citizen is by registration, not birth. It still shouldn't be a problem.

Since it appears that the parents are married, then the baby should be a British citizen from birth (wow, look! an advantage of marriage!).

The one think to be aware of is that you will need the long-form birth certificate to get a USA passport. The short form is fine for the British one.

I had to use a long form birth certificate to get my son's British passport late last year.

And both of us parents were British nationals at the time of his birth.

Do they have long and short form birth certificates in Scotland? Traditionally, Scottish birth certificates carried more information than even the English long form one, such as time of birth.

Yes, yes they do.

But they are phasing out short form ones.