traveling back to US with newborn - passport?

Hi all,
I'm pregnant with my second, due in late October. We're thinking about traveling home for Christmas but are unsure if we'd be able to get the new baby's passport in time. We're all US citizens here on a Tier 2 visa and have our BRP cards, will our newborn need one as well? We live in Newcastle, I'm hoping we won't have to go to London for all of this...

Thanks!!

Congratulations on the pregnancy!

You do not need to go to London, but you do either need to go there or Edinburgh.  You'll need to register the birth of the baby in the UK first, then you'll need to set up an appointment either at the London Embassy or Edinburgh consulate to complete a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad.  You can also request a social security number and passport at the same time.  You'll both need to be present.

It depends on how busy things are in your area and how quickly you can obtain the UK birth certificate and how busy the appointments at the embassy/consulate are.  I gave birth April 1, 2014 and had the US passport in hand in mid-June.  These times will vary wildly depending on which offices you go to and the time of year.  For an extra fee, you can get the US passport on the same day at the embassy/consulate.

You will need to obtain a Tier 2 dependent visa for the baby before you can re-enter the UK.

It's a lot of paperwork!   

Thanks for the quick reply! I didn't even think about needing to file a whole extra visa application! Ughhh they're so expensive! How long does a UK birth certificate typically take? Do I have to request it or does it come automatically?

After you have the baby, you'll call your local registry office to set up an appointment.  I could go to a couple of different ones.  I called around and found out that if I registered at my local council, I'd have to wait for the birth certificate to be mailed to me (10 days I think?) or I could go to the main one (larger city) and get the birth certificate on the day.

It will all depend on availability around when you deliver.  You have 42 days to register the birth.  Some may have quick availability, some may have a one month wait.  It's hard to say!

Honestly, it'll be a tight time frame.  You might be fine for travel at Christmas but you might not.  You could deliver early or you could deliver a couple of weeks late.  You have a child, you know how unpredictable these things are!   

You'll have so much red tape and beauracracy to go through afterwards, it may just save you a lot of time and stress to plan a trip to the US a few months later...

Busy so short on details but a quick note to give you hope, second baby born 8 Nov and we travelled home for Christmas. Two years ago. With UK and US passports in hand. Processing was super quick.

Thanks for the info yall! eatoomey, did you need a visa for your newborn?

I gave birth April 1, 2014 and had the US passport in hand in mid-June.

Happy 2nd birthday, mini-KFdancer!

Happy 2nd birthday, mini-KFdancer!

Awww, thanks TF.  I'm having a crap day at work and I decided in my last meeting that I would rather be in the throws of childbirth than at work today!   

Awww, thanks TF.  I'm having a crap day at work and I decided in my last meeting that I would rather be in the throws of childbirth than at work today!   

Oh man, that sucks. I hope your day gets better.

Maybe you can tell your colleagues you're calling it an early day. Let them think it's an April Fools joke, but actually... you know.... go home.

I've decided I'm leaving at 5, not 5:30.  I'm so naughty!

I've decided I'm leaving at 5, not 5:30.  I'm so naughty!

As long as you don't go in early on Monday to make up that half hour.

Thanks for the info yall! eatoomey, did you need a visa for your newborn?

No, sorry - my girls are dual Brit/US citizens. Best of luck.