Newest UK-Yankee!!

Congratulations! And good luck with your recovery, I hope you're in less pain soon.

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Well, Eliza is three months old and we're off to the Big Smoke Wednesday to file her US paperwork. I keep trying to reassure myself that it's NOT like applying for a UK visa - she IS American and this is simply box ticking, right? I had my mom send over a pile of school records that my parents had (even my Kindegarten 'graduation' certificate!) to prove residency, but still a little nervous I haven't done something right. The form where they want dates in the US (for me) and I wasn't sure how to fill it out - I mean, precise dates??? My mom was a flight attendant, so we went abroad a fair bit... so hoping it's ok I just used my birthday until I moved to the UK when I was 20??? I'm completely overthinking this, right?

Yup, you are overthinking.   

Easy pleasy.  They’ll ask you a couple of questions about where you are from that someone pretending to be you wouldn’t know (high school mascot, name of the local mall).

With my second, I could NOT remember when my first passport was issued.  She found this mind boggling, so maybe just know the answer to that one.   

Enjoy the American customer service!

Would Edinburgh been easier or about the same?

Yup, you are overthinking.   

Easy pleasy.  They’ll ask you a couple of questions about where you are from that someone pretending to be you wouldn’t know (high school mascot, name of the local mall).

With my second, I could NOT remember when my first passport was issued.  She found this mind boggling, so maybe just know the answer to that one.   

Enjoy the American customer service!

Would Edinburgh been easier or about the same?

It says you have to live in Scotland to use Edinburgh somewhere... can't remember where I found that!

I must have had a passport for my first trip abroad (Fiji when I was 4), but have no idea when it was issued either. I don't have many memories of the trip, sadly! I was a bit too little!! I'm one of those weird Americans that has always had a passport! I swear I still have them all somewhere, but spent about 6 hours going through my loft and couldn't find any of the passports from before I moved to the UK. Dammit!

But thanks for the reassurance!!

School mascot (check)
local mall (check)
Haven't lived there in 15 years, so hopefully nothing will trip me up! What with SERIOUS baby brain and all!!!

Anyone can use Edinburgh, just as an FYI for the future if that's easier.  In fact, I *think* you mail everything in advance and it's an even quicker appointment.

And just in case you do have any future children, my little tip:  when my 2nd came along, we renewed our eldest's passport even though it still had 2 years left on it.  Means they are both now on the same "schedule" for renewals in the future so we only have to go every 5 years and will have both kids done at the same time.  Otherwise we would have to be schlepping to London again now as my eldest recently turned 5.  Worth the "lost" money on the 2 years of the passport.

But I know you may be one and done.  Oh and save your travel dates too!  In case you aren't one and done! 

What a long day! We left home at 6am and got back at 1030pm. But it’s official - she’s American now.

The embassy was super nice. And the view was fab.

The first guy who took our applications was very curt. Bit of a dick, actually. Everyone else was lovely! Cost more than I thought I’d read about though! Surprise! $100 just for the registration of birth abroad (I swear I’d read it was free? As it’s absolutely required). And a security supplement?? But needs must...


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Yay! Done. 

What a long day! We left home at 6am and got back at 1030pm. But it’s official - she’s American now.

The embassy was super nice. And the view was fab.

The first guy who took our applications was very curt. Bit of a dick, actually. Everyone else was lovely! Cost more than I thought I’d read about though! Surprise! $100 just for the registration of birth abroad (I swear I’d read it was free? As it’s absolutely required). And a security supplement?? But needs must...


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Glad it's done!  Yeah, the first appointment is about $250ish if I recall correctly?  The CRBA and passport are both $100ish and then the postage and things.