Notification of Birth - How long can you leave it?

So here's the thing, I've been here since 2004.  First child was born in 2006 and second in 2009.  Since I've got unlimited leave, and the kids were born here, I haven't yet registered their births with the US Embassy, nor do I list them as dependents on my US Tax return (I make nowhere near the taxable threshold anyway so it's a moot point).

Question is, am I right in saying that I have until they're 18 to register the birth?  When we travel to the states, they travel on their British passports.

I'm sure if I leave it another couple years, the worst that will happen is the embassy will ask why I've left it so long, but theyre still entitled to a US passport and SSN as far as I'm concerned.

  When we travel to the states, they travel on their British passports.

You shouldn't be doing this. There is a requirement that they travel on us passports.

You shouldn't be doing this. There is a requirement that they travel on us passports.

Yes, as they are US citizens, it's actually illegal for them to enter the US on UK passports.

As the US does not recognise dual citizenship, it is against the law for a US citizen to enter or leave the US on a foreign passport.

So here's the thing, I've been here since 2004.  First child was born in 2006 and second in 2009.  Since I've got unlimited leave, and the kids were born here, I haven't yet registered their births with the US Embassy, nor do I list them as dependents on my US Tax return (I make nowhere near the taxable threshold anyway so it's a moot point).

Question is, am I right in saying that I have until they're 18 to register the birth?  When we travel to the states, they travel on their British passports.

I'm sure if I leave it another couple years, the worst that will happen is the embassy will ask why I've left it so long, but theyre still entitled to a US passport and SSN as far as I'm concerned.

You're completely right except one thing--you need to travel to the US on a US passport if you're a US citizen. I'm surprised you haven't gotten hassled at the border. If your kids were staying in the UK or traveling anywhere outside the US, it would be fine to wait but you need to get them US passports before your next trip stateside.

As the US does not recognise dual citizenship, it is against the law for a US citizen to enter or leave the US on a foreign passport.

The United States DOES recognize dual citizenship! They just don't like it. The law that you have to enter/depart on a US passport has nothing to do with recognizing dual citizenship.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

Hello. I took my baby to the embassy in London when she was three months old to register her and apply for her social security card and she has a us passport. Even though I don't know when I will be brave enough to travel to the us with her on the long flight. I wanted to ge thi sorted ASAP in Case the us changes the laws on being a dual citizen as she gets older

You have to do it before they're 18, you should have done it before you travelled to the US as others have mentioned you've acutally broken the law by taking them into the US on a different passport:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/faqs/faq_citizenship.html

please note that all U.S. citizens, even dual nationals, must enter and depart the United States on U.S. passports.


I am an American citizen, but also have a foreign passport. Can I use my foreign passport to travel to the United States?  

No. Under U.S. law, U.S. citizens must be in possession of a valid U.S. passport to enter or leave the United States. This is true even if you hold a passport from another country. If your U.S. passport has been lost or stolen, or if it has expired, you must apply to replace it before traveling to the United States.

The registration confirms that they are US Citizens, it does not GIVE them US Citizenship, they were citizens at birth.

I had a friend that took her children to the US a few times on their British Passports and when she finally got around to registering them at the Embassy the Consular Officer gave her a mighty chewing out, so prepare yourself.

I didn't take my son to the US Embassy until he was nearly 4 and we had travelled to the US six times before I had done it...not one IO said anything to me. I had no idea he had to have two passsports! Just saying...its not ideal, but no one said anything to us!

I didn't take my son to the US Embassy until he was nearly 4 and we had travelled to the US six times before I had done it...not one IO said anything to me. I had no idea he had to have two passsports! Just saying...its not ideal, but no one said anything to us!

Did you tell them that he was a US citizen?

Did you tell them that he was a US citizen?

We just travelled on a UK passport and they knew I was his parent travelling on a US passport, we travelled as a family...I had no idea at the time that we had to register his birth etc. No clue! It was nice being clueless...

We just travelled on a UK passport and they knew I was his parent travelling on a US passport, we travelled as a family...I had no idea at the time that we had to register his birth etc. No clue! It was nice being clueless...

Thanks for all the answers!  I didn't know I was doing anything illegal (well, technically it's my five and 3 year old that are committing a crime!!).  But in fairness, we've made about 8 trips to the states since my first has been born and have never been questioned at the border of either country - I suppose since my wife has a UK passport.

On a separate but humourous anecdote - I learned over the summer not to travel on your new passport without bringing your old with you.  I had my US passport renewed, but haven't paid the (I think £150) to transfer my UK Visa to the new book.  Needless to say, I left my old passport back in England and didn't realise it until waiting on the queue at immigration in Birmingham when we returned!  I immediately told the IO of my mistake and she said it's not a problem she just had to clear it with the head IO on duty...and made me wait in the Asylum waiting room!!

Yes, you always need to have your visa with you regardless of whether or not the passport it is in is valid.  Although an IO can let you in if you don't have it, it's best to be able to produce it to save yourself extra checks.