GOING INSANE: birth/travel/passport/jerks

Being a US Citizen having given birth to a child in the UK, I need to register my child at the Embassy. I set up an appointment for the 3 of us to go to London (new law as of a few weeks ago: Philip has to be present for his first passport application we can't just do it for him). At this appointment we'll also be applying for Philip's US passport. The earliest appointment I could get was in August. Which was fine until, while on the Embassy's website today, I found this: (and I copy and paste directly)

My child has a foreign passport. Can s/he use it to travel to the U.S.?
By law, even if your child holds foreign nationality, if s/he has a claim to U.S. citizenship, s/he is required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. S/he should not enter the United States on a foreign passport with a visa, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

So I think to myself "Oh bollocks". We are flying to America on June 30th for a 2 week holiday with my family. Does that mean Philip can't fly into America on his British passport which, by then, he'd have? I assumed that he could enter the country on any passport, but that little red blurb up there says something clearly contrary to that notion. It just doesn't make sense to me... he's a British Citizen, why can't he use his British passport to enter the US? Any other British citizen could... why does his eligibility for US citizenship affect that? As far as I knew, people flew all the time with their babies. Maybe this is a new law? Maybe I just overlooked it and it's been around all along.

Maybe if we flew with his UK passport & the confirmation letter from the Embassy stating that we've got an appointment... perhaps that would satisfy them and they'd let us go. Perhaps I could even get a letter from the embassy saying that they've received our request?

I also have questions about our Immigration. David & I are planning on moving back to the US this winter, but there is now the new possibility of him either transferring with his company which would put us there this summer, there's also potential work with another US based company - if that goes through (and it's likely) - we could also be there this summer.  So I think hmmmm... What would happen if David & I immigrated before our August 23 appointment? We could get him a US passport in America (as long as he can travel to the US on his UK passport), and if the only other reason for the appointment is to register his birth abroad, do we still have to do that if we're living back in the US?

So... I decide I need to call the Embassy for clarification. It'll only take a minute, I think.

I call the embassy. To be precise, I call the American Citizen Services, located within the embassy, but the lady answering the phone says "US Embassy". I say "I am a US citizen living in the UK, married to an English citizen. I have questions regarding the registration of the birth of my son and his passport application. The website does not refer to my specific questions so can I please speak to somebody?"

She says "I'm sorry ma'am, they don't have a phone service any longer. The only way you can contact them is by post. No one here can help you. They stopped helping people over the phone on June 11 of last year."



So now I have to write a letter. And wait forever for someone to respond. And read their letter, see that they haven't answered my questions properly, and write them back. And waste loads of time and completely stress out about it in the mean time, because I need to know if we have to cancel our trip to the US.

WHY CAN'T I JUST TALK TO SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE?
Is it a security risk?
For $@&# sake...

I didn't think I could feel any more insane. Then today happened.

The only thing I can say is I am sorry and send hugs.  I do not think you will have a problem getting him in -I do not think that little Philip will be seen as a terrorist threat.  Then again...it is the Department of Homeland Security so I wish you lots of luck in dealing with the powers that be in the up coming months in addition to the hugs!

more hugs from me Sarah,, this is the stupidest thing I have heard yet. I have reread it 4 times, hoping it would make sense, but it just doesn't.

What about CAB, would they know anything about this?

If you wait to regisiter Philip, not claiming US citizenship yet,, could he then travel?

my head hurts for you hun 

We could get him a US passport in America (as long as he can travel to the US on his UK passport), and if the only other reason for the appointment is to register his birth abroad, do we still have to do that if we're living back in the US?

I feel I can safely answer at least this question: yes, you do.  My 10 year old was born in Germany and even though both my ex and I are Americans and he was in the US military we still had to register my daughter's birth with the Consulate as a birth abroad.  Whether this can be done IN the US, don't know, but I'm 99.9% certain you will still need to do it. 

What number did you dial to make the appointment?  Was it the same number you telephoned to ask your questions?  I'd say the alternative is to just show up and make a big fuss until they see you and answer your questions.  The other alternative is to take your trip anyway and just use his British passport and see what happens. 

best of luck, dearie!

If you wait to regisiter Philip, not claiming US citizenship yet,, could he then travel?

I thought about that, too, but it says he needs to use a US passport if he "has a claim to US citizenship".  Ugh.  There don't seem to be any loopholes on this one!

Good luck, Sarah.  Let us know how this turns out (I hope to need the info at some point--broody broody!).   

I know I remember reading about someone else who already had tickets and a new baby and told Embassy her problem and they made an "emergency" appointment for her.  I have no idea who/when it was (or even if it was on this site  ).  But you could try contacting the Embassy by Registered or Special Delivery post marked "urgent" and see if that gets you a reaction.

Seems quite unfair that because they can't get you in you can't fly.  But then, nothing about the American government surprises me much these days...

poor Sara what a load of B****CKS! Jemima beat me to suggesting you try the Edinburgh Consulate.  I had a look at the US Dept of State website too but couldn't find anything on this specific point. If you do end up having to write a letter send it SD as Em says, I would also mark it for the personal attention of the Ambassador, William S. Farish - he probably won't reply in person but it will get dealt with quicker especially if you complain about the lack of assistance so far.

poor Sara what a load of B****CKS! Jemima beat me to suggesting you try the Edinburgh Consulate.  I had a look at the US Dept of State website too but couldn't find anything on this specific point. If you do end up having to write a letter send it SD as Em says, I would also mark it for the personal attention of the Ambassador, William S. Farish - he probably won't reply in person but it will get dealt with quicker especially if you complain about the lack of assistance so far.

I know that he needs a US passport, I just thought he could fly on his UK passport while the US one was being processed, that's my main concern. So I called the embassy again tonight after a sleepless night, and was a complete you-know-what to the front desk when, again, she said no one could help me. But I kept going on and eventually she transferred me to the Emergency something-something department. (It pays to be a hormonal wreck of a woman sometimes)... The woman in the emergency department (wish I remembered where the front desk lady said she was transferring me!) was completely helpful and sweet and wonderful, and we've changed the appointment to May 25 because yes, she confirmed, he can not fly on his British passport to the US, he needs to use his US one. Them's the rules.

Sigh. Did I really have to waste a day in panic? Why couldn't they have just let me talk to the nice lady to begin with, without having to "cop a strop" for it? Blergh. So anyway I feel better that we'll be able to make our trip to America... but I still think it's a stupid rule. 

I am glad it got sorted for you! It is amazing what a difference one nice person can make to all of us during our panic modes!! If only we could always count on getting one!

Helena

Result! Great that it's sorted now. Why can't these things ever be easy?  Now relax, and think about the fun it will be showing the handsome Philip off to the friends and rellies back homo

I'll relax once I get Philip's passport in my cold steely grip! 
Thanks for letting me go insane for a bit...

oh good I am so glad you got it sorted out!