Consular Notification thingy of Birth Abroad

Thanks, Tally. Let us know how long it takes to get the passport and everything back, would you? I'm just trying to plan out our adventure once the LO gets here.

Does anyone know when/how the baby born in the UK to a US parent gets a social security number?  Does that happen with the consular reporting?

Amraphster - you can apply for it at the same time at the embassy.  it's free and they send it to you within a few months.  I'm sure you can also mail it in yourself.

form:
http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5.htm

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/robirth4.html

no worries for those who were posting with concerns.  It's long and boring, but easy if you compile everything on the list from the embassy--just make sure to check around and see that you've read everything.  For instance, with DD1, DH didn't come with us, and I nearly missed the page that said you needed a signature if your husband isn't with you saying it's okay to get a passport.  Happily we have a friend who's a solicitor, so he came over and certified it (worked for the notary bit) and we were fine.

We just did DD2s and no documents are kept--everything is returned to you at the window.  It took us over two weeks, but we had our interview right before Christmas. The consular report and passport came separately and we just got the SS card, which took longer.

Ruby Mae's passport and consular birth report whatever came today, exactly 3 weeks after our trip to the embassy.  It was delivered by DX (as was the british passport) - same guy even - and both times they sent a text the week day before to let me know the parcel would be delivered.  We used the courier service offered at the embassy, I'm not sure who delivers it if you use the royal mail special delivery!

Ruby Mae's passport and consular birth report whatever came today, exactly 3 weeks after our trip to the embassy.  It was delivered by DX (as was the british passport) - same guy even - and both times they sent a text the week day before to let me know the parcel would be delivered.  We used the courier service offered at the embassy, I'm not sure who delivers it if you use the royal mail special delivery!

Thanks for letting us know, Tally. Hopefully ours will come back that quickly, too, by the time baby is born and we manage to start the process. Kind of have to get the labour thing sorted out first... lol. 

... I'm not sure who delivers it if you use the royal mail special delivery!

Your postie 

We have our appointment on Friday and I was using the Embassy checklist to get all of the information together and I just read off of the actual passport application form that we also need an affidavit for the American citizen's timeline in the states? 
Is this actually necessary?
For those who went through the process please let me know if you brought this with you. Thanks.

I don't know about an affidavit, but you do have to list all the dates you were in the US, which is a right pain.  I got questioned on mine because there were a few errors, which I corrected at the embassy.

Jewlz - good luck with that labour thing, lol

WebyJ - I just wondered because we used the royal mail check and send with their delivery envelope for her british passport and it was the same courier service (DX) - same guy even - who delivered that one.  The postmen NEVER bother to deliver things to us that won't fit in the letter box at the entrance to the drive bc our flat is hard to find!  Even when I leave a note saying I'm home (usually am), how to find the flat and my mobile number they just leave that annoying red card...

Sarab- it is pretty much a pain.  they also had me estimate how many weeks total I was out of the country.  Hard to remember dates for your whole life!  the guy at the embassy was really helpful in filling out parts of the form I had slightly incorrect or which could be make more clear.  although I see you were going friday so you're probably already done - hope it went well!

Hi All,

We have our appointment later this month and I am busily gathering all the paperwork. I keep seeing people mentioning a 'special delivery envelope' instead of using the courier service - what do people use? Large A4 envelope addressed to yourself and prepaid, I assume...? Which docs are returned in the envelope? Do we need more than 1 envelope?

Thanks in advance...

Does anyone know how far in advance you can make an appointment at the US embassy in London for the Notification of Birth and PP?
 I want to make an appointment in May and it says on their website that they haven't opened them up yet past April.
Also, we may need to have it expedited and I saw that you can have it within 36 hours but I didn't see a price, does anyone know how much the expedited service is for a first US PP?
One more thing, I read that in Feb. it took about 3 weeks to get the PP, is that about what I should expect if we don't have it expedited?

Thanks!

The guy at the embassy told us there was a 2 wk turnaround for the passport but it took 3 weeks for us.  We got her social security card today - exactly a month later.  Sorry I don't know the answer to any of your other questions!  See if you can find a way to email them - someone else who has contacted them before may have an email contact for you.

Thanks Tally that's good to know!

Hi everyone - now that our little man has arrived, I need to sort this out.

Thanks for posting about having to write down all the 'out of country' times... this is going to take several hours!

My DH won't be able to come with us - do you know if ANY UK soliciter will witness the signature for passport? 

Lastly... where do I get a photo?  I live in Peterborough and our little one is 3 weeks, so no head control.  Do they put them on the floor and take an aerial shot? 

Thanks!