UK citizen moving back to UK from USA with USA wife and kids...

This isn't right.  I(US citizen) just applied for my daughter's UK passport two weeks ago and go it without a problem.  In fact I have applied for all my kids UK passports for the last twenty years and have never been refused.

Interesting...then I am wondering if the IPS call centre is like the one from the Home Office & UKBA...to be trusted as far as you can throw them?

Fair enough, I knew adults resident abroad could renew their passports while visiting the UK, so I thought the same would be possible for children. Nevermind!

Interesting...then I am wondering if the IPS call centre is like the one from the Home Office & UKBA...to be trusted as far as you can throw them?

I wouldn't be surprised.

Fair enough, I knew adults resident abroad could renew their passports while visiting the UK, so I thought the same would be possible for children. Nevermind!

It was a good idea, I'm not dismissing that or insinuating that it wasn't. Child passports, especially first passports like for the OP's children can be complicated when applied for within the UK and its just easier with less requirements to get them in the US...that's all.

There is another potential option. If you can afford it, take a short holiday to the UK prior to your move. The kids should be ok to go in on US passports as visitors, though you may get some frowns. Have your wife take the KOL test and get the kids' passports. Come back to the US, and your wife can apply for ILE (indefinite leave to enter) straightaway. You pay for the trip, but you save money on the kids' passports and another visa for your wife later on, plus there would be no restrictions on benefits for your wife if they become needed later on. You probably wouldn't even need to come, just the wife and kids.

OK, so now I'm confused.

- I thought you couldn't apply for the children's passports in the UK??

- Is it only my wife that can get the children's passports in the UK? She has to pass a KOL test first to get the passports?

-What is the KOL test?

- can you just leave the UK (eg..France)? Or do you have to return to the US?

- Assuming you are correct about the children's passports being filed in the UK and then receiving them; Why do you have to leave the county again (in regards to the children)?

Before I forget I'd like to thank all of you for all the great info. Along with myself I'm sure others will benefit from your sound advice.

Right, there are two things being discussed here. One is your wife's visa and the other is the passports for the children. Your wife's visa first:

- If you have been married for over 4 years outside the UK, you have the option of skipping the 2 year probationary period in the UK and go straight to Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE), or to get a regular spouse visa with the KOL required condition, and your wife takes the test and can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) without having to wait 2 years. The KOL is the Knowledge of Life in the UK test. Everyone applying for ILE/ILR has to take it. It can be taken while visiting the UK, so if she comes across, she can take the test on a tourist visa, then return to the US and apply for ILE with the certificate, using the 4 year concession. That way she doesn't have to apply for any further visas. The KOL req condition can be requested if she doesn't want to come across for a visit but you can still prove a 4 year marriage outside the UK. With this she can take the test as soon as she's read once you're in the UK, and apply for ILR without having to wait 2 years.

- I thought perhaps the kids could enter as visitors on their US passports, get their UK passports here and then go back again to later re-enter on their UK passports, but apparently that's not possible, so just ignore that bit. They will need UK passports to enter the UK for settlement, and you will have to get them in their current country of residence, the US.

Q: Can I apply for a passport while visiting the UK ?

A: If you do not live in the UK you may apply for a passport from your nearest Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. Alternatively, you may also apply to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in person whilst visiting the UK. In order to do this, you need to make an appointment with IPS in the UK and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted. Applicants will have to be available at this address to sign for the receipt of the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or e-mail if you live abroad. For further information please visit the IPS website (ips.gov.uk)

taken from ( http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk )

So it looks like you probably CAN apply for your kids passports while you are in the UK and I was wrong.

I hate, hate, HATE immigration paperwork. And how confusing everything is. Perpetually. And how often it changes. And ok I'm done complaining now since I"m nto even the one with the questions!!!

That's what I was basing my original advice on, but apparently it's different for children.

Q: Can I apply for a passport while visiting the UK ?

A: If you do not live in the UK you may apply for a passport from your nearest Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. Alternatively, you may also apply to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in person whilst visiting the UK. In order to do this, you need to make an appointment with IPS in the UK and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted. Applicants will have to be available at this address to sign for the receipt of the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or e-mail if you live abroad. For further information please visit the IPS website (ips.gov.uk)

taken from ( http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk [nofollow] )

So it looks like you probably CAN apply for your kids passports while you are in the UK and I was wrong.

I hate, hate, HATE immigration paperwork. And how confusing everything is. Perpetually. And how often it changes. And ok I'm done complaining now since I"m nto even the one with the questions!!!

whow now.... so wait a sec! I can get the kids passports in England? We will have a place of residents after all to receive them by mail. I guess the real question is what info do they req. at the passport agency?? If I show up with 3 kids all with US birth certs I'm sure their going to ask "how the funk did they get here in the first place"? I know that would be my first question. Although if I have my passport, full length birth cert, original marriage cert, and my wife's birth cert and passport we should be golden right?

It's tempting to try and find out but as previous poster have said its best to just enter on UK passports. Even though the cost and wait times are ridiculous.

Again there's some seriously good info presenting itself in this thread.... thanx

Again, that is for adults. This may not work for children, so if you are wanting to investigate this route, you would have to contact the IPS to see if it's possible.

I was SO sure I couldn't do it for my kids, that I had found a definitive answer on an official site saying that because

a. we are not resident in the UK
AND
b. it would be their 1st UK passport

that we couldn't do it in the UK, and had to apply here in the US.

But *of course* I can not find that web page now. Perhaps someone who has a healthier brain than I can find it. Because I'd love to do their passports the next time we are visiting the UK, which is in December.

So I guess it can be done from inside the UK...... You just need to be at the place of residence to sign for the mail. Here is the IPS website that states the required info and procedures (i highlight the important part)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Applyingforaneworrenewedchildpassport/DG_174107 [nofollow]


First child passport - supporting documents you will need to provide

IPS needs to see original documents that prove your child is British. IPS does not accept photocopies of documents or documents that have been laminated, but will accept documents that are laminated for Braille labelling.

A birth certificate is not considered absolute proof of identity. Even if your child was born in the UK, IPS may ask to see further documents.

The documents IPS needs to see depend on where your child was born.

If you are still not sure what you need to send after reading the details below, you can call the IPS Passport Adviceline 0300 222 0000.
If the child was born or adopted in the UK

IPS needs to see the child's full birth or adoption certificate showing parents' details and one of the following:

    * the mother's UK birth certificate, or her Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or her passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth
    * the father's UK birth certificate, or his Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or his passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth* and the parents' marriage certificate

Note*: if the passport expired before the child's birth, you need to send the passport on which the father entered the UK.
If the child was born outside the UK

IPS needs to see the child's full birth or adoption certificate showing parents' details and one of the following:

    * the mother's UK birth certificate,* or her Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or her passport that was valid at the time of the child' birth
    * the father' UK birth certificate,* or his Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or his passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth and the parents' marriage certificate*

Note*: if the child has a birth certificate issued by a British consulate or high commission, you can send that instead of birth/marriage certificates.

If you are sending the father's documents, IPS also needs to see the parents' marriage certificate if the child was born before 1 July 2006.
If the child was born outside the UK but has a certificate of naturalisation or registration from the Home Office

IPS needs to see:

    * the naturalisation or registration certificate
    * the passport on which the child entered the UK

I think you should call the helpline to be sure, but if it can be done, that might be your best option. In the case of your wife, I would definitely recommend the visit to take the KOL, come back to the US and apply for ILE.

I think you should call the helpline to be sure, but if it can be done, that might be your best option. In the case of your wife, I would definitely recommend the visit to take the KOL, come back to the US and apply for ILE.

By doing this can we skip the visa application?? What are the requirements for the ILE? what are the costs involved? And how long does it take for a ILE to be granted?