Register Birth/US Passports

I have to admit that until I found this site I didn't think that my children were US citizens till I went and registered their births at the embassy.  I even went home a couple of years ago and my daughter used her UK passport.  I didn't know that was illegal.
We are planning to go home for Thanksgiving this year so I booked appointments for my kids online.  I saw how far in advance they were booked so I thought I would be safe and I did it in June.  I had the appointment for 18th August but on the day my son had a fever and was vomiting.  I didn't want to face the train and tube with a sick child and cancelled my appointments.  Now I find that the next available appointments  are in November.  That is not enough time to get the passports for our planned trip.  I am tempted to wait until the next time we go to the US to get them.
My friend goes to the US a couple of times a year and has never registered her daughter's birth and uses a UK passport.  I can't help to feel guilty now that I know I would be breaking a law.
Do you think it would be worthwhile to write to the embassy and see if they could get us in any earlier?  How helpful are they?
TIA
K

I would contact the embassy and see if they can get you in sooner - explain the situation, that you had an appointment in plenty of time but due to your child being ill you couldn't make it and that you need to have it done in time to travel.

The worst they can do is nothing...

Good luck.

I seem to remember Marlespo had the same problem recently and they were able to give her an earlier appointment, here's the thread:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=5026.0

As long as you have proof that you will be traveling soon they will be able to see you sooner. Just call and explain things.

I emailed them because we were flying in June but didn't have appointments until August. THey were helpful and helped get me an earlier date.

Also, it is only a fairly recent thing that they HAVE to use their US passport if they are eligible, so when you travelled in the past this may not have applied.

They won't accept phone calls - I tried. COUNTLESS times. Email them at the same email address that they sent you your confirmation with - they did send you an email, right? Just respond to that and explain - they should be helpful.

Let us know how it goes!

After reading this post I contacted the US embassy. I have two British born sons and I assumed I would have to apply for their dual nationality. I didnt know it was the law for me to register them. I think its totally ridiculous. It should be our right as parents what nationality we want our children to be. Now I have to make an appt to register my sons' births and the soonest I can get an appt is November like the previous poster mentioned (Sorry cant remember your name). I was planning on going back to the US for xmas but it doesnt look like it will be possible. Im still fighting with my ex husbeast to sign consent for my American sons new passports. Oy vey!!
Pebbles

WHAT!    If your American and you have children in the UK, you have to register them and they have to have a US passport to go into the US?!?!?!  What if you are a British citizen AND a US Citizen?!?!

same deal, I was checking it out today ... if they have a claim to US citizenship they can only travel to the US on a US passport

Really?  REALLY?  When did that start?  And well, who's to say that's what you want?  I mean really?  Are they really saying that anyone who CAN claim US citizenship HAS to in order to enter the US?  That must be millions of people. 
How much does that cost?  Is it alot?

i think it started earlier this year

here are the links

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/acs/passports/dualcit.htm

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/acs/passports/childindex.htm

heaven knows what they do if you turn up on another passport or how they even know you have a claim if you birthplace is outside the US.

ugh.

also found this on the Embasy's FAQ page:

I am an America 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.

Oh.  What if you've never had a US passport but are merely entitled to one?

One of those links says if you have a claim to US citizenship you must get a US passport to enter the US.  Don't know what they do to you if you don't!

Thanks Liz.  I guess it's one more thing to add to my monumental list of things to sort out.  I'm almost glad I didn't send the teenagers over on their own this summer.  That could have been a disaster.