uk born baby dual citizenship?

hello!
i'm american and my hubby brit. our baby was born here in UK. my question is when we travel back to the states to visit, does she use her american passport or british? what are the benefits of her having a us passport?
ta!

does she use her american passport or british?

She uses her American passport.  It's against US law for an American citizen to try to enter the US using a non-US passport.

A dual US/UK citizen has to remember going to US always use US passport.  And coming back to UK, use British passport.

She uses her American passport.  It's against US law for an American citizen to try to enter the US using a non-US passport.

Not strictly true, a child can enter via land (from Canada etc) using a "consulate report of birth abroad" certificate.  So for us, we could save a load of money on passports by flying into Toronto and driving into MI.

Not strictly true, a child can enter via land (from Canada etc) using a "consulate report of birth abroad" certificate.  So for us, we could save a load of money on passports by flying into Toronto and driving into MI.

A "load of money"?  A first US passport costs like $100.  Certainly renting a car costs more than that.

Not strictly true, a child can enter via land (from Canada etc) using a "consulate report of birth abroad" certificate.  So for us, we could save a load of money on passports by flying into Toronto and driving into MI.

I stand corrected.  To the OP, I don't know exactly where you're going, but if you live adjacent to a big city in Canada or Mexico and you want to save 100 bucks by going close to, but not directly to, wherever it is you're going, by all means do what Shandy says.

For people that don't live along a border, I'd suggest it's easier to just get your child a US passport and fly directly to where you want to go. Or maybe it'd be cheaper to buy a house in Detroit and then you're closer to Toronto.  I haven't done that math, so I'm not sure.

Either way, good advice, Shandy.

p.s. While we're all correcting each other, it's a "consular" report, not a "consolate" report.

A "load of money"?  A first US passport costs like $100.  Certainly renting a car costs more than that.

For me it was three kids so $350.  Hiring a car would be happening anyway, tickets to Toronto are cheaper than to Detroit, it's a three hour drive.  Overall it'll save over well over $500.

I stand corrected.  To the OP, I don't know exactly where you're going, but if you live adjacent to a big city in Canada or Mexico and you want to save 100 bucks by going close to, but not directly to, wherever it is you're going, by all means do what Shandy says.

For people that don't live along a border, I'd suggest it's easier to just get your child a US passport and fly directly to where you want to go. Or maybe it'd be cheaper to buy a house in Detroit and then you're closer to Toronto.  I haven't done that math, so I'm not sure.

Either way, good advice, Shandy.

p.s. While we're all correcting each other, it's a "consular" report, not a "consolate" report.

 

U.S. Consulate General, anyway, you said it was illegal for a US citizen to enter the USA without a passport, I corrected you, if you had said by air you'd have been a bit more accurate. 

She could be in same position as me and I could be saving her money, no need to be so rude.

The "Consulate" is the place.  The report you're incorrectly referring to is a "Consular" report.  Accuracy counts.

The "Consulate" is the place.  The report you're incorrectly referring to is a "Consular" report.  Accuracy counts.

The simple fact remains, despite what you said, it's not actually illegal for a US citizen to enter the USA without a passport, children do it all of the time between the US/Canada.  It is definitely required when travelling by air though.

Traveling By Land or By Sea
(from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean)

For children 15 or younger (or 16-18 years old and travelling with an organized and supervised school, religious, or other youth group):

one of the documents allowed for adults (passport etc) or
a U.S. birth certificate (original, photocopy, or certified copy) -- photo ID is not required or
U.S. consular report of birth abroad or
Certificate of U.S. Naturalization

In fact, an adult can enter without a passport too if they have an Enhanced Driver's License/ID (EDL) (available in MI, NY, VT, WA; also proposed in AZ, CA, TX) or if an adult is on a cruise ship originating and returning to the US, they can legally enter with a birth certificate.

Sorry I got my consular/consulate mixed up though, that makes all the difference and makes the rest of my post redundant.  Hopefully it might save the OP some money, or even a trip to London if she already has a consular report of birth.  .

The simple fact remains, despite what you said, it's not actually illegal for a US citizen to enter the USA without a passport...

I didn't say it was illegal for a US citizen to enter the US without a passport.  If you reread the original question, the OP asked whether her child should enter the US using a US passport or a British passport.

My answer, which you apparently didn't read very closely, said she'd use her American passport, as it's illegal for a US citizen to try to enter the US using a non-US passport.  That's true whether she lives in Michigan, is on a cruise, is part of an organized religious group, or if any of the other narrow exceptions you listed apply.

Sorry I got my consular/consulate mixed up though, that makes all the difference and makes the rest of my post redundant. 

That's ok.  I just wanted to make absolutely sure that if you're going to spend time correcting people on the internet, you do it from a foundation of accurate information.

I didn't say it was illegal for a US citizen to enter the US without a passport.  If you reread the original question, the OP asked whether her child should enter the US using a US passport or a British passport.information.

OK, fair enough, please accept my apologies, I quoted the wrong person, I meant to quote the one below you looking back at the posts.  Hopefully it might save the OP some money anyway and some good might come out of my error.

That's ok.  I just wanted to make absolutely sure that if you're going to spend time correcting people on the internet, you do it from a foundation of accurate information.

I used incorrect terminology, ironically you made a spelling mistake when you pointed out my mistake, I guess nobody is perfect.

I used incorrect terminology, ironically you made a spelling mistake when you pointed out my mistake, I guess nobody is perfect.

What spelling mistake?