Thoughts about registering births abroad

I went to London yesterday to report my children’s birth and apply for their passports.  It went rather well and since the passports are temporary I will have to do it again before February or end up paying for them again.

One thing the British worker who went over the paperwork with me said has had me thinking a lot.  He said that he noticed that I took my daughter to the US on her UK passport which is illegal and she shouldn’t have been allowed on the plane.  He asked me why I hadn’t done this sooner.  I truly didn’t know that I had to have her US passport to go.  I believed that she was entitled to US citizenship and would receive it if I chose to register her birth not that it was compulsory at birth to have her registered.

I know that some people on this board who have lived here a long time and have children older than mine haven’t registered their children and have still visited family in the US.  I have a friend in Lancashire who goes several times a year with her daughter and she isn’t registered because her British father has objections to it.  They have never been refused entry.

I have been feeling very unsettled by the American by birth whether you want to be or not law.  The wording on the Embassy website says I should be “relieved to know” that my children are US citizens.  I thought it was a choice open to me and my children to use if we chose.

What do the expat parents on UKY think about it?  Am I the only one that feels unsettled and forced?

This topic came up a while ago - it's a fairly new requirement - or at least it seems it has only been applied stringently in recent months.  I had a look at the state departement website but can't find any more info as to why this is, it just says if you have a claim to US citizenship you must travel to the US on your US passport. Seems pretty draconian to me too, surely it should be up to the individual which passport they want to use.

Oh this is a very sore subject with me. I totally agree with you. It should be OUR choice as parents what nationality we choose for our children. I am an American citizen but choose to live in the UK with my British husband. What right does the US gov't have to tell us our children HAVE to have US passports to enter the USA. Why do they HAVE to have social security numbers? I have two American born sons and two British born sons. My first Brit son has a Brit passport. I wasnt aware till recently he couldnt enter the USA on his Brit passport. Total nonsense. My husband told me he would take the Brit boys with him and go through the visitors line at immigration but Im sure they are more than aware of people doing this. So now I am compelled to make an appt at the embassy and get my sons births registered. Im really ticked off about it especially because there is usually a few months wait before getting an appt.  Not to mention the travel, the expense, the total damn inconvenience!! I wrote a letter to the State Dept a few months ago regarding this issue as well as the Chicago Tribune. Havent heard back from anyone as of yet.

Britwife, Im curious...Since your hubby is American does this mean your son has to have a US passport also or is it ok for him to have a UK passport since you are British?

He needs a US passport to enter the US.  Anyone with a US parent is supposed to register as a US citizen.

The funny thing is that it can't be enforced.  An immigration officer has no idea if a child is entitled to US citizenship if he/she goes through with his non-US parent.

It is an added expense for something that isn't useful unless we were going to move back to the US permanently.  

Well I was thinking that too ... except what if they ask the purpose of your visit ... "visiting the in-laws" ...

But in-laws are family and that is better to say.   

Did the Embassy person say anything about WHY this is complusory?

sigh.  How much does this all cost?  I've got two teenagers who are going to enter the US next summer on thier own and I think I should probably sort it out before then. 

^{Did the Embassy person say anything about WHY this is complusory?}

He didn't say anything about it but I am definitely going to ask about it when I go back to get permanent passports in January.

^{How much does this all cost?}


Passport Fees: The application fee for an applicant under the age of 16 is U.S. $70.00; aged 16 and over is $85.00.

Consular Report of Birth Abroad Fees: The application fee is U.S. $65.00.

The embassy website has all the forms and particulars on it.  The appointments do fill up quickly for months.  The next available ones are in February so sooner is better than later.

Thanks, I'll get on it before she turns 16.  Save myself fifteen bucks.   

Thanks, I'll get on it before she turns 16.  Save myself fifteen bucks.   

If you do it once she is 16 she will get a 10 year passport and can renue by mail 10 years later. One day before she is 16 she will only get a 5 year passport and will have to appear in person to get it renued after the 5 years is up.

Did the Embassy person say anything about WHY this is complusory?

It is complusory because of new laws which the state department has put into effect March of 2004.

With regards to the Consular Report of Birth Abroad it is essentially the American birth certificate proving your child was American from day one. Whitout one it would make it difficult for them to be in the military, serve in the goverment at any level etc.

If you don't register and continue to enter the US on another passport and you don't get caught, great! Just be warned that Immigration is getting more firm about inforcing the laws. If an airline thinks their could be a claim to American citizenship and you are going to the states the airline does have the right to refuse you on the flight due to the fact that they get fined if you are caught.

Also if you don't register your child and get their passport it will make it very, very, very, very difficult for them to ever claim their American citizenship, not to mention costly and time consuming.

It is complusory because of new laws which the state department has put into effect March of 2004.

Yes but I am interested to know why this was enacted. It doesn't really matter as we are going to register our son, I just wonder why it was suddenly made compulsory - I just wonder if it is so they can draft people into the military in the event of a crisis.