jesl

I'm a NY-based Brit, born in Nottinghamshire, and have two adult kids born in the US..navigating through the process of obtaining UK citizenship for both ... the forms are truly intimidating... can anyone point to a good lawyer in the NY area who understands and can steer us through this labyrinth?
Thanks jesl

ian-mstm

If you were able to pass citizenship to them, they probably already are UK citizens. They should just apply for UK passports.

Ian

jesl

thanks for the reply...
not sure what `passing citizenship to them' means..
and we are in the middle of formally applying for passports, but I'm an ex RN dude, the navigation process is truly bemusing, and we are looking for a `pilot' who knows the channel..

Bluegrass Lass

If you were born in the UK, your kids are automatically UK citizens by birth. So then shouldn't it just be as simple as you filling out a first-time passport application and including your long-form birth certificate.

jesl

thanks BG lass! great to hear from you, and thanks, Im a BG fiddler meself...

no it doesn't seem that simple... passport applications processes for my kids seem awfully serpentine, and the word is they find just a tiny mistake, and keep on sending it back... so actually I'm looking for a lawyer as facilitator...
best jesl

JAJ

Do you use a lawyer for your own passport application?

Mummy in the foothills

What do they ask for when they send it back?

Bob

It's just a simple first time application process...read the questions and answer them. Nothing misleading about it.

What's a lawyer going to do about it here? They'll be in the same boat unless they're a Brit.

md95065

For something like this a lawyer is just going to get in the way (and be a waste of money).

There is nothing here that you need a lawyer for.

Since the UK passport application form covers a large number of different situations the instructions on how to fill it in can be confusing, but a US attorney isn't gong to be any help with that.

What stage are you at right now?

Have you already submitted an application and had it rejected or returned (if so, what reason was given and / or what other information was requested) or are you just worried that this may happen?

If you have any specific questions about the application process please ask them and probably someone here will either know the answer or will be able to point you to the correct place to find the answer.

ottotheboar

I agree 100% the process is not difficult. I am a Brit with a USC wife we have 4 children born in the US and there was no problem getting their UK passports. As mentioned in other posts to involve a US Lawyer would be a waste of money and more likely to complicate a simple process.

meauxna

The first post says the children are adults.. does that make a difference in the difficulty of the application?

ian-mstm

I can't imagine it would... the requirements would be the same.

Ian

JAJ

EXCEPT that the proof of ID that will be required is a lot stronger, to show that one is the same person as on the birth certificate.

Also, if printed more than 3 months after birth, the (US) birth certificates may not be valid for proving the parental link without other evidence.

It is always much harder to prove an entitlement many years after the event as much of the documentation required may have been lost or destroyed.

Brit In TN

Brit citizen here, been living in the US for 20 years and have two kids born here. As others have said as long as you are a British citizen and have proof of that (birth certificate, passport) then your kids are automatically British citizens too and all they need to do is apply for their passports.
The passport application looks a little daunting because it also tries to cover people in more complicated situations than you and your kids.
Basically all you need to provide is your birth certificate and valid passport details, their US birth certificate, the completed form, photos and the money.
Unless your citizenship is not straightforward you'll have no problems.

Don't worry about all that stuff asking for proof of this that and the other if you were born in a British dependency and all that type of stuff. If you were born in Britain, have your birth certificate and valid passport and they have their US birth certificates you are all good to go. Dont let the paperwork put you off because most of it doesnt even apply to you.

jesl

many thanks...wish I had read this before I got sufficiently intimidated to get one of these professional `assisters' to help us through what was getting to be a maze, despite the fact that we fit all the criteria perfectly... maybe since 9/11 things have tightened... certainly they have in other passport/visa requirements...anyway Im now working nights to pay the assister's bill (just kidding)... which is non-trivial!!
best regards, J