yorkie19

I hope that someone can help me. My husband and I are British citizens living in the US with a 1 year old son (born in US). We got him a US passport last year but now would like to get him a British passport. 1st question: is it ok for him to have both passports? 2nd question: in the application form it asks if the applicant has had a passport before, I'm not sure if that just means British passport, or any passport and would I have to send in his US passport with the application form? Has anyone gone through this procedure in the past? Any help would be great. Thanks.

fatbrit

1/ Yes -- read: richw.org/dualcit
2/ Send the US passport -- they use it for identity.

Also consider applying for a Consular Record of Birth....despite the cost.

A search of the site will show that this procedure is not uncommon.

Elvira

Not just consider - definitely worth doing.

Passports and documents used in the original passport application can be lost...... a Consular Record of Birth exists forever.

yorkie19

Thanks for the info. Why is it important to register the birth? I had already read about it but still wasn't sure of the importance of registering it in Great Britain.
Thanks.

Marocco

Without it if your son ever loses his UK passport he'll have to prove his British citizenship all over again in order to obtain another one. This could become increasingly more difficult with time, since the rules of the game may change (in 50+ years how many UK embassy officials will be familiar with the way British citizenship could be passed on at the beginning of the century?).

Unlike other countries the UK does not issue "certificates of citizenship", although this may change in the future.

British Consul

Yorkie,

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, he can have both passports.
2. First off, are you completing a C2 application form?
3. It normally helps to send in the US passport with the application.

Visit www.britainusa.com/orlando and click on the passport and consular services tab on the left hand of the screen for more information on getting a passport for your son.

Hope this helps.

Dean

British Consul

Not quite. As long as he keeps his passport up to date, he will be able to replace a passport if it is lost. It's part of a passport officers job to know US nationality laws, they get tested on them every four years. So, in fifty plus years time, they should still continue to know and understand every change in nationality law since time began....

Dean

JAJ

I've come across cases where the standard of knowledge of British laws and policy (admittedly, in more complex situations) has left something to be desired.

In any case, it is not just a question of consular officers knowing the laws. It is also a question of having the necessary evidence to prove he is a British citizen. It may be difficult or impossible to get parent's birth certificates, for example.

For the relatively small, one-off fee I can't understand why people even think of not getting a consular birth certificate for their child if it is available.