MarylandNed

That's simply not true. I recently used a US birth cert issued 5 YEARS after my daughter was born to obtain her UK passport. They MIGHT ask if the child was adopted if the US birth cert was issued more than 3 months after the date of birth but only if they suspect that the child's status is in doubt.

Bob

Like I said. If you're a US citizen, you can't use another countries passport, but the US cannot deny you entry to the country, so even without a passport but a lot of hassle you could be admitted, but as I said, that doesn't mean that the airline will let you on the plane.

Bob

Oh god, not again...a single case does not the majority make.

You can not state that your experience is universal when it is not.

Mummy in the foothills

I think you just got lucky, and it slid by.

MarylandNed

Twice? My daughter's first UK passport was obtained with a US birth cert that was issued 1 year after her birth. Her second UK passport was obtained recently using a US birth cert issued 5 years after her birth. No questions asked either time.

What exactly are you saying? That US birth certs issued more than 3 months after the date of birth cannot be used to obtain a UK passport? If so, you're wrong. Let's examine the actual policy here:

http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/files/ips/...TO_PUBLISH.pdf

Here's the relevant text:

United States adoption and birth certificates
A recent case was highlighted where there was a United States "birth certificate" that did not indicate the child was adopted.
Staff dealing with such certificates should:
• Compare the date the birth certificate was issued to that of the child’s date of birth.
• If there are discrepancies between these dates of 3 months or more discreet enquiries should be made to the person making the application to explain the discrepancy between these dates.
Please note that this procedure may only be adopted when status is in doubt.
All cases of doubt should be referred to an HEO or above for a decision to be made or for consultation with a member of HQ Policy Team.

Note that this DOES NOT state that a US birth cert issued more than 3 months after the date of birth cannot be used to obtain a UK passport. Let's let that sink in for a while...ok? Let me repeat that I've obtained 2 UK passports with such birth certs (the second very recently).

All that will happen with an enquiry (if it even happens - and it didn't happen TWICE for me) is that they will discreetly ask the parents to explain the discrepancies between the dates. And even then ONLY IF STATUS IS IN DOUBT- so it's not even an automatic action. If they are not satisfied with the explanation, then it's fairly easy to prove that the child was not adopted. US hospitals also issue a birth registration document. US hospitals report details of the birth to the state in which the birth took place. Medical records, medical bills, health insurance records, baptismal records, etc can all be used very easily to satisfy any enquiry.

So let's stop pretending that there is a rule or a law that says that US birth certs issued 3 months after the date of birth cannot be used to obtain a UK passport. If there is such a rule or law then please point it out.

Mummy in the foothills

US birth certificates are reissued after an adoption and look exactly like the originals only they change the names in the mother and father section to show the names of the adopted parents. We know this we have one and it looks like I gave birth in a county I've never been to. A friend managed to give birth to two babies born in separate counties only 15 days apart, both full term according to her childrens birth certificates and another has given birth in multiple states she hasn't traveled too, her oldest having been born when she was a young teen and didn't even know her Dh, yet both are listed on the birth certificate. Thats why they don't want birth certificates issued after 3mths of age.
Its only a matter of time before they just refuse any US certificates not issued within a few weeks of birth all together. seeing they don't show adopted on the certificates. Adopted children aren't UK citizens by descent unlike birth children, something we didn't realize before the adoption, and need to be registered as a UK citizen.

JAJ

They might have cooled down a little but until recently they were sending back any application based on a more than 3 month old birth certificate, eg:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542570

Medical records, medical bills, health insurance records, baptismal records, etc can all be used very easily to satisfy any enquiry.

Not after 20-30 years when all the documentation has been lost, destroyed, etc.

MarylandNed

You are speculating. I've already given you an official link to a document that states their policy when they encounter such birth certs. Did you read it? It doesn't say that they reject US birth certs with a date of issue more than 3 months after the date of birth. It states what they do in these cases.

Bob

Like everyone is saying though, the consensus is, simply register for future proofing, especially as plenty of people have had problems, even if you did not. Not a terribly hard concept.

Bob

And they do, in fact often ask for further proof, especially so in a first time passport, or when you don't have your parents passports.

It's all well and good to recommend something based on what has happened to you, but it's not very helpful to people when it all goes south, when the whole point of registering, no mention of getting the certificate here, is such an easy thing to do.

hd44

We are planning to move back to the UK soon after the birth of the baby - basically, I don't think I have given myself enough time to apply for the British passport through the British Embassy (who say it can take 6 weeks) once I have the baby's local birth certificate in hand.

I know I can register the birth and get the passport once we are in the UK. Will we be hassled if baby only has a US passport when we return? I will have on me - both our birth certificates, marriage certificate as well as our passports. Can we go through the UK/EU line?

Thanks!

meauxna

Your baby will be admitted as a visitor. An American visitor.
6 months.

Bob

But some people in the past, with proof of UK citizenship have been then able to pay large sums of money to correct that issue.

It's a major hassle.

hd44

We rang up UK border agency and they said to just get an emergency passport for the baby - it's not really an emergency though. Going to ring the Embassy and see what they suggest.

Thanks guys.

catbri

Hi Calbrit,
Thanks for the info. My husband and I are both from Scotland but we have B1/B2 visas as we spend about half the year in the US each year. We recently found out we are pregnant and we're trying to weigh up our options for either a birth in the US or going home to the UK. Ideally, it would be far easier (logistically) to give birth in the US since my husband spends much time travelling to the Bahamas for work. My main concerns are:
1. How difficult is it to get a US passport since we are both UK citizens and therefore only have UK forms of ID? Also, does it take a long time to get processed?
2. I wasn't exactly sure about the 'Right of Abode' thing...is this something they put in the US passport?
3. On re-entry to the US, will customs and immigration be okay with us bringing in a child with a US passport whilst ours are both from the UK?
4. Often when booking flights online, you need to give your passport number, does this mean that you'd give 1 of them but just produce the relevant passport when you arrive in either place?
5. I am planning on travelling back to the UK shortly after the baby is born (depending on how long it takes to get the passport sorted) and getting the baby's UK passport asap.