British Expats - Having a baby in the US - brit married to american

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Re: Having a baby in the US - brit married to american

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarylandNed (Post 10711203)

Scary stuff! Interestingly, consular birth registration wouldn't have helped in this case as it is not available for UKC's born in South Africa. I think it was at one point but maybe before this person was born.

I'm not sure when Consular registration stopped in SA, but I can tell you that my husband was born there in 1975 and has a consular birth registration.

Re: Having a baby in the US - brit married to american

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluegrass Lass (Post 10715714)

That's a good day to be born..:thumbsup: since it's my birthday too!

Wahay! :thumbsup:

Re: Having a baby in the US - brit married to american

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAJ (Post 10715375)

It was a method to acquire U.K. citizenship in non-Commonwealth countries up to the end of 1982. South Africa was non-Commonwealth between 1962-94. Consular birth registration must have ceased in South Africa in 1994 or later on.

If that is true, then consular birth registration would have been available in South Africa at the time this person was born.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-British.html

In which case it might have prevented these issues. Although so would getting multiple copies of her South African birth cert in the first place. However, given that her birth records were lost in South Africa, it looks like consular birth registration would have been her only chance of ever ordering replacement birth certs.

It certainly looks like any UKC's born in a foreign country should definitely obtain multiple copies of their birth certs. Actually that might also be good advice for anyone born in the UK too!

I must admit that I have argued against the need for consular birth registration in the past. I still believe it's unnecessary if you have your documentation in order. Many people have no choice anyway because consular birth registration is not available in certain countries (e.g. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa). However, it is available for UKC's born in the US and I'm starting to think it may be well worth the extra expense and peace of mind.