Jackson87

Hi,

Just have a quick question re passports/new baby. We are here on an E2 Visa (wife, daughter and I). My wife is due next month with baby no.2

Ive read that this child will become a US Citizen and will be able to get a passport SSN number straight away. At what point (if any) should I apply for a UK passport. We are going back to the UK in dec for a few weeks. Is it easier to just get the US passport and sort out the UK one further down the line?

Thank you

morpeth

My understanding helpful to register child's birth with British consulate for the future, but if it were me I would get the child's UK passport in the UK. My experience has been a lot faster and straightforward process.

Pulaski

There is likely no true "need" for a British passport until you/your child return to live in the UK. A US passport is required for all US citizens to enter and leave the US, but it is perfectly OK to visit the UK using a US passport even if you are a British citizen - a number of BE members do/ have done this, including me. So your child is unlikely to "need" a British passport so long as they live in the US.

Registering the birth with the British consulate is worth doing as it serves as a permanent record of your child's British citizenship.

BritInParis

Pulaski's advice is correct however if everyone else in the family only has British passports and you are resident in the US on a non-immigrant visa then I personally would be looking to obtain both passports for the new baby. Should you became citizens yourselves in the next five years then you can make an executive decision on whether to renew it or not.

MarylandNed

The consulates no longer handle registration of foreign births. It's now all done in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth

Jackson87

Thank you all for the helpful advice.