Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
#16
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Living in the DC area I hesitate to register my American daughter with the British embassy because I do not want to unwittingly limit her future job prospects. Certain federal jobs are denied to applicants who have exercised citizen rights in another country such as voting, acquiring a passport, etc. I'm unsure if that includes actions taken without her consent such as by a parent but I'd rather she make an informed decision for herself when she is an adult.
#17
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Thanks, I am aware of all that. It doesn't change the fact that a copy can be ordered from the GRO for £9.25 the September of the year following registration. It is still a consular birth certificate because it is issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for a birth that happened overseas. It is exactly the same document that was previously issued locally by British embassies and consulates. That the staff who performed this registration are now longer based overseas is irrelevant to whether it can be called a consular birth certificate or not.
#18
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Living in the DC area I hesitate to register my American daughter with the British embassy because I do not want to unwittingly limit her future job prospects. Certain federal jobs are denied to applicants who have exercised citizen rights in another country such as voting, acquiring a passport, etc. I'm unsure if that includes actions taken without her consent such as by a parent but I'd rather she make an informed decision for herself when she is an adult.
https://www.gov.uk/register-a-birth
Also, if your daughter is a British citizen, she remains a British citizen whether or not you register her birth and whether or not she obtains a British passport.
It is true that possession of a valid non-US passport can cause issues in terms of obtaining security clearance - but so can just having the British citizenship (with or without registration or a passport).
Personally I think the benefits of having the foreign citizenship trumps any benefits of not having it. I certainly would not renounce my other citizenships just to obtain a US security clearance. But that's just my opinion (plus I'm not in a job that requires one) and your daughter may well think otherwise.
#19
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
And the security clearance process is almost certain to identify that fact.
#20
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
If it is such a problem that it will result in a failed security clearance then she will almost certainly have to renounce the foreign citizenship in question - that a parent registered her birth with said foreign government in question 20+ years previously would be irrelevant.
#21
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
If it is such a problem that it will result in a failed security clearance then she will almost certainly have to renounce the foreign citizenship in question - that a parent registered her birth with said foreign government in question 20+ years previously would be irrelevant.
However, how many people actually need security clearance to do their jobs? And, of those that do need it, having another citizenship isn't necessarily a barrier to obtaining it. It is dealt with on a case by case basis. And it's also possible (maybe even likely) that having British citizenship opens up more opportunities than having a security clearance.
Here's an interesting document on the subject:
https://careers.state.gov/uploads/8f...itizenship.pdf
#22
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Agreed, not least to travel and work visa-free in thirty-two countries from Iceland to Greece and from Finland to the Canary Islands.
#23
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
However, how many people actually need security clearance to do their jobs? And, of those that do need it, having another citizenship isn't necessarily a barrier to obtaining it. It is dealt with on a case by case basis. And it's also possible (maybe even likely) that having British citizenship opens up more opportunities than having a security clearance.
FWIW, our 2 children were aged 4 and 6 when we came over and became US citizens with US passports when they were teenagers. Now in their early 30's they both deemed it worthwhile to obtain UK Passports, mainly for the freedom to live, work and move around the EU should they wish to.
#24
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
As evidenced by Senator Ted Cruz who had no issues with his dual citizenship to become a Senator and privy, I'm sure, to plenty of confidential information as a US Senator. He only recently renounced his Canadian citizenship in his run for President. I don't believe a US President is barred from being a dual citizen as long as he is a "natural born US citizen". I don't know the local country laws but Obama may hold dual nationality due to his father being Kenyan, and Senator McCain Panamanian citizenship having been born in that country.
FWIW, our 2 children were aged 4 and 6 when we came over and became US citizens with US passports when they were teenagers. Now in their early 30's they both deemed it worthwhile to obtain UK Passports, mainly for the freedom to live, work and move around the EU should they wish to.
FWIW, our 2 children were aged 4 and 6 when we came over and became US citizens with US passports when they were teenagers. Now in their early 30's they both deemed it worthwhile to obtain UK Passports, mainly for the freedom to live, work and move around the EU should they wish to.
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 5
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
I am British by decent - If i register my son as British they will not automaticaly get citizenship; however, will they qualify for special visa status such a "Right of Abode" ?
thanks!
thanks!
#26
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Registering them now provides a permanent record of their British citizenship a copy of which can be ordered by anyone at any time for £9.25 from the GRO. Proving British citizenship in order to obtain a British passport gets more difficult the older a person gets particularly once they become an adult. Others have given you some good examples so early registration is very helpful if you want to get them British passports in the next twenty years or so. They can also take advantage of this in later life, for study, work, extended holidays, retirement or they may ignore it altogether. Or it may prove very useful to your grandchildren in 50 or 60 years time. In any case if you do it now then it's done. If you leave it then it may never get done or the rules will change or the option to register will be taken away altogether.
#27
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Registering them now provides a permanent record of their British citizenship a copy of which can be ordered by anyone at any time for £9.25 from the GRO. Proving British citizenship in order to obtain a British passport gets more difficult the older a person gets particularly once they become an adult. Others have given you some good examples so early registration is very helpful if you want to get them British passports in the next twenty years or so. They can also take advantage of this in later life, for study, work, extended holidays, retirement or they may ignore it altogether. Or it may prove very useful to your grandchildren in 50 or 60 years time. In any case if you do it now then it's done. If you leave it then it may never get done or the rules will change or the option to register will be taken away altogether.
cheers.
#28
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Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
If your son wasn't born in the UK, I don't believe he is entitled to citizenship since you are British by descent. It doesn't look as though he'll have any right of abode.
You have right of abode if all the following apply:
one of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted
you were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982
you didn’t stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982
one of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted
you were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982
you didn’t stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982
#29
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
Wouldn't the son have right of abode if the son was born in certain (not all) Commonwealth countries?
#30
Living the NYC dream
Joined: May 2016
Location: New York
Posts: 151
Re: Is there any benefit to registering your American kids as British
If you're going to register, you might as well apply for a British passport. I did it for my 6-year-old earlier this year and it was easy and really fast.