effi

I copied this over from the British Consulate page on Dual Nationality for children.

Children born in the United States to a father (or, if born after 31 December 1982 to either a father or a mother) who is a British citizen by birth, registration, naturalisation or settlement in the United Kingdom are British citizens by descent.

Minors who are United States citizens and possess a second nationality by birth or descent do not, under present legislation, stand to lose citizenship of the United States simply because they possess the second nationality. However, if the person concerned should, after reaching full age exercise certain rights or privileges connected with his second nationality, loss of U.S. citizenship may result.

It is considered advisable for parents not to take any steps which may be regarded under U.S. legislation, to be an act conducive to loss of U.S. citizenship. Therefore, it is recommended that parents of British children born in the United States obtain U.S. passports for their children. This will avoid raising doubts about their status as U.S. citizens, and at the same time, after visits abroad, ensure returnability to the United States. (For further information contact the U.S. State Department).

In respect of current United Kingdom law such children cannot lose the status of British citizenship without making a formal declaration of renunciation after reaching the age of eighteen years.

The Home Office announced that, with effect from 5 October 1998, children will be required to hold their own passports. Therefore, from that date children will no longer be included on a family member's British passport. We will include children on passports up until then.

Children already included on a British passport will not be affected until the holder's passport is replaced.

adamfdz

Sorry, but that is incorrect "the child has to be 18 before they can hold a British passport". You the parent can apply for a passport for the child, and on the home office form i have just filled out, both parents do have to sign, my wife is a USC.
The only place that can deal with this is the embassy in DC, the reason why is they send the forms to the home office in the UK, once a birth or adoption has been registered in DC. This is honestly a very easy thing to do, and as a proud Briton is something i want for my son. He is half American and half British.

BritSteve99

Interesting topic!

My daughter who was born in the UK has both UK and US birth certificates. A simple trip to the US consulate in London and the birth certificate was issued, and we then got a US passport for her, so she has both British and US passports.

For my two sons who were both born in the US, we sent the necessary forms and payment to the British Consulate to get them British birth certificates.

The reason we did this is to establish the birth rights of the children and make sure that they can get both British and US passports when they need them. We wanted the children to have a choice as to where they lived in the future, and two passports seemed to allow the best possibilities.

Now I am not so sure if the plan is going to work.

Steve

Taffyles

No that's not right Effi. They can hold a British passport, but a child who is a US citizen by birth should use its US passport to leave and re-enter the US. There is no decision to make to take dual citizenship. A child born in the US to a British parent has dual nationality automatically- they will have their British citizenship for life unless they formally renounce it in front of an official at a UK consulate.

Here's a link explaining it

http://www.britain-info.org/consular/dualnatc.asp

braddy

I dont know if you are male or female, but if you are a woman then your child will automatically have British Citizenship by virtue of you being British, however the same is not true if you are a male. You can register your childs birth with the British Embassy in Washington, but I never did this. My daughter has British Citizenship because I, her mother am British.

CharlieS

Taken from the above listed website so I assume that sex of the parent has no bearing.

Vicky88

Think there is some rule somewhere about the sex of the parent determining how far back citizenship can be claimed. My husband is a dual Australian/Brit by birth and holds a British passport, but something happened and his sister is unable to get a British passport.

Also knew someone in England who was unable to get a British passport even though think it was his mother was Scottish. If his father had been he could have had the citizenship.

Also think there is some law about how many generations citizenship can be claimed for. ie. if your are British born, your children are born US born they can get the British passport but if they have children born outside they don't get the passport but do get the right of abode.

Of course this could have all changed in the past few years so not sure how accurate my information is.

ELAINE LISS

I never knew about written consent from other parent when travelling. I have travelled extensively through Europe and Britain last 5 years on my own with kid. I was never asked for written permission but I did experience a bit of hassle at airports. I suppose when you think about it, I could have been taking her out without husband's permission, and never come back. Why don't they tell you this stuff. Is it an actual legal requirement?

gibbsrr

I do not believe this to be true, I hold dual nationality with the UK and had both passports before the age of 18...

ireland132

We are both British Citizens living in the US and we had our first child last week.

I know he is a US Citizen by birth and am aware of the steps needed to obtain his passport.

However, is there anything that I need to do at this stage to ensure he can have dual nationality, or at least have the choice.

Do I have to register his birth at the UK Consulate in Washington?

Pulaski

Your son does, and always will, have the right to a British passport. Period.

You can register his birth with the Embassy in DC, but even if you don't you can still apply for a passport for him at any time while he is a minor. OR, he can apply for himself when he is an adult, without time limit.