Reporting the Birth of a Child Born in the UK to a U.S. Citizen
If your child has a claim to U.S. citizenship, it will be necessary for the U.S. citizen parent to execute an application for a "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" before a consular officer. This Report is official evidence of citizenship issued to a person under the age of 18 who was born abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) and acquired citizenship at birth. At the time you report the birth of your child, you may also submit an application for his or her U.S. passport. We recommend that you report your child's birth as soon as possible after his/her birth. It is not possible to register a child over the age of 18.
The child must accompany the parent to the Embassy. If the child was born out of wedlock and the father is the U.S. citizen parent, the child's mother must also appear at the appointment.
Note: If only one parent is a U.S. citizen, and that parent is not presently in this country, please contact the Embassy for further instructions.
Application Requirements
Please bring the following to your appointment:
- British Birth Certificate: Please bring the child's
long-form birth certificate,
which is issued by the local authorities. This document shows both parents' names.
- Marriage Certificate: Original certificate issued by the local authorities.
If married in the United States, please provide a state certificate issued by the
civil authorities.
- Evidence of Parents' Citizenship and Identity: Parents' current U.S. passports
must be submitted at time of application.
Note: Military members in active duty status may present
the following evidence if not in possession of a US passport:
- U.S. birth certificate issued by the state Vital Statistics Office bearing a
raised state seal and showing a file date no later than one year from the date of
birth; or
- certificate of naturalization; or
- Consular Report of Birth (form FS-240 or FS545), if parent was born outside
the United States; and
- U.S. military ID card.
- Divorce Decrees/Death Certificates: It will be necessary to show termination of
all prior marriages. Note: If divorced in the UK, please submit Decree Absolute
and Decree Nisi.
- Form DS-2029: Application for Consular
Report of Birth ; see also
completion notes for DS-2029.
- Page 2 of the the DS-2029 is an application
for a Social Security Number Card for
your child if he/she is under the age of 5 at the time of application.
Do not sign the form until told to do so
- it must be executed in the Embassy. The application will
be processed by the Federal Benefits Unit of this Embassy. It is important to note
that your names as on file with the Social Security Administration must match the
names used on the application for a number for your child.
- Your appointment confirmation sheet. Please see "Method of Application" below for
more information on making an appointment;
- In addition to the documents listed above, you may be required to provide
proof of your physical presence
in the U.S. before the child's birth. Please submit old passports,
if available, as evidence. If unavailable, other evidence, such as school transcripts or
employment records, may be accepted.
- Fees: The application fee is U.S. $65.00 (see also:
accepted payment methods)
Method of Application
You are required to apply for the passport in person at this office. An appointment is necessary. To book an appointment, please follow this link;
For instructions on applying for your child's first passport (which can be done at the same time as registering the birth), please follow this link.
Return of Documents after Processing
U.S. citizens who appear in person will have their documents returned to them by the Embassy's contracted courier, Visa Delivery Services (VDS), once processing has been completed. This service can be purchased from the VDS representative in the lobby of American Citizen Services on the day you visit the Embassy. VDS will give you an unique Tracking ID number which can be used to track the progress of your passport from the Embassy by using their website. Detailed information on VDS services is available from their website at www.visadelivery.com.
Disclaimer
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