Page 1 of 1

Dual Nationality for my son

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:11 pm
by Redvers84
Hello forum,

Let me just get this one thing off my chest - I am so LOST!

I am a British citizen, with an American wife and an American son. He is 3 years old, born May 1st, 2009.

My wife and I are going through a lengthly visa application process for me to go over there. I send money, but her employment and schedule is causing grief and havoc for our son (think 7am mornings, all day in a fitness centre "temp" daycare, and 10pm bedtimes for a 3 year old) 6 days a week. I am a screenwriter and author, so I work from home, so here in England it'll be a far easier, less hectic life for him.

My wife and I agree that the best thing for him would be to get dual nationality and come to England for the next few years until my visa is sorted. Plus, with my entire family tree on this side of the pond it'll make extended travel and stays in the future easier.

I just cannot seem to get a straight answer from any government website or call centre as to which form.

I think I narrowed it down to:

? Service MN1 ?

But the opening guidelines make it seem as though he has British Nationality (by descent) - guidelines state:

British citizenship may descend to one generation born abroad (I am British, son was born abroad). So a child born abroad to a parent who is British otherwise than by descent (I was born in the UK) will automatically be British by descent. The exception is ... irrelevant, he was born in 2009, not before 2006.

Unless I am simply reading it as wrong as can be. I may be a writer, but reading this government jargon is baffling me.

I generally find forums like this positive places of help and support, and believe me there is a little boy in America with a very difficult life right now who would really benefit from being in England with me.

Thank you for your time.

/Red

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:18 pm
by Jambo
It seems that your son is British from birth. There is no application which needs to be made. If you wish, just apply for a British passport for him (check the nearest consulate website for details how).

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:21 pm
by Redvers84
Jambo wrote:It seems that your son is British from birth. There is no application which needs to be made. If you wish, just apply for a British passport for him (check the nearest consulate website for details how).
Thanks for the reply. It's all very confusing. I can't seem to get straight answers from any government website or phone service, and I feel my question is really quite simple.

I am British. My wife is American. Our son was born in America, so is American, on May 1st, 2009.

He needs to come to England to be with me for a time, so he needs a British passport/dual nationality to acquire?...

Anyway, I have got the number of the British Consulate in America for my wife to call, she called, and an automated voice recording redirected her to the ukba gov website, which offered an email address, which - when written to - spat back a generic, no answer response, so here we are back at square one and hopelessly lost as what to do...

Can anyone advise further?

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:35 am
by Jambo
No need to register. Just apply for a passport.
See Passport in the USA.

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:06 pm
by JAJ
Also recommended to obtain a consular birth certificate:
http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-b ... istration/

Is your wife planning to move to the United Kingdom as well?