EEA vs non-EEA national children for EUTR

[Yank.IE]

We are moving to ROI from USA, exercising EU treaty rights as a self-employed EEA person, along with accompanying non-EEA family members.

One Parent is a UK citizen, other (me) US citizen. We have 4 children, all under 16, who are dual UK/US citizens.

However, only one of them has a UK Passport (all four have US passports).

We've been planning a stop in the UK, prior to traveling to ROI to settle, and are planning to get the kids UK passports at that time (in the past- our oldest got hers in less than a week, via rush processing at Peterborough - it was fairly easy).

However- considering flying directly into Dublin instead- which would mean three of the children would be entering as accompanying non-EEA nationals. It might then be some time before we get around to getting the three children's first UK passports issued.

Looking for feedback on any significant trade-offs we are making, by not making the extra effort to get UK passports for all the kids, prior to entering the ROI.

[IntegratedMigrant]

You could easily get the kids UK passports through UK embassy/consular service in USA. Few documents have to be submitted and it takes only a few weeks to process

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

I can't see their being problems entering Ireland given that they hold US passports.

The children are EU citizens. It's simply a matter of proving that if required.

[wiggsy]

I can't see their being problems entering Ireland given that they hold US passports.

The children are EU citizens. It's simply a matter of proving that if required.

not only that, but their birth certificate will prove they are the family member of an EU citizen, and that you are married to an eu citizen, (marriage cert is proof)... this gives you the same rights as the eu citizen whilst s/he is excersising treaty rights... (IE: can work etc)

[Yank.IE]

You could easily get the kids UK passports through UK embassy/consular service in USA. Few documents have to be submitted and it takes only a few weeks to process

It actually takes at least 6 weeks for a first time passport. When combined with leadtime for advanced purchase of tickets, we don't have time.

EUsmileWEallsmile / wiggsy -

I agree- I couldn't find any significant reason it would make a difference either. At least, not enough of a difference that we might want to first make a special side trip to the UK, solely to get their passports (and all the extra travel/lodging that would entail: particularly since there are currently some very low priced one-way tickets straight into dublin).

Maybe less likely to get overly questioned on entry?

More straightforward for school registration or medical cards?

After entry, we'd have to apply for EU1's for all the kids if we say they are here as non-EEA family members. If they had UK passports we wouldn't need to do that. That's one thing that would be different.

I checked timelines on applying for a first UK passport from within ROI- looks like 6 weeks+ there as well. Plus- you have to send in their US passports with the application (which means you can't do it at the same time as the EU1 apps...).

Anyway- I just threw this question out to see if anyone had a definitive argument towards getting the passports first.