British born American Citizen Children - UK Status Query

[asafmohammad]

Question:
I acquired British Citizenship this year in June; however, at the time of birth of two of my children in the UK one in 2007 and other in 2012 I held British National (Overseas) status. My wife and both of my children are American citizens.

I need help to decide how they could remain/join me in the UK.

(1) Could I apply for both of my children's registration as a British Citizen considering they already have American citizenship which we like to keep? We are not interested to have dual nationality; that is both British/American, our interest is to simply stay in the UK on legal status and we wouldn't want to give up American citizenship.

(2) Should we apply for VAF4A for my wife and both children?


Background:
(1) I've lived in the UK for about 10 years on British National (Overseas) status. Please note BN(O) status doesn't exempt me from immigration control so I have managed legal status in the UK under different categories such as student, work permit dependent, graduate scheme, visitor etc.

(2) My wife, who is an American citizen, has lived with me in the UK using similar status like mine.

(3) We have two children one born in 2007 and other in 2012 and both have acquired American citizenship.

[vinny]

Where are they now?

Easier to register the children for British citizenships. US citizenships unaffected.

[asafmohammad]

They are currently in the UK; however, on a visitor status. For this reason I don't think I could make in-country VAF4a application. Since birth children have spent pretty much all of their time in the UK other than seasonal holidays abroad.

If they have to file vaf4a form they would be applying for a visa from New York. I am keen to know if children could somehow benefit from my british status and their birth.

[vinny]

register the children for British citizenships.

[asafmohammad]

Thank you Vinny for the link. Even though based on the information you provided British Citizenship is an option we might like to go with ROA (that is certificate of entitlement) route simply because application fee for this is far more cheaper than Citizenship application. I am not wrong saying we could apply for either right? That is, I became citizen quite recent after children birth; however, that doesn't disqualify children for ROA?

[vinny]

ROA requires registration first, if the child is not yet British. Uk-born child is British if you had ILR/British citizenship at the time of child's birth.