An additional question regarding SS# post below

Twinklestar7

The post below had me wondering about the time limit for applying for passports/SS#s.  Can you do it whenever the time suits you or is there a time limit from the birth that you must get it done by?  TIA!

kelly321

According to the DoS you have until your child is 18 to file a consular report of a birth abroad

https://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html

So my guess is that that also applies to passports/SSNs that depend on that report for you to get them. But I'm also guessing that you're going to want to travel to the US before your child turns 18, and for that you'll at least need a US passport. And while you're doing that, you might as well file for the SSN at the same time. Although I was speaking to my experience in Frankfurt in the last post, from what I've heard it's just as easy to get both at the same time at consulates in other countries.

Twinklestar7

Thanks for the information.  I haven't applied for an American passport yet but she has a passport in her birth country- are you supposed to have a US passport to travel internationally if you are American but baby was born in another country?  Or can birth country passport work even if mothers passport is not the same of the birth country of the baby? I hope that made sense. Thanks again!

kelly321

Twinklestar7:

Thanks for the information.  I haven't applied for an American passport yet but she has a passport in her birth country- are you supposed to have a US passport to travel internationally if you are American but baby was born in another country?  Or can birth country passport work even if mothers passport is not the same of the birth country of the baby? I hope that made sense. Thanks again!

If you travel to the US, an American citizen is supposed to travel on an American passport. Anywhere else you want to travel it doesn't matter. If you're traveling to the US on an American passport and bringing your daughter with you, then they will know that she should probably be a dual citizen and need an American passport, too. When flying out of Germany I once showed DD's German passport and my American one, and the airline (Lufthansa) told me I needed to use her US one since the flight was to the US. It was no problem since we had one, but I don't know what would happen if you didn't.

Twinklestar7

Im very glad for this information. I was thinking it was fine to travel to the USA as long as she has a passport- that just being citizen of her birth country would be enough- good to know it should be US-specific one when going to the US!  Thank you again!

Twinklestar7

mrscjmb9410:

Yea...DS had to use his US passport when going to the States, and had to use his UK passport when we returned to England. Even though I have the correct visa for the UK, DS is not listed on it since he is a British citizen and therefore would not be allowed to enter the UK without his UK passport.

Similarly, he would not be allowed into the US with only his UK passport - if he was travelling alone with me. If we were with DH, it wouldn't be a problem, apparently. 

Very interesting.  I guess it sorta makes sense though- to make sure the kids are traveling with the parents of the same passport- that shows to immigration they belong together. Different passports might raise questions I guess?  

frlcb

mrscjmb9410:

Yea...DS had to use his US passport when going to the States, and had to use his UK passport when we returned to England. Even though I have the correct visa for the UK, DS is not listed on it since he is a British citizen and therefore would not be allowed to enter the UK without his UK passport.

Similarly, he would not be allowed into the US with only his UK passport - if he was travelling alone with me. If we were with DH, it wouldn't be a problem, apparently. 

This is actually only half correct. The US requires a US citizen to enter and exit the US on their US passport, the UK does not. We have entered the UK on my kids US passport (long story, even though they have UK passports as well) and it is not an issue. We have British friends who live in the US, kids born here, never applied for their kids UK passports, and they travel multiple times a year with their parents (who ONLY have UK passports) to the UK and have never had an issue entering on their US passport.

I realize your point was in reference to the visa aspect of it, which is a different situation.

https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/7043/do-i-have-to-enter-the-uk-on-my-uk-passport 

Also if your husband traveled in to the US with your son on a UK passport that would technically be illegal. 

AmericanInOz

if you are entitled to a US passport, you have to enter on it or you can be fined - that's my understanding, it doesn't matter what parent you enter with (US citizen or not)

so dd has a US passport to enter the US, and an Aussie passport to enter Australia. Since we live here, she'd need either an Aussie passport, or a visa in her US passport in order to enter the country.

Twinklestar7

Interesting....from everyones replies, it sounds best to just travel with both passports on hand, and give the correct one at the correct country when customs asks.   Thanks again everyone for the links and information!

AbuDhabiMommy

You might want to check with the country that you are living in and visa situations. I know that we needed to file for the passport fairly quickly to meet the timeframe for her residency visa and Emirates ID (we are in the UAE). My employer would not continue to cover her insurance after the New Year without her visa...