Newborn living in US with dual citizenship (and only foreign passport) - how to travel?

[danielevans]

Hi there,

My three-month old daughter was born in the US and is living here with her parents (mom is American, dad is British). We've applied for British and US passports, but only the British one has arrived (it was issued by the consulate in DC). We need to travel to a foreign country within the next few weeks, and we think that it is unlikely that the US one will arrive in time.

I have a number of concerns that I hope you can help me with. First, she doesn't have any sort of US Arrival/Departure card in her British passport, never having left the USA. Second, when we return from abroad, I'm concerned that she will have to enter the US with her British passport, and thereby come into the country as a 90-day tourist on the Visa Waiver Program (despite being a US citizen, born on US soil). This may raise all sorts of immigration problems.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

Cheers,
Dan

[raevsky]

She needs a uS passport, all your concerns are irrelevant.
You can order one at a passport agency, it takes about 1-2 days if the date of travel is close.

[danielevans]

She needs a uS passport, all your concerns are irrelevant.
You can order one at a passport agency, it takes about 1-2 days if the date of travel is close.

Thanks, yes, I agree that a US passport is the best bet. My concern is that it won't arrive in time before our trip. They're currently quoting 4-6 weeks for delivery, but we're scheduled to leave in 3 weeks.

Any ideas?

[raevsky]

Get it at a passport agency. If you have tickets within 2 weeks, they will prepare passport right at the spot.

[danielevans]

Get it at a passport agency. If you have tickets within 2 weeks, they will prepare passport right at the spot.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. We've already submitted the postal application, sadly using the non-expedited method (4-6 weeks).

[raevsky]

I am not sure but you might be able to cancel this application at the passport agency if the passport has not been mailed yet.
I have 2 other suggestions:
1. Delay the trip
2. Pay $500 at the border for not having a pssport

Is the UK passport she already has an individual passport of the child? Or is it a group passport for her and her UK citizen parent?
If it is a group passport, then everything is OK already.

[cafeconleche]

Call the passport hotline and explain your situation. If they're not helpful, take your application ID (which I think you can get from the online status check) to a passport center closest to you ( http://travel.state.gov/passport/npi...ncies_913.html ). Try to make an appointment, but if you can't, you'll probably be allowed in anyway with proof of imminent travel. Explain your situation to them, and they should help you.

[König]

Daniel,

I would follow Cafeonleche's suggestion to call the passport centre and explain the situation. If your travel is within 2 weeks, they usually expedite the application even without an additional $60 fee. Your travel is within 3 weeks, so for the next week, I would just check the status on-line because it may change soon. If the status changes to "final stages", then you are likely to receive your daughter's passport within several days. They always estimate 4+ weeks for regular application, but many people get is sooner.

[danielevans]

Daniel,

I would follow Cafeonleche's suggestion to call the passport centre and explain the situation. If your travel is within 2 weeks, they usually expedite the application even without an additional $60 fee. Your travel is within 3 weeks, so for the next week, I would just check the status on-line because it may change soon. If the status changes to "final stages", then you are likely to receive your daughter's passport within several days. They always estimate 4+ weeks for regular application, but many people get is sooner.

Thanks hugely for all your responses, everyone. I'll contact them and see what they say!