As an American mom living in England, I’ve been through the process of securing a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and American passport for both of my children. While it’s a crucial step in ensuring their U.S. citizenship, it’s not without its challenges – and each experience can be very different! Here, I’ll share a brief overview of the process along with some personal insights to help you navigate it with the least amount of stress as possible.
If you’re wondering what a CRBA is, it is proof of citizenship for American children under the age of 18 who are born outside of the United States to an American parent (or parents). It’s a key document for getting your child’s American passport.
When my first son was born, the process was surprisingly smooth. I followed the instructions on the U.S. Embassy’s website, gathered all the required documents, and booked and attended our appointment at the US Embassy in London. The staff were helpful, and everything went through without a hitch.
However, my experience with my second son was much more stressful! Despite having gone through it before, I encountered an unexpected issue: I didn’t have my high school transcripts. While this hadn’t been a problem the first time around, it turned out to be a sticking point with the consular officer we saw that day. After a bit of panic and an interview with a consular officer under oath, we managed to resolve it – but it was a reminder that the process can vary depending on who you get on the day.
To apply for your child’s CRBA & first American passport, the process is actually incredibly straightfoward, and full details of what you need to do can be found on the US Embassy’s webite:
- Gather necessary documents like your child’s UK birth certificate, your marriage certificate, proof of your U.S. citizenship, and evidence of time spent in the U.S (they seem to care most about your high school transcripts so make sure you have that!).
- Complete the CRBA application form (DS-2029) and passport application form (DS-11) and pay the applicable fees.
- Schedule an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in London or a consulate.
- Attend the appointment with your child and pay the applicable fees (if you haven’t already paid them online ahead of time).
- Wait for the CRBA and passport to be processed. When approved and processed they’ll mail the CRBA and passport to you.
From my experience, having done this twice now, here are a few tips to make the process as smooth as possible:
- Start Early: Don’t leave this until the last minute. Although they release appointment dates in blocks, they can book up quickly, and unexpected hiccups (like missing documents) can delay things. Have an idea of when you want to go, and keep checking every day until an appointment opens up on the day you want.
- Double-Check Your Documents: Even if you’ve done this before, read the requirements carefully and ensure you have everything, including proof of physical presence in the U.S. (like school transcripts).
- Arrive a little early: You’ll need to go through TSA-like security before entering the building, and depending on how many people are there it can get a little busy!
- And also be prepared to wait: When you arrive, you’re given a ticket number to wait and be called when it’s your turn. Even if your appointment is at a specific time, there is no guarantee you’ll actually be seen and might be in for a bit of wait depending on how many people are there, the reason they’re there, etc. But ultimately the whole process should be done in an hour or so.
- Stay Calm: If something goes wrong, don’t panic. Most issues can be resolved with some patience and follow-up.
Getting your child’s CRBA and American passport is a big milestone, and while the process can feel daunting, it’s worth it to secure their U.S. passport/citizenship if you want them to have it. If you have any questions or want to share your own experience, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram (@theiramericanmum), where I talk a lot about my experiences as an expat mom.
