If you are an ex-pat expecting a baby in Ukraine, get ready and don’t forget to breath. You’ll need to fill out paperwork, and pay a fee for the privilege of registering the child as a foreigner.
The process is similar for all Western countries, but call your consulate to be sure. When a child is born to an American, the parents must fill out two applications, one to report the birth and get the baby a social security number, and the other to get the globe-trotter a passport. Each costs $40 and the tot must be present at the embassy while the application is being filed.
The Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad is a straight-forward, two-page form that must be filled out in its entirety.
The passport application is a bit more bizarre. ТYouУ on the application is not you, but rather the tyke. Furthermore, the childХs height and hair color must be recorded, although such information is subject to rather rapid change. Two passport photos of the babe, regardless of the fact that all babies look alike, must accompany the application. Do not sign the application form until you are in the presence of a consular officer.
When both parents are U.S. citizens, the following must be presented with the applications: the birth certificate of the baby, proof of citizenship (a passport) and proof of marriage.
If only one parent is a U.S. citizen, the American parent must additionally prove that he or she lived in the United States for five years, and at least two of those years must have been after the age of 14. Any documents, from tax returns to school transcripts and criminal records, are sufficient to verify this.
If the couple is not legally married, the process is a bit more difficult, especially if the woman is Ukrainian, for obvious reasons. In fact, its not a bad idea to get hitched before the birth, if only to simplify the process of citizenship. Getting a divorce, especially in Ukraine, is ultimately easier than proving the kid is half Yankee.
However, for those opposed to marriage on principle, the baby can be registered as an American. If the father is listed on the birth certificate, that is almost sufficient. The consulate also asks that the couple provide some evidence of a pre-existing relationship, such as a photo or love letters, and then the kid will be considered a full-blooded American.
Jake Rudnitsky
