Getting a British passport is slightly more complicate than it used to be before 9/11 so you need to be patient and ask advice from the British Embassy or Consulate nearest you.
My children have dual U.S./British citizenship and over the last several decades we've had forms and documents to sort out so that both governments are satisfied. One child even lived in Toronto for a year to complicate things further. Something you need to be aware of if you do decide to travel-
- if you are a U.S. citizen, the U.S. govt. insists you travel into the U.S. on an American passport
- if you are a U.K. citizen, the U.K. govt. wants you to enter the U.K. on a British passport
therefore, if you are going to do some travelling you might need 2 valid passports
If you've been formally adopted that may change/complicate the situation even further therefore what you can find online may not apply to your case.
It can be very confusing to speak to an official on the telephone trying to get your queries answered and understanding the answers and information they give you so aside from reading taking notes of the conversation it might be a good idea to write out an outline of your case along the lines of-
1) I was born on [date] at [place]
2) my mother was born on [date] at [place]- I have/can get her birth certificate
3) my father was born on [date] at [place]- I have/can get his birth certificate? whether or not parents were married to each other when you were born might also be relevant
4) my parents died [dates and places]
5) I arrived in the U.S. on [date and place]
6) I was/was not adopted
7) I am/am not a U.S. citizen
8 ) if you have/had a U.S. passport- have the number(s) & dates
etc.
There should be details for ordering a Scottish birth certificates on Scotland's People website (link given earlier)
KGarrad - I was never legally adopted, I was just kind of "taken in" and raised. I kept my last name (Kenney). That also is why I believe my mom's details are needed.
California Dreamin - I live in Pennsylvania. I have had a US passport for as long as I can remember.. it says "Place of Birth - United Kingdom" on it like I stated in the original post. I travel every chance I get! Getting details about my father will seem to be much more difficult unfortunately. His place of birth is just Germany - Federal Republic on my birth certificate. I don't know what year or anything. ""See my "Edit 3" at the bottom of my post.""
He was in the US military (he was adopted by a US family). I imagined I would only need information about my mother since she was the 100% Scottish one. The only reason I know so much about her, is because she was married to my half-sisters father before they divorced and my mom met my dad. I was "taken in" (not adopted) by him. So I was taken in by my half-sister's (same mother, different father) father.
It's a very confusing situation!
Aghadowey - I was never formally adopted (kept my parents last name). As per your outline -
1 ) I have those details.
2 ) I know the year and place since the first poster posted it, will have to figure out how to get the full details.
3 ) My fathers place of birth just says "Germany - Federal Republic" (he passed when I was just 5 as well, I know even littler about him). See my "Edit 3" at the bottom of my post.
4 ) I know the town I lived in, not so much the exact dates of both.
5 ) No idea.
6 ) Was not adopted, taken in.
7 ) Yes.
8 ) Yes, I have a current up to date US passport
Edit: Am I wrong in the assumption that because I have a NHS card / number (which is also on my 2 birth certificates).. that I'm automatically a citizen? It just kind of seems that way logically in my mind.. but I could be confused at how things work.
Edit 2: I know people say to set up a meeting at a British Consulate, however I can't figure out how to do that! It's hard to find a phone number, and no e-mail I can find helps much. I live in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (right outside Philadelphia) and the consulate info is tough
Edit 3: I have found a document in one of my folders. "Report of Casualty" (Department of the Air Force Washington D.C.) that lists my fathers date of birth and place (just says Germany). It also has his date / place of passing.
