So yesterday, Adam, Simon and I went over the the US Consulate here in Belfast to present Adam’s credentials to prove he’s a US Citizen. This included 3 different forms to fill out, background information on me to prove that I lived in the US for 5 years before Adam was born and $150 in fees. The goal by the end of the meeting was:
- Consular Statement of Birth Abroad
- US Passport
- Social Security Number
Me, being a PA by profession, was prepared. I had all the documents in a lovely plastic envelope. I had a check list with everything checked off. I was ready.
So I am up at the counter and as the lady is going through the papers I noticed that the pictures that I knew I had stapled to the passport application were not there. I mentioned that to her and she said ‘The application isn’t completely filled out either’ and I realized I had grabbed the wrong application. I had started one, messed up my handwriting and so used the second one I had. And I must have put the good one in the ‘save in case I need it pile’ rather than the ‘take to the Consulate pile’.
The lady said, ‘well go ahead and finish filling this application out.’
So I go back to sit with Simon and tell him what has happened, practically crying and feeling sick to my stomach. There was no way we’d have Adam’s passport soon enough to go home for Christmas if the application wasn’t completed that day.
Then Simon said, ‘Wait, we each have one of his pictures in our wallets from his UK application.’
And I said ‘They’re too small, but I will show them to her.’
So I go back up with the completed application and showed her the pictures and she said, ‘Sure, we can paste it onto a piece of white paper! These are very good pictures!’
Oh thank God!
So she told me to take a seat, after taking my $150, and that the Consular would be right with me.
So we waited. And were called back up about 10 minutes later. All was in order! Simon and I swore that all facts on all applications were true to the best of our knowledge and signed our names. Then the Consular said ‘You went to Iowa?’
‘Yes.’ I replied.
‘I was at the Writer’s Workshop from 92 – 94! So you were there for the flood, yes?’
‘Oh yeah!’
Now that’s proof once again that its a small world.
Consular went away and counter lady came back. Told me that the documents for the Passport would go to Washington to the State Department and then come back to the Consulate. I would then get both the Passport and the Statement of Birth by Royal Mail (pre-paid priority envelope) in about 10 days.
Social Security paperwork has to go to London. That could take 6 – 8 weeks until we get his Social Security Number. Anyone else see something wrong with it taking less time to go from Consulate to D.C. to Consulate to me in less time than from Consulate to London to me? Yeah, me too.
All in all except for the OH SHIT moment, it was very easy. Everyone was very nice.
Simon and I both agree that it was sort of like waiting at the bank. Only with less comfortable chairs.
And Adam is now officially half British and half American. He has the passports (or will soon) to prove it.
The last two times I had someone ask me about Iowa they too mentioned the floods (one was there at the time, one had a girlfriend there). I think besides the football team doing so well the floods are what The U is known for.