Report of Birth Abroad in Accra

[HowardandFlorence 0]

We have a beautiful baby girl born last November. What a blessing!

We decided that our first child would be born in Ghana because Florence has very good family support there. She traveled from Alaska to Accra last August, 30 weeks into her term. All went well and our daughter was born safe and sound.

I am the US Citizen. I traveled to Ghana when our daughter was three weeks old to visit and to assist with the paperwork. Don't bother trying to make an appointment with the embassy via e-mail or postal mail. I tried that and received no response. I finally called them and was told to make an appointment online through their website. That worked. The three of us went to the US Embassy on Dec 5 to file for our daughter's Report of Birth Abroad and first passport. We had the following items with us:

for report of birth abroad

completed form DS-2029

completed form DS-5507

certified marriage license

proof of termination of prior marriage

valid US passport for US Citizen parent

certified copy of US birth certificate for US Citizen parent

evidence of physical presence in the United States for at least five years

child's birth certificate

$100 fee (Cedi equivalent)

for child's US passport

completed form DS-11

two passport photos

$105 fee (Cedi equivalent)

The embassy visit took several hours but went well. The consular official carefully examined the passport photo and compared it to our daughter's appearance. Florence had a new Ghana passport issued in her married name. The consular official wanted to see the K1 visa and US admission stamp in her OLD passport. I scanned that and sent the image via e-mail when I returned to the US. Florence made a second trip to the embassy with the requested documents on Dec 10 and was given a ticket to return on Dec 27. She returned on that date and picked up the Report of Birth Abroad and baby's first passport. The overall experience at the embassy was OK.

Mother and baby traveled to the US in early February and are doing well. Florence complains a little about the Alaska cold but is adapting.

As they were leaving, an official from Ghana Immigration wanted to know why our child had a US passport but no Ghana visa. Florence was able to manage the situation without being fined or delayed but it was tense. A Ghana passport for our child would have avoided the problem.

If your child travels internationally with only one parent, it is a good idea to have a consent letter from the other parent. Florence had one. No one asked for it but you never know..

[kamson 1]

Congratulations~!!! That is beautiful news! WONDERFUL!!