Registering Birth Outside Canada

[Autumnal 25]

My first child is due at the start of October. Chances are likely I will be in the U.S., rather than back in Vancouver. However, chances are good that we will need to travel with our baby across the border to visit family for the Christmas season. My child will be an automatic dual citizen (American, Canadian) by birth. My question is how I do this in Canada, and more importantly, how long does it take?

I know that registering a birth abroad at the American consulate in a foreign country is a piece of cake, and takes very little time. The registration of a Canadian born abroad is spelled out with less clarity on waiting times. I've seen instances of it taking up to 7 months.

Is it going to take that long to process? Anyone else with experience doing this?

[NikLR 13,220]

Found this... I hope its helpful.http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/birth-abroad

Processing time is 6 months according to the Canada immigration website. For a citizenship document.

Edited May 17, 2013 by NikiR

[NikLR 13,220]

Also just to note, you probably know but you do not have any Canadian health care. A lady from Australia recently had to pay $1.2 million dollars because she had her baby without health care in BC. Make sure you have travel insurance even though you're Canadian.

[Ms Hogan 295]

$1.2 million dollars? #######!?!? There must have been tons of complications going on for it to be that much.

And now that I have caught my breath again... ditto to what NikiR said.

[NikLR 13,220]

Of course there was. Lol. Here's the story from the Australian side.http://news.yahoo.com/australian-couple-1-million-hospital-bill-baby-born-080702717.html

And CBC http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/26/bc-australian-baby-bill.html

[NikLR 13,220]

I feel bad for them. Mostly because their travel insurance screwed them over. Makes us all read the fine print.

I worry about not having health insurance until I can get out on to hubs.

[VeeNDee 44]

Our child is due in mid October and we will also likely want to travel back to Canada for Christmas (and probably before that since we live pretty nearby). I am still trying to figure out what is all needed to cross the border. Since they are a US citizen at birth when born in the USA, I presume that a birth certificate should suffice for their ID as far as a land border crossing and that we only need a passport for crossing by plane. Is that correct? I have no idea how long it takes to get a birth certificate. Guessing it probably varies by state.

[Marilyn. 340]

Our child is due in mid October and we will also likely want to travel back to Canada for Christmas (and probably before that since we live pretty nearby). I am still trying to figure out what is all needed to cross the border. Since they are a US citizen at birth when born in the USA, I presume that a birth certificate should suffice for their ID as far as a land border crossing and that we only need a passport for crossing by plane. Is that correct? I have no idea how long it takes to get a birth certificate. Guessing it probably varies by state.

yeah I think up to a certain age they only need the BC for land crossings..

U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 15 or younger with parental consent will be allowed to cross the borders at land and sea entry points with certified copies of their birth certificates rather than passports.

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/qt/kids_passport.htm