As opposed to a naturalized citizen of the United States, Hamish was an American from the moment of her birth. However unlike babies born IN America, there was still some paperwork to do.
This morning the three of us went to the US Embassy to get her paperwork in order: to apply for her Consular Report of Birth Abroad, her social security card, and to get the girl a passport so she can come home with us next month.
We had no doubt that all of the paperwork would be processed, but we were on pins and needles nonetheless. Because along with all of the forms and copies--in duplicate--of our passports and marriage license and her birth certificate, we needed a passport photo.
Should I remind you of the regulations for acceptable US passport photos? From the State Department's website:
If you are applying for a U.S. Passport, you must provide one (1) photo. Your passport photo must be:
- In color
- Printed on photo quality paper 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
- Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (between 25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
So, on the advice of friends, we started trying to take passport photos immediately. We now have many, many photos of baby-head-on-white-background.
After three weeks of trying, we had three possibly-acceptable options so we went today with crossed fingers that we wouldn't be sent back to try again.
They didn't pick our favorite, but they did accept one:
Whoo hoo, Hamish will have a passport in 7-10 business days!!
Embassy :)