Kesspru:
I am presently in mew Jersey. Trying to apply for baby’s passport. No head way yet.

Coriander45351:
Good day house. Pls what is the average time for getting a baby's passport after birth in Virginia presently. Appreciate any information i can get.

Zfunky:


You can apply for new passport in Lagos
Using the baby’s birthday certificate
Kentucky.
I am not categorically stating that you can get a new passport at the us embassy in Lagos. I checked their website and it say renewals for minors, nothing about a fresh passport, I know they are making exceptions for people who travelled during Covid. I have no information about this cause I don’t know anyone who have used this route. I dropped this option because I am not sure if FIRST timers are given a us passport in Lagos.

And, no you can not travel with ETC alone, ( I may be wrong though but I highly doubt you can) but I know this exception (ETC alone) was made for people during the covid lockdown period. Every individual including babies must travel with a valid passport.

Having SSN is not compulsory if you do not have one, however if you already applied in the hospital and you are expecting it, given that the processing time for a us passport is now lengthy, there is no guarantee that when they get to your application and try to verify if truly the LO doesn’t have an SSN, what if by then it has been issued? It states on their website that if you do not declare your SSN and it was later discovered that you have one, your application can be delayed or denied and you even pay a penalty fee.
But i think the lengthy processing time for a us passport is a temporary issue, I believe that by September/October when this rush period is over the processing times will reduce again, maybe not to the Pre-pandemic period, because before mid June, expedited used to be 4 to 6weeks and routine 10 to 12 weeks, summer period made it sky rocket to 12 weeks for expedited and 18 weeks for routine.

For birth certificate, I think it depends on your state. I did a walk-in for this and collected it immediately,

Chriscero:
Hello House,

Wifey and I gave birth to our daughter in the US in Q1 2021 and I want to share a few tips 'cos we benefitted so much from the experience of others here. We travelled on B1/B2 visas and the baby bump was very visible. Wifey's legs were hurting too much right from Nigeria so she was on a wheelchair to help with the pain. Ironically, it prioritised us and we were able to board the aircraft and even pass through security faster.

We travelled straight to Atlanta via Delta Air and from Atlanta to Houston. The drilling in Atlanta no be here o! We were asked to go for the secondary screening but I was fully prepared for the questions that came. The CBP officer took a quick look at wifey sitting in the wheelchair with our baby bump and asked, what are you here for?

Ans: We are here for medical reasons.
CBP: And what is the medical reason?
Ans: My wife is pregnant and we want her to put to bed in the US.
CBP: That can't be done in Nigeria?
Ans: It can and we have actually tried in the past. However, our Nigerian doctor refered us to a Doc. in the US to better manage the pregnancy since my wife has peculiar medical needs.
CBP: Any document supporting that?
Ans: Yes, showed him.
CBP: What is the name of the US Doc?
Ans. Told him.
CBP: Is he expecting you?
Ans: Yes?
CBP: Any letters?
Ans: Yes. And showed him.
CBP: Have you made any payments for your medical bills?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: Where will you be staying?
Ans: I told him and showed him evidence of payment.
We did not want any family drama with relations so we paid for a commercial apartment for the whole 3 months wifey will be around. Sometimes, unknown to you, your relations and friends in the US may have issues that you don't want to be vicariously visited upon you especially if your village peeps are very active . There is a lovely Nigerian couple who have a very huge self contained room for rent in Richmond, Texas and the rates are great. I can hook you up if you are interested.
CBP: How long do you plan to stay?
Ans: 3 months for my wife but just a month for me.
CBP: Why are you leaving her behind?
Ans: I need to get back to work and I have strict instructions to complete the design of the baby's room before their return.
(General Laughter and lessening of tension previously created by wicked village people)
CBP: Oh! You do now, don't you. So, how much have you got.
Ans: In cash I have $XXXXX here and in my card, I have $XXXXXX.
CBP: What do you do for a living?
Ans: I am a Bleep.
CBP: Where do you work?
Ans: XYZ company and ABC.
CBP: And your wife?
Ans: She works with WXY company.
CBP: You got any document to prove that?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: So what do you plan to do after the baby is born?
Ans: I will travel back to the US to accompany them back to Nigeria.
CBP: So, have you visited Northern Nigeria recently? Got any relatives or friends there?
[/color] :oMy eyes nearly popped at this unexpected question. WTF!!! I braced myself and told the whole truth and nothing but the truth 'cos I do not know what document my wicked village pipu were flashing on his computer screen.
Ans: I was born there and I schooled there many years ago but I have not visited recently.
CBP: So you wouldn't know anything about Boko Haram, right?
[color=#990000] Me thinking, thinking of all my prayer points against marine spirit, ancestral spirit, familiar spirit, etc to die by fire IJN! Somebody cannot even play with these wicked pipu again . I braced myself and continued in the line of truth.
Ans: I certainly have. I listen to the news and I know as much about Boko Haram as anyone who pays attention to the news coming from Nigeria but I have nothing to do with them
CBP: OK (smiles) Welcome to the US and all the best with the baby and your future plans.
See relief washing all over me like a river!

I thanked him and an assistant helped me wheel madam away to catch our flight to Houston.

LESSONS LEARNT.
1. CBP accepts legitimate travellers with intention to depart the US.
2. Have your all your relevant documentation with you.
3. Speak confidently and truthfully.
4. Maintain eye contact politely.
5. Have sufficient funds $$$$$

Chriscero:
Hello House,

Wifey and I gave birth to our daughter in the US in Q1 2021 and I want to share a few tips 'cos we benefitted so much from the experience of others here. We travelled on B1/B2 visas and the baby bump was very visible. Wifey's legs were hurting too much right from Nigeria so she was on a wheelchair to help with the pain. Ironically, it prioritised us and we were able to board the aircraft and even pass through security faster.

We travelled straight to Atlanta via Delta Air and from Atlanta to Houston. The drilling in Atlanta no be here o! We were asked to go for the secondary screening but I was fully prepared for the questions that came. The CBP officer took a quick look at wifey sitting in the wheelchair with our baby bump and asked, what are you here for?

Ans: We are here for medical reasons.
CBP: And what is the medical reason?
Ans: My wife is pregnant and we want her to put to bed in the US.
CBP: That can't be done in Nigeria?
Ans: It can and we have actually tried in the past. However, our Nigerian doctor refered us to a Doc. in the US to better manage the pregnancy since my wife has peculiar medical needs.
CBP: Any document supporting that?
Ans: Yes, showed him.
CBP: What is the name of the US Doc?
Ans. Told him.
CBP: Is he expecting you?
Ans: Yes?
CBP: Any letters?
Ans: Yes. And showed him.
CBP: Have you made any payments for your medical bills?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: Where will you be staying?
Ans: I told him and showed him evidence of payment.
We did not want any family drama with relations so we paid for a commercial apartment for the whole 3 months wifey will be around. Sometimes, unknown to you, your relations and friends in the US may have issues that you don't want to be vicariously visited upon you especially if your village peeps are very active . There is a lovely Nigerian couple who have a very huge self contained room for rent in Richmond, Texas and the rates are great. I can hook you up if you are interested.
CBP: How long do you plan to stay?
Ans: 3 months for my wife but just a month for me.
CBP: Why are you leaving her behind?
Ans: I need to get back to work and I have strict instructions to complete the design of the baby's room before their return.
(General Laughter and lessening of tension previously created by wicked village people)
CBP: Oh! You do now, don't you. So, how much have you got.
Ans: In cash I have $XXXXX here and in my card, I have $XXXXXX.
CBP: What do you do for a living?
Ans: I am a Bleep.
CBP: Where do you work?
Ans: XYZ company and ABC.
CBP: And your wife?
Ans: She works with WXY company.
CBP: You got any document to prove that?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: So what do you plan to do after the baby is born?
Ans: I will travel back to the US to accompany them back to Nigeria.
CBP: So, have you visited Northern Nigeria recently? Got any relatives or friends there?
[/color] :oMy eyes nearly popped at this unexpected question. WTF!!! I braced myself and told the whole truth and nothing but the truth 'cos I do not know what document my wicked village pipu were flashing on his computer screen.
Ans: I was born there and I schooled there many years ago but I have not visited recently.
CBP: So you wouldn't know anything about Boko Haram, right?
[color=#990000] Me thinking, thinking of all my prayer points against marine spirit, ancestral spirit, familiar spirit, etc to die by fire IJN! Somebody cannot even play with these wicked pipu again . I braced myself and continued in the line of truth.
Ans: I certainly have. I listen to the news and I know as much about Boko Haram as anyone who pays attention to the news coming from Nigeria but I have nothing to do with them
CBP: OK (smiles) Welcome to the US and all the best with the baby and your future plans.
See relief washing all over me like a river!

I thanked him and an assistant helped me wheel madam away to catch our flight to Houston.

LESSONS LEARNT.
1. CBP accepts legitimate travellers with intention to depart the US.
2. Have your all your relevant documentation with you.
3. Speak confidently and truthfully.
4. Maintain eye contact politely.
5. Have sufficient funds $$$$$

Chriscero:
Hello House,

Wifey and I gave birth to our daughter in the US in Q1 2021 and I want to share a few tips 'cos we benefitted so much from the experience of others here. We travelled on B1/B2 visas and the baby bump was very visible. Wifey's legs were hurting too much right from Nigeria so she was on a wheelchair to help with the pain. Ironically, it prioritised us and we were able to board the aircraft and even pass through security faster.

We travelled straight to Atlanta via Delta Air and from Atlanta to Houston. The drilling in Atlanta no be here o! We were asked to go for the secondary screening but I was fully prepared for the questions that came. The CBP officer took a quick look at wifey sitting in the wheelchair with our baby bump and asked, what are you here for?

Ans: We are here for medical reasons.
CBP: And what is the medical reason?
Ans: My wife is pregnant and we want her to put to bed in the US.
CBP: That can't be done in Nigeria?
Ans: It can and we have actually tried in the past. However, our Nigerian doctor refered us to a Doc. in the US to better manage the pregnancy since my wife has peculiar medical needs.
CBP: Any document supporting that?
Ans: Yes, showed him.
CBP: What is the name of the US Doc?
Ans. Told him.
CBP: Is he expecting you?
Ans: Yes?
CBP: Any letters?
Ans: Yes. And showed him.
CBP: Have you made any payments for your medical bills?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: Where will you be staying?
Ans: I told him and showed him evidence of payment.
We did not want any family drama with relations so we paid for a commercial apartment for the whole 3 months wifey will be around. Sometimes, unknown to you, your relations and friends in the US may have issues that you don't want to be vicariously visited upon you especially if your village peeps are very active . There is a lovely Nigerian couple who have a very huge self contained room for rent in Richmond, Texas and the rates are great. I can hook you up if you are interested.
CBP: How long do you plan to stay?
Ans: 3 months for my wife but just a month for me.
CBP: Why are you leaving her behind?
Ans: I need to get back to work and I have strict instructions to complete the design of the baby's room before their return.
(General Laughter and lessening of tension previously created by wicked village people)
CBP: Oh! You do now, don't you. So, how much have you got.
Ans: In cash I have $XXXXX here and in my card, I have $XXXXXX.
CBP: What do you do for a living?
Ans: I am a Bleep.
CBP: Where do you work?
Ans: XYZ company and ABC.
CBP: And your wife?
Ans: She works with WXY company.
CBP: You got any document to prove that?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: So what do you plan to do after the baby is born?
Ans: I will travel back to the US to accompany them back to Nigeria.
CBP: So, have you visited Northern Nigeria recently? Got any relatives or friends there?
[/color] :oMy eyes nearly popped at this unexpected question. WTF!!! I braced myself and told the whole truth and nothing but the truth 'cos I do not know what document my wicked village pipu were flashing on his computer screen.
Ans: I was born there and I schooled there many years ago but I have not visited recently.
CBP: So you wouldn't know anything about Boko Haram, right?
[color=#990000] Me thinking, thinking of all my prayer points against marine spirit, ancestral spirit, familiar spirit, etc to die by fire IJN! Somebody cannot even play with these wicked pipu again . I braced myself and continued in the line of truth.
Ans: I certainly have. I listen to the news and I know as much about Boko Haram as anyone who pays attention to the news coming from Nigeria but I have nothing to do with them
CBP: OK (smiles) Welcome to the US and all the best with the baby and your future plans.
See relief washing all over me like a river!

I thanked him and an assistant helped me wheel madam away to catch our flight to Houston.

LESSONS LEARNT.
1. CBP accepts legitimate travellers with intention to depart the US.
2. Have your all your relevant documentation with you.
3. Speak confidently and truthfully.
4. Maintain eye contact politely.
5. Have sufficient funds $$$$$

pointednose:
Please can you take us through the timelines for baby's documentation (Birth certificate, getting SSN, getting the US passport, Getting Nigerian passport for baby/travel documents e.g Emergency travel document, Visa on arrival).

Thanks (

ZingerZinger:
Hello,
Please can you give the name of hospital used and Doctors information?
I sent you a small request.

GodsGabby:


Afrobrown, You need to becareful how you do this, i mean advertising, cos That is how they will see it so you don't get banned...
Doing this on every thread will make it easier for you to be spotted by the moderators.

afrobrown2000:
@GodsGabby thanks for the info...didnt know that was a problem...just trying to help

Chriscero:


First, hospital choice is important. There are cheaper hospitals but we settled for Memorial Herman. It is a bit pricey but you do not want a cheap hospital that will give you a generous discount and then use your details to fraudulently file claims or benefits after you are discharged. This can create monumentally insurmountable problems for the parents in future when they go to renew their visas at the US Embassy. In fact, I won't name names but some hospitals have been red-flagged. If you use them, it is bye-bye to future VISA!

Birth Certificate: This differs from State to State and hospital to hospital. Memorial Herman helped us with documentation to process the birth certificate. The websites and numbers to call are on the documentation. Please keep copies. Timeline: Pick up in 1 week.

Social Security No.: Memorial Herman also helped with documentation for this. Keep copies. Timeline: Pick up in 2 weeks.

US Passport: This was, by far, the most challenging and COVID has changed the process. It was all online except for the actual data capture and you need your social security number and birth certificate. If you do not yet have SSN, fill zeros on the form. Remember to choose expedited on the website. Duration is 4 - 6 weeks. By the way, good luck keeping your newborn awake for the passport-sized photograph! we suffered ehn! and all the oyinbos will be there watching to see how you treat their citizen. We had to start using wipes to clean our daughter's face for her to open her eyes long enough for the picture.

Nigerian Passport: We used emergency travel document to return to Nigeria so that we can make the application in Nigeria where it is much cheaper and the process is more familiar to us. Nigerian officials in the abroad can be .... "funny" ... let us leave that one like that.

Citizen Registration: Remember to register your child with the US Mission in Nigeria as a US Citizen in Nigeria. You did not hustle for the child to suffer like you, ok? The website is on the US Passport. Timeline: soon after you return to Nigeria.

US Account Opening: while in the US, ensure that you open an account for your child using his/her social security number with you as a guardian and start to build your child's credit. The US is a credit-based society and not a cash-based one like Nigeria. There, your spending pattern and credit worthiness speak volumes about you as an individual. Do not make the mistake of infecting your child with a "baba alaye" or "na me get money pass" mentality. These are red flags there and before you finish explaining the source of your wealth, the matter fit long. Just try to blend in for your child's sake, ok?

Other Issues: Hey! Congratulations! You are the parent of a US Citizen but you now have peculiar responsibilities. You do not want your child to grow up without a decent understanding of his/her birth country. Listen to what is happening in the US and have a decent understanding of US society including politics. Learn the US anthem and teach your child. Make friends with parents of US Citizens and older US citizens. There are peculiar hurdles ahead for your child of which you have ZERO experience like me but which you will still need to help him/her navigate. watch movies about life as an immigrant in the US for orientation. If you can spare the time, learn and teach your child Spanish. Yes! There are language apps you can download on that your expensive phone. It is not only intended for browsing and social media activities! My wife was shocked when we landed in Italy for a vacation and I said to the lady at the airport "Io sono Christopher. Piacere di conoscerti" The lady screamed! Italians love people who speak their language. Yes, I learnt it on my phone!

Cheers!

Oleayo22:
[quote author=Chriscero pos

Citizen Registration: Remember to register your child with the US Mission in Nigeria as a US Citizen in Nigeria. You did not hustle for the child to suffer like you, ok? The website is on the US Passport. Timeline: soon after you return to Nigeria.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby.
Please i want to find out if I can still register my son. I gave birth to him in 2016. I didn't know about this.

pointednose:
Wow...thanks a lot.

Very useful info.

God bless

Please can I send you a private message, I will like to get details of how you got the Emergency travel document.

Thanks

Chriscero:


Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
3519 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008.

TELEPHONE:
(202) 800 7201
(Ext.100)

E-MAIL ADDRESS:
info@nigeriaembassyusa.org
publiccomplaints@nigeriaembassyusa.org

Debbieeeeeee:
Chriscero very detailed write up. I think memorial hermann is the cheapest I’ve even come across(among the hospitals I had in mind) lately in that area although they have had a slight price increment compared with before.

pointednose:
Thanks a lot.
I have saved the contacts.
I hope one does not need any agent for this?
For the citizen Registration, thats the "STEP" website right? Just created a profile for my child.
Regarding the US account opening, Pls how does opening an account help with credit worthiness, and how much will one need to open an account? One of the reasons I didn't even open an account for myself (didn't think about kids then) is because I heard i will be charged monthly, so that discouraged me. Will one still be charged for kids' account?

Thanks again

Chriscero:


Ha! World people! You just want to tempt me to name names abi?

Look closely, you will find others that are far cheaper the closer you go to El Paso!