Personal Timeline - Spouse & Step-Daughter Application

Department of Social Welfare and Development
Government department

Philippines social services department.

https://www.dswd.gov.ph/
Department of Social Welfare and Development. Never needed them in my case.

I'm sure he means DSWD - Department for Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD That's what I put lol @bigmac you mixed my letters up in your question but it's easy done as I note others have done it in their posts too.

Various rules on obtaining a US passport for under 16s might be worth reviewing before you decide @Davidb99

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/under-16.html

aah--that explains it. i did google DSDW and it came up as a Thailand gov dept.

If want child to have US citizenship then may have to do paperwork sooner rather than later to establish citizenship as potentially may need father to assist. The greater the distance the more difficult it is. If already done then regardless of whether have passport would need to declare nationality as that is the question in application process. Assuming they were not married the guidance is below.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...isition-US-Citizenship-Child-Born-Abroad.html
-----------------------------------
Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Father – “New” Section 309(a)
A person born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 301(c) or 301(g) of the INA, as made applicable by the “new” Section 309(a) of the INA if:

1. A blood relationship between the person and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence;
2. The father had the nationality of the United States at the time of the person’s birth;
3. The father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until the person reaches the age of 18 years, and
4. While the person is under the age of 18 years --

• the person is legitimated under the law of his/her residence or domicile,
• the father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or
• the paternity of the person is established by adjudication of a competent court

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His plan always was to do visa application via filipino citizenship so no issues with different nationality to mother. Only question is whether US Passport and nationality is worth more than risk of problems establishing that mother has sole responsibility.

Other thing to think about is what are long term plans with regards to the child if anything happened to mother and make sure that is covered in terms of who would have responsibility for the child. We have been thinking about it as international dimension of that one is very messy depending on what country you are in.

Under uk law biological father would be first person responsible as named on birth certificate and would have parental responsibility automatically. Under philippines law if mother and biological father not married then believe responsibility goes to mothers grandparents. Depressing thinking about these things but start to realise that really should do it for good of child.

I would think carefully before lumbering a child with US citizenship unless America is their new home. All American citizens must account to the US government for their earnings and savings each and every year and are liable to pay tax on same, regardless of where in the world they live.

Yep read that link prior to you posting and my post was my own views on the situation.
I am aware they intend to do the Filipino passport routes
I don't doubt for a minute that there is potential for US passport.
However I believe as I stated above it could be messy
If the child was born in wedlock to an American father the father has to of been resident in the US for 5 years prior to birth.
(As the father appears to reside in the Philippines that may scupper that one!
If the child is born out of wedlock then see point 3 of the link you supplied about giving financial support this would then fly in the face of the application 're father having no responsibility.
I hold firm in my assertion that applying for a Passport albeit for want of a better phrase a sleeping document will muddy waters and to do so now would be badly timed.
That aside I feel that as the op has not imputed further since his initial few posts it would be prudent and I won't be commenting further on his individual circumstances.

They are here!!!! Through customs and immigration after 45 minutes. BRP collected on the way home, and relax..............

Thanks guys for all the help! Certainly differing views on what the best solution is! I suppose an American passport isn't necessarily important if we get the visas, extensions and eventually British citizenship. If there is a chance that getting a USA passport would have a negative impact, maybe that is best avoided for now