British Passport 101

While The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, its diverse culture and must-see tourist attractions make it an interesting destination for residents of Chicago and other cities througout Illinois.  English is the official language of The Gambia – a former British colony which gained independence in 1965 – making it easy for Americans to communicate with locals who nicknamed their country “the smiling coast of West Africa.

Although the Republic of The Gambia only covers about 4,400 square miles, “Its captivating array of attractions belies its tiny size,” Lonely Planet reported. “The Gambia has a mere 50 miles (80km) of coastline, but what a magnificent stretch it encompasses: golden beaches backed by swaying palms and sprinkled with scenic lagoons, sleepy fishing villages, and biologically rich coastal reserves.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/the-gambia) However, Responsible Vacations added, the country is more than a beach resort with lush all-inclusive hotels. “Its namesake river is crammed full of wildlife, from hippos to giant crocodiles to manatees; thick forests teem with monkeys, insects and nearly 600 species of bird; and the country’s rich culture and heritage are evident in its museums, markets, and mysterious heritage sites.” (https://www.responsiblevacation.com/vacations/gambia/travel-guide)

10-Year British passports are no longer issued by the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. or any of the eight British consulates located throughout the United States.  Long-time British expats living in the United States will likely remember the “old method” of filling out the handwritten form, finding a photographer that can make British passport photos, and then mailing off your application materials to the embassy. 

The process changed in 2015 and now citizens of the United Kingdom living in the United States should apply for their passport online through the U.K. government website found here: Apply online for a UK passport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in South Carolina.

Nestled between Georgia and North Carolina along the Atlantic coast, South Carolina is one of America’s great southern states.  Named after King Charles I of England (Carolus is Latin for Charles), the state has historic ties to Great Britain and was one of the 13 British colonies.  South Carolina is made up of three geographical regions: Upstate (located in the western part of the state containing the Appalachian Mountains), the central Piedmont region, and the eastern Atlantic Coastal Plain (split between the Lowcountry and the Pee Dee region).  South Carolina’s most-populous metropolitan area is Greenville, followed by Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Spartanburg.  

Immigrant investor programs that offer the right to residency or even citizenship in another country have grown in popularity in recent years as more families take advantage of golden visa and golden passport programs.

More than 25 countries now offer options for residence-by-investment (also known as the “golden visa”) and/or citizenship-by-investment (“golden passport”). These programs, which originated in the 1980s in the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim, are designed to attract foreign capital and business leaders to those countries in return for greater flexibility in international travel. The practice has since spread to Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries as a source of foreign capital. 

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in Colorado.

Colorado is one of America’s most beautiful states and is located in the mountain time zone of the western United States.  Despite its position as one of America’s top 10 fastest-growing states, Colorado still has about 61 million fewer people than the United Kingdom even though its total land area is 10% larger.  Colorado is probably best known for its breathtaking scenery and towering mountains that drew inspiration for its official state song—Rocky Mountain High by John Denver.  Colorado also some of the best small mountain towns and most livable cities in the country.  Denver is Colorado’s most populous city followed by Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Boulder, and Greeley.

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in New Mexico.

New Mexico is located in the Southwestern United States and is the fifth largest of the 50 states by area.  At 121,590 square miles, the “Land of Enchantment” is 1.3 times the size of the United Kingdom but has a population of only 2.1 million residents, making this one of America’s least densely populated states.  Albuquerque is New Mexico’s most populous city followed by Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Roswell, and Farmington.  New Mexico is well known for its natural beauty boasting deserts, snow-capped mountains, alpine forests, and grasslands.  The state also has a unique history and culture that combines Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions.

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in Texas.

Texas is the second most-populous state in America and is the second-largest state by area.  Texas has a population closing in on 30 million residents and is one of the country’s fastest-growing states thanks to its business-friendly environment, abundance of jobs, lower cost of living, and warm weather.  The “Lone Star State” has four cities that rank in the top 30 most-populous metropolitan areas in the country: Dallas-Forth Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.  At $1.9 trillion, Texas has the second-biggest economy in the United States, which would make it the 10th biggest economy in the world if it was its own country.

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in California.

California is the most iconic of America’s 50 states and is well-known the world over for its Hollywood movies, Silicon Valley companies, agricultural products, beaches, and mountains.  With a population approaching 40 million residents, California is the most-populous state in the United States and contains four cities that rank in the top 25 most-populous metropolitan areas in the country: Los Angeles, San Francisco (Bay Area), San Diego, and Sacramento.  Despite its large population, California has plenty of wide-open spaces and abundance of natural resources.  The state is the largest producer of food in the United States and has some of the country’s most beautiful national parks.

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in Florida.

Florida is one of America’s fastest growing states and has a population approaching 22 million residents, making the “Sunshine State” the third most-populous state in the nation.  Florida has four cities that rank in the top 40 most-populous metropolitan areas in the country: Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.  The state has been growing in recent years due to its business-friendly government and zero state income tax, creating the foundation for a robust economy that has attracted people from all over the world seeking a better life.  Florida’s economy is now over $1 trillion, making it about the size of Indonesia’s economy and bigger than the combined economies of Saudi Arabia and New Zealand (if Florida was its own country).

A growing number of British citizens in the United States have begun exploring dual citizenship for their children born outside the United Kingdom.  

While there are no official statistics on the exact number of dual citizens in the United States, interest among U.S. residents with family or cultural ties to other countries has grown in recent months. Recent media reports cited industry consultants who are now seeing higher-than-usual inquiries into the requirements and process for obtaining dual citizenship. Statistics from Google Trends indicate a record number of Americans researched their options over the summer. A number of reasons were given for the growing interest, including health concerns about the continuing COVID-19 pandemic; uneasiness over U.S. political and civil unrest; obtaining a second passport to make international travel easier; the ability to live aboard without visa restrictions; or simply desiring to establish closer cultural links with one’s country of origin. 

“At its most basic level, dual or multiple citizenship involves the simultaneous holding of more than one citizenship or nationality,” according to the non-profit Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. “A person can have each, or many, of the rights and responsibilities that adhere to a citizen in all of the several countries in which he or she is a citizen, regardless of length of time or actual residence in a country, geographical proximity, or the nature of his or her economic, cultural, or political ties.”

More than 40 countries allow dual citizenship, including the United States and Great Britain. According to the U.K. government, those who are already British citizens can apply for foreign citizenship without forfeiting their UK status. “In some countries, a married person is automatically counted as having their partner’s nationality,” the government’s website entry on dual citizenship (