I hope this is an easy question to be answered but I fear it is not.

My mother (British (Glasgow)) decided due to so many problems with my father (American) not to add him to my birth certificate (he abandoned us when I was less than 1 week old). Now, this has never caused me any problems, and still does not, until now (to a degree).

I am 25, and have my British passport, however I will be travelling to the US for a while, and I thought about applying for an American passport which since I am half American, I am entitled to.

This is where it becomes complicated. My father died 16 years ago (We only found out 10 years ago) when he drowned in the Caspian Sea. His body was never recovered, and my mother was not (nor myself) ever given a copy of a death certificate (if this was even provided). We have contacted the authorities in Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan as those 3 countries surround the Caspian Sea, however we never received anything back. We have tried 3 times to do this.

So this brings me back to today and my question.

How can I get his name, on to my birth certificate, so I can apply for my American passport? I have already spoken with the US Embassy and they told me that he did not have a US passport himself, (he himself had dual citizenship with Australia as his mum (my grandma) was born in Melbourne, and his dad (my grandfather) was born in Kansas). The Embassy said that I would need to have his name on my birth certificate before they could deal with my case as he did not have a US passport, due to him not applying for one.

Is this even possible? I have been told that I can apply for a B2 visa and every 6 months this could be extended for the 18 months I plan to be there, but I'd rather not have to go through all that, if I could have what I am entitled to in the first place, of an American passport.

Thanks

Phil

I see no way you can prove he was your father, death certificate or not. Was DNA done? It doesn't sound like it was.

At this point there is no proof of what you are or are not entitled to.

I am former Homeland Security - "we" needed proof of paternity, not just the word of one person, particularly when the other person is deceased.

If you are comfortable posting the name of your father, I will let you know if the US Government was advised of his passing. I believe you are not entitled to his death certificate, but I can provide the other info.

Thanks for that answer. The US do know he is dead, as we were told (granted, years later) by a lawyer.

Looks like I will have to forego this and apply for the B2. Not helpful if I want to live there though but thanks anyway for the response

Phil

Unless you have some proof that he is your father, I don't see it happening. However, if he was US Military or a convicted felon they MIGHT have his DNA on file. I would hire a Private Investigator in the US to see if there is any public DNA record, that can be used to establish paternity.