My daughter was born while I was traveling overseas in Russia. How do I deal with her passports requirements?

QUESTION:   My daughter was born while I was traveling overseas in Russia. How do I deal with her passport requirements?

ANSWER:   Since you gave birth to your daughter while in Russia and you are a United States citizen, you are able to apply for a passport by appearing a United States Embassy or Consulate that is in Russia. United States Embassies and Consulates overseas are not able to offer expedited passport processing service for those that will need a passport quickly. Luckily, the processing times at United States Embassies and Consulates for passports are quicker than visiting a passport agency in the United States. The processing time at a United States Embassy or Consulate abroad is usually three to four weeks, in comparison to processing times in the United States, where it can take four to six weeks to obtain a passport.

Since you have just given birth to a child, you will have to sign his passport when you apply for passports for the both of you. In addition, you will need to bring a notarized letter of consent from the parent that cannot appear if they are unable to be present at the United States Embassy or Consulate abroad. If they are able to be present at the Embassy or Consulate, then you will just have to submit the application, print your child’s name on the application and then sign your name under it with a description of your relationship to the child.