I'm trying to find out if I'm eligible for British citizenship.
Here are the relevant details:
My grandfather was a UK citizen born in Scotland in 1898. I believe
his technical classification through UK citizenship law is that he was
a British citizen otherwise than by descent. His father was also
Scottish and a UK citizen. He is no longer living, but we have his
passport and can get his birth certificate information.  My
grandmother is also a UK citizen by descent (through marriage).
I am fairly certain my mother is eligible for British citizenship
through her father but doesn't currently have British citizenship. She
was born in the US.
I was born in 1978 not in the UK or any of its territories.

Am I eligible for UK citizenship either now or after my mother applies
for UK citizenship? Also, if I am eligible, where can I request the
forms to fill out?
I've written the British embassy in Washington DC but have yet to hear
a response.

Hi there,

This is certainly a very thorny issue, in part because there have been
at least three revisions to the British Nationality Act in the 20th
century, and it's unclear precisely which one will apply in your
situation.

However, according to the British Information Services (a part of the
British Embassy in Washington DC), a person who was not born in the UK
can get UK citizenship if one parent is a citizen "otherwise than by
descent" (i.e., by being born in or naturalized in the country).  This
means that your mother could probably apply for citizenship if she
chose.  However, even if she did, you would not be eligible for
citizenship, because your parent would have become a citizen "by
descent" and not by birth.

The only definitive answer you'll be able to get will be from the
embassy, so you won't fully know until they write you back.  I think
they'll give you the same information, however.

British Information Services: Consular: Background to British
Nationality Law
http://www.britain-info.org/consular/bnatlaw.asp
This site has as clear a write-up of the law as I was able to find on
the 'net.

The form for registering the birth of a child in the US to British
parent(s) is also available from that site (at
http://www.britain-info.org/consular/birth.pdf), along with
information on filling out and remitting fees for the registration. 
Again, you are not eligible for citizenship, at least while your
mother is not a citizen.  It is unlikely that you will be granted
eligibility even if your mother registers.

If you need futher assistance, please let me know.

librariankt

Dear Otterpop,

You may also like to look at the web site of the Immigration and
Nationality Directorate of the UK Home Office:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/

In particular, see "Applying for British Nationality" at:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=16

and the various leaflets under "Advice about Nationality" at:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=38

Carnegie