Can I have my baby in the states?

2018-12-27T19:26:58-05:00

My husband is active duty stationed in Kaiserslautern Germany and I am a reservist here as well. We just found out I am pregnant, and due to the fact that we are so far from family we want to have the baby back in Texas where we are from since our families don’t have the option to be able to come here for the birth (health issues and jobs). I am not due until September, and don’t plan on heading back to Texas until I am about 30-34 weeks. If I have my baby in Texas, how would that work getting me and the baby back to Germany in a timely manor? I will wait till me and the baby are clear to be able to fly by the doctor, but as far as a passport for the baby or anything else goes, does anyone have any insight they could offer? Thank you in advance.

Response by SGT(P) Fabian Ysker made Dec 27 at 2018 8:48 PM

2018-12-27T20:48:01-05:00

First of All...."Congratulations to You and Your Husband!"

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 10:10 PM

2018-12-27T22:10:51-05:00

You're a reservist so you can do whatever you like. You just fly home and when you have a passport, fly back. There shouldn't be any need for command sponsorship since you're still residing with him. Essentially, you've just taken a several month long vacation.
With that said, the Army won't pay for your transportation to or from and it will be your responsibility to coordinate that through tricare. That will be the hardest and most expensive part. You are enrolled in a different tricare region than Texas, and because your husband and you are still stationed in Germany, you won't be eligible to enroll in the tricare in Texas. Have fun untangling that knot.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 27 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-12-27T22:43:03-05:00

As a Reservist, most of it shouldn't be a problem. You are authorized to be excused from Drills and AT's for an 84 day window around the birth of the child, so that should give you the time. Children need a passport to fly internationally, but a passport does not require a social security card (but dependent ID's will), so you would have to wait to return until at least the passport process was complete. I would go ahead and initiate the SS# process as soon as I could too.

My Grandson was born at GITMO and had to have a valid Passport to fly back to the US.

And congratulations.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2019 11:42 AM

2019-07-11T11:42:49-04:00

Just know Tricare wont cover anything, I'm doing the same thing. I'm active duty though so I have to be back at a certain time idk about the reserves.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2019 9:12 PM

2019-12-06T21:12:28-05:00

For all who have this question in the future.... we had our son in August (2019) and we flew back to Texas to have him. 5 things. One, call tricare and tell them you (as the dependent not the active duty soldier) have moved back to the states temporarily. They will reassign your new location. I used my parents home address for this. Two, as soon as the baby is born, you need to do the ss# paperwork ASAP. The civilian hospital he was born in did this for me thankfully. Three, obtain a county and state birth certificate. They are two separate documents. Three, submit the passport application ASAP after you have obtained the state birth certificate. I advise you have it expedited. Four, go to the nearest base and enroll your child in tricare and deers. Some bases may not have a tricare office, in this case you can just call them. Enroll the child under your *current* stateside address. Five, once you have the babies passport, and get back to your duty station, go to tricare and finance ASAP. Tricare will reassign you to your new home address in your overseas location (you “moved back” to your overseas location) and finance to adjust your cola rate. Be aware, your S1 has to submit this paperwork and it can be a hassle, but you will receive back pay from the day your child was born.

This process was much easier then I originally thought it would be, and I had way overthought it. If you are in my situation and want to have your child back in the states, it is absolutely doable.