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Birth Abroad

Reporting of Birth Abroad

When Americans have a baby abroad, they should file a CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH as soon as possible to register the child’s birth permanently with the U.S. Government and to obtain a U.S. Passport for the child.

WHICH CHILDREN ARE BORN AMERICAN?
Children born outside the U.S. or its outlying possessions are U.S. Citizens by law when:

-Both parents are Americans and one parent has resided in the U.S. or its outlying possessions prior to the child’s birth.

-One parent is a citizen and the other an alien, if the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for a period of five years, two of which occurred after the age of 14, and the child was born after 02.07 E.S.T. on November 14, 1986; or ten years, five of which occurred after the age of 14, if the child was born before 02.07 E.S.T., November 14, 1986.

If your child was born under the above circumstances he or she is probably eligible for registration.

The physical presence of the American parent/s MUST BE DOCUMENTED.

HOW DO I FILE A REPORT OF BIRTH?

-To file a Report of Birth, the baby must have been born less that eighteen years from the reporting date.

The day of the interview, the following documents should be provided:
-Parent’s ID (U.S. passports, Certificate of Naturalization if applicable, Paraguayan I.D. card)

-Original or certified copy of parents’ Marriage Certificate and original or certified proof of termination of any previous marriages.

-Evidence of parents’ physical presence in the U.S. (tax documents, previous passports, employment and school record, etc.)

-Child’s Birth Certificate (Certificado de Nacimiento issued by the Paraguayan Civil Registry)
This document must be legalized by the Civil Registry. (Stamped on the back)

-Documentation of any prenatal medical care that the mother received in Paraguay or elsewhere during pregnancy with names and addresses of physicians, clinics or hospitals where care was received. (i.e. sonogram)

-Completed affidavit of Physical presence (to be completed by the parents in our Consular Section)

-Application for Social Security Number. (to be completed by the parents in our Consular Section)

If applying for a U.S. Passport:

-Completed U.S. passport application

-2 photos of the baby (5cm X 5 cm) (see requirements)


DO WE HAVE TO BRING THE CHILD?
Yes, we must see the baby or child we register.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Consular Report of Birth costs $65.00 or the equivalent in guaranies.
The Passport $ 70.00 or the equivalent in guaranies.
Please note that we can only accept cash.

WHAT IS A REPORT OF BIRTH

The Consular Report of Birth (FS-240) is a light blue certificate that serves as evidence of child’s U.S. citizenship. All applications are permanently filed by the Department of State. For a fee of $30.00, one replacement copy may be obtained by writing to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Vital Records Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705

(Request for a FS-240 must include the original FS-240 or a notarized affidavit attesting to its disposition.)

WHAT ABOUT PARAGUAYAN CITIZENSHIP?
Virtually all children born in Paraguay are Paraguayan by law. This also includes children who are born citizens of the U.S. All birth must be recorded with the Paraguayan government.

PROBLEM CASES?
ADOPTEES: Occasionally, American citizens try to register the birth of adopted babies. Babies of other parents born and adopted abroad by American citizens are not born Americans and are not qualified for American passports. They must travel to the U.S. on immigrant visas. It is illegal to attempt to obtain U.S. passports by fraud.

CHLDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
If the mother is American and has lived in the U.S. for a year prior to the child’s birth, the child born out of wedlock will acquire U.S. citizenship. If the father is American and not married to the mother, the situation is more complicated. In such cases we need all documents available in order to be able to help you.

NOTE: A DNA test can be requested in ALL cases.

We will observe strict confidence in all cases.


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Embassy of the United States