U.S. Children Born Abroad
Most U.S. citizens acquire their citizenship by being born within the United States. Children born outside the United States to one or two U.S. citizen parents can also acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain conditions are met.
Birth Abroad to Two U.S. Citizen Parents in Wedlock: A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth as long as one of the parents has resided in the U.S. prior to the child's birth. No specific period of time for such prior residence is required.
Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock: A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth provided the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. The current requirement for a U.S. parent to transmit citizenship is five years of physical presence in the U.S., two of which were after the age of fourteen.
For other parent/citizen situations, please contact the ACS unit.
If you believe your child born abroad satisfies the criteria for becoming an American citizen, contact the American Citizen Services unit to have a "Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen" prepared. This document acts as a U.S. birth certificate and is proof of citizenship for all purposes. A Consular Report of Birth can be prepared only at an American consular office overseas while the child is under the age of 18. Usually, in order to establish the child s citizenship under the appropriate provisions of U.S. law, the following documents must be submitted:
- an official record of the child's foreign birth;
- evidence of the parent(s)' U.S. citizenship (e.g., a certified birth certificate, current U.S. passport, or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship);
- evidence of the parents' marriage, if applicable; and
- affidavits of parent(s)' residence and physical presence in the United States.
In certain cases, it may be necessary to submit additional documents, including affidavits of paternity and support, divorce decrees from prior marriages, or medical reports of blood compatibility. All evidentiary documents should be certified as true copies of the originals by the registrar of the office wherein each document was issued. A service fee will apply for the issuance of a Consular Report of Birth.
Please click the link on the right for more information about Consular Reports of Birth and other vital records.
