C H E C K L I S T

Please submit the following checked item(s) to the Consular Section, American Citizens Services Section of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate ________________________ or the appropriate geographic division of the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, Room 4811 N.S., 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520 for transmittal to the U.S. embassy or consulate.

1. Child's original foreign birth certificate.

2. Proof of parent's or parents' U.S. citizenship (i.e. certified copy of U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, etc.)

3. Proof of parents' identity: Photo ID.

4. Certified copy of the parents' marriage certificate.

5. Documentary evidence of termination of any previous marriages of either parent (i.e. divorce decree, death certificate, etc.), if applicable.

6. Affidavit of Paternity/Maternity and Physical Presence (attached) executed before a notary public.

7. For the child's passport, two photographs. The photos must be recent (taken within the past six months), identical, 2x2 inches, and either color or black/white; (Full face, on a plain, light (white or off-white) background. Vending machine photographs are not acceptable.)

8. Fees: Effective June 1, 2002, a fee of $65.00 is charged for an Application for Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States. (Schedule of Fees Item No. 7.) Additional copies can be obtained subsequently by contacting the Department of State, Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, tel (202) 955-0307. Submit a signed, written request including all pertinent facts along with requester's return address and telephone number. Certified copies of documents related to births of U.S. citizens abroad may be obtained for a fee of $30.00 (Schedule of Fees Item No. 43(a)); $20.00 for each additional copy provided at the same time. (Schedule of Fees Item No. 43(f). See Federal Register, May 16, 2002, Volume 67, Number 95, Rules and Regulations, Page 34831-34838; 22 CFR 22.1. Fees are payable to the Department of State. See also the Department of State, Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at under "Passport Services" for further information about obtaining copies. There is an execution fee of $30.00 for first time passport applicants and a $40.00 passport application fee for applicants under the age of 16. The passport application fee for applicants age 16 and older is $55.00.

9. Other. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that both a blood and a legal relationship exist between the child and the U.S. citizen parent. 22 CFR 51.40 provides that the burden of proof is upon the applicant to establish a claim to U.S. citizenship. If a child is born out-of-wedlock, the U.S. citizen father must provide proof of access to the mother at the probable time of conception. Similarly, in unusual circumstances, such as in vitro fertilization cases, surrogate mother cases, etc., additional evidence may be required.

10. Power of Attorney: If the application is executed by a person other than a U.S. citizen or alien parent, or legal guardian, that person must present a notarized statement of authorization from a parent in order to execute application for a U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad for the child.

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