U.S. Citizenship can be acquired in a number of ways. Over the years the laws regulating the acquisition of Citizenship have changed. In some cases your date of birth to a USC may indicate that you already are a U.S. Citizen– even without ever having applied for Citizenship.

According to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, a child born to a USC parent can generally acquire Citizenship in one of three ways.

If the USC parent resided in the U.S. for more than five years, at least two of which were over the age of fourteen, he or she may register a child with the U.S. Embassy.  After making a Report of U.S. Citizen Birth Abroad, the parent may apply for a U.S. Passport on behalf of the child.

For children born abroad to a USC parent who does not meet the qualifying residence requirement, there are alternate methods of acquiring Citizenship under the statute.   The parent can either apply for Citizenship on behalf of the child based on the qualifying residence of a USC Grandparent or the child can enter the U.S. as a Legal Permanent Resident, in the company of the USC parent.

 

For more information on obtaining U.S. Citizenship see Naturalization

For assistance in all matters pertaining to Citizenship or Naturalization Contact Us