How Can A Child Born Abroad Acquire US Citizenship?

If only one parent is an American citizen and your child was born before November 14, 1986, the American parent must prove that he or she resided in the United States for a total of 10 years prior to the birth of the child, at least 5 of those years after the parent turned 14 years old.

If your child was born after November 14, 1986, the American parent must prove a total of 5 years of physical presence in the United States prior to the birth of the child, at least 2 of those years after the parent turned 14.

PLEASE NOTE: The burden of proof lies on the American citizen parent and not on officer who may adjudicate your case. You should make every effort to bring the required documents in order to obtain citizenship for your child. If you cannot meet the physical presence requirement or cannot obtain sufficient evidence that you were in the United States, you may wish consider an alternative of conferring citizenship to your child through your U.S. citizens parents for expedited naturalization.

Grandchildren Of American Citizens

If you and the child are residing abroad, the Child may be eligible for EXPEDITIOUS NATURALIZATION if your parent, the Child's US Citizen Grandparent, was physically present in the United States for the time period required by the Law. The Grandparent can be living or deceased at the time of the application. If deceased, the Grandparent must have been a citizen prior to the child's birth and at the time of the grandparent's death. An application may be filed in any district of U.S.

A Child Born out of Marriage

A child born abroad out of marriage with a U.S. Citizen Father: A child born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father may acquire U.S. citizenship provided:

  • a blood relationship between the applicant and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence;
  • the father had the nationality of the United States at the time of the applicant's birth;
  • the father (unless deceased) had agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until the applicant reaches the age of 18 years, and
  • while the person is under the age of 18 years
    • applicant is legitimated under the law of their residence or domicile,
    • father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or
    • the paternity of the applicant is established by adjudication court.

A child born abroad out of marriage to a U.S. Citizen Mother: A child born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother may acquire U.S. citizenship if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the child's birth, and if the mother had previously been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year.