Children's Issues
Children Born Overseas
Children born abroad to two U.S. parents acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. Unlike the laws of some nations, U.S. citizenship laws do not confer citizenship through U.S. citizen grandparents. However, an adult may have acquired U.S. citizenship if one parent was a U.S. citizen when the applicant was born. Also, in some cases, children can become naturalized U.S. citizens through a U.S. citizen grandparent residing in the U.S.
U.S. citizenship laws are more complicated in cases involving a birth abroad of a child of a U.S. citizen and a non-U.S. citizen or in the case when parents are not married. Other laws apply in cases involving first-time adult U.S. citizenship applicants.
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Click here for information on international adoption.
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
When a consular officer determines that a child born outside the U.S. acquires U.S. citizenship at birth, he/she can issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) of a U.S. Citizen. This document is official evidence of U.S. citizenship. Schools, Social Security and other institutions throughout the United States accept it and give it the same credence they give to birth certificates from the various states of the United States.
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Obtain a Copy of a Previously Issued Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Consular records of births and deaths abroad are sent to the National Archives in the United States seen after the original document is issued at an Embassy. To request additional copies you must contact the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC.
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Dual National Children
A child born in the U.S. may also acquire another nationality if one or both parents are nationals of other countries. According to U.S. law, even if your children also hold foreign nationality, they are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport at all times.They should not enter the United States on a foreign passport.
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If You have any questions, please contact us at: ACSSanJose@state.gov