General Information on Citizenship

Children Born in the United States

Children born in the United States acquire US citizenship at birth, regardless of the citizenship of their parents. The exception is most children born to foreign diplomats assigned to the United States. 

A child born in the US may also acquire another nationality if one or both parents are nationals of other countries.

Children Born Overseas

Children born abroad to two US parents acquire US citizenship at birth.
Unlike the laws of some nations, US citizenship laws do not confer citizenship through US citizen grandparents. However, an adult may have acquired US citizenship if one parent was a US 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. 

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Adoption Information

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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A Consular Report of Birth

When a consular officer determines that a child born outside the U.S. acquires U.S. citizenship at birth, he can issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad 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

You can request the information package "How to Register a Child Born Abroad", by e-mail consularsanjose@state.gov.

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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 www.state.gov.

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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.By U.S. laws, 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: consularsanjose@state.gov

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