Acquisition of Citizenship
By Nimsy Garcia on Jan 4, 2022
Last updated on 27 Jul 2024
Acquisition of Citizenship is the legal process by which a child automatically becomes a US citizen at the moment of birth due to the citizenship status of one or both of their parents, regardless of whether the child was born inside or outside of the United States. Unlike Naturalization, Acquisition of Citizenship does not require filing an application the child is a US citizen from birth by operation of law.
To be eligible for
Acquisition of Citizenship, you must be:
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One or both parents must be a US citizen at the time of the child's birth
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If born inside the United States or its territories, the child is automatically a US citizen regardless of the parents' immigration status.
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If born outside the United States, at least one parent must be a US citizen who has resided or been physically present in the US for a required period of time prior to the child's birth
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The required period of physical presence in the US varies depending on the child's date of birth and whether one or both parents are US citizens
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The child must have been born in wedlock, or if born out of wedlock, additional requirements may apply depending on which parent is the US citizen
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The child must NOT have renounced or otherwise lost US citizenship
IMPORTANT. Please note that these are the most common eligibility factors for Acquisition of Citizenship. The rules governing Acquisition of Citizenship are highly complex and have changed multiple times throughout history, meaning that the law in effect at the time of the child's birth is the one that applies. For this reason, it is especially important to talk to an immigration attorney to determine whether your child acquired US citizenship at birth.
The M. Naturalization Process
Duration
Depends on location, click here for more information
Cost
USD $ $1,385 (paper filing) $1,335 (online version)
Summary of Process
Determine Eligibility
Gather Documents
Obtain Proof of Citizenship
Certificate Issued