United States · Immigration54
Citizenship Acquired at Birth Abroad
A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) may have been a U.S. citizen from birth, depending on the parents’ citizenship, marriage, and the citizen parent’s prior physical presence in the U.S. This is determined by the law in effect on the date of birth.
Currently available · Editorial record dated 10/20/2026 · Not lawyer review or an eligibility decision. Check current official instructions.
Who this is for
People born outside the U.S. with at least one U.S. citizen parent.
Common problems
Presence evidence
School transcripts, tax returns and old passports are the usual proof of the parent’s years in the U.S.