Documentary Evidence Needed to Establish a Citizenship Claim
C H E C K L I S T
Please submit the following checked item(s) to the Consular Section, American
Citizens Services Section of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate ________________________
or the appropriate geographic division of the Office of American Citizens
Services and Crisis Management, Room 4811 N.S., 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20520 for transmittal to the U.S. embassy or consulate.
( ) 1. Child's original foreign birth certificate.
( ) 2. Proof of parent's or parents' U.S. citizenship (i.e. certified copy of
U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or
Citizenship, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, etc.)
( ) 3. Proof of parents' identity: Photo ID.
( ) 4. Certified copy of the parents' marriage certificate.
( ) 5. Documentary evidence of termination of any previous marriages of
either parent (i.e. divorce decree, death certificate, etc.), if applicable.
( ) 6. Affidavit of Paternity/Maternity and Physical Presence (attached)
executed before a notary public.
( ) 7. For the child's passport, two photographs. The photos must be recent
(taken within the past six months), identical, 2x2 inches, and either color or
black/white; (Full face, on a plain, light (white or off-white) background.
Vending machine photographs are not acceptable.)
( ) 8. Fees: $40.00 for the Report of Birth; $40.00 for a five year passport
for persons under the age of 16 (this includes a $15.00 execution fee.)
( ) 9. Other. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that both a
blood and a legal relationship exist between the child and the U.S. citizen
parent. 22 CFR 51.40 provides that the burden of proof is upon the applicant to
establish a claim to U.S. citizenship. If a child is born out-of-wedlock, the
U.S. citizen father must provide proof of access to the mother at the probable
time of conception. Similarly, in unusual circumstances, such as in vitro
fertilization cases, surrogate mother cases, etc., additional evidence may be
required.
( ) 10. Power of Attorney: If the application is executed by a person other
than a U.S. citizen or alien parent, or legal guardian, that person must present
a notarized statement of authorization from a parent in order to execute
application for a U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad for the
child.
|