Birth Registration

Registration of U.S. Citizen children born abroad

The Office of American Services can register the birth of children born abroad to U.S. citizens and help parents obtain a first passport and social security number for newborn children. U.S. citizens with children who were born outside the United States must register them at the nearest U.S. Consular Office in order to document them as U.S. citizens. In the registration process, a Consular officer determines the eligibility of U.S. citizen parents to "transmit" citizenship to the child. The requirements of U.S. law for the transmission of U.S. citizenship to a child are set forth below.

Upon registration, the child will be issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240). This document is a basic citizenship document. In the United States, it may be easier to present this document as a birth certificate in place of a foreign birth certificate.

The Consular Report of Birth Abroad is usually ready in about three hours. In most cases the child's passport application will be sent to the National Passport Center and the passport will be returned to the Embassy about two weeks after your interview.

U.S. citizen parents should register their children as soon as possible but it is imperative that registrations take place before the children reach eighteen years of age. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad cannot be prepared if the child is 18 years old or more at the time the birth is reported. Persons born abroad who are more than 18 years of age, and who believe they have a claim to U.S. citizenship, but who have never been documented as a U.S. citizen, should apply to the nearest American consular office for information and assistance in investigating their claim to U.S. nationality.

Only the child's U.S. parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad on a child's behalf. Both parents must sign the application for the child's first passport. Please see instructions on obtaining a first passport on following pages. A notarized statement of authorization from the natural parent may be required in some instances.

Requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act for Transmission of U.S. Citizenship to Children Born Abroad

A.  Children born in Wedlock

1)  Born to two U.S. citizen parents

If either parent has resided in the United States prior to the birth of the child, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301(c) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. There is no requisite period of residence for the parents in the U.S., but it must have been at some time prior to the birth of the child.

2) Born to one U.S. citizen and one alien parent

a.  Born before or on November 13, 1986

The U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a cumulative period (or periods totaling) ten years before the birth of the child, at least five years of which were after the U.S. citizen parent reached the age of fourteen. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

b. Born on or after November 14, 1986

The U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a period (or periods totaling) five years prior to the birth of the child, at least two years of which were after the U.S. citizen parent reached the age of fourteen years. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended by Public Law 99-653 of November 14, 1986).

B.  Children Born out of Wedlock

1)  Born to a U.S. citizen mother

The U.S. citizen mother must have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least one year before the child's birth. This period of presence may have been at any time before this child's birth. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 309(c) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

2) Born to a U.S. citizen father and an alien mother

In November 1986, the United States Immigration and Nationality Act was amended to permit a child born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father and an alien mother to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth based upon clear and convincing evidence of paternity. The father must have fulfilled the appropriate physical presence requirements under Section 301(g) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (ten or five years of physical presence as explained).

In addition, the United States citizen father must:

• sign a written agreement to provide financial support until the child reaches the age of eighteen years; and
• Make a statement under oath acknowledging parentage, or legitimate the child under the law of the child's residence or domicile; or, have the paternity of the child adjudicated and established by a competent court.

C.  What Does Physical Presence Mean

If you are an American citizen but do not have enough physical presence to transmit your U.S. nationality to your child, please refer to both of the following website pages concerning acquiring U.S. citizenship: Child Citizenship Act and Petitioning for an Immigration Visa for an Immediate Family Member.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2002 allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted children of American citizens to acquire American citizenship automatically. These children did not acquire American cizitenship at birth, but they are granted citizenship when they enter the United States as lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

When you come in to register your child's birth, please submit the following: (Please remember that the child MUST be present at the time of application.)

A) Completed Consular Report of Birth Abroad Application Worksheet (DS 2029). 

B) Supporting Documentation

The documentary evidence that must accompany the Consular Report of Birth Abroad application is listed on the reverse of the worksheet. All documents submitted must be originals or certified copies from the issuing authority. Regulations do not permit exceptions to acceptable evidence.

• If the child was born in Cambodia, you must provide the Cambodian birth certificate.
• A United States passport is acceptable as evidence of the American citizenship of a parent.
• If the parents were married in the U.S., please bring the original state marriage certificate issued by the civil authorities in the U.S. or a certified copy, bearing the official seal.
• If the parents were married in a third country, bring the original foreign marriage certificate issued by the authorities in this country and an official translation, if necessary, in English.
• If either of the parents were previously married, bring originals or certified copies of evidence of the termination of all prior marriages.

NOTE: Previous Consular Report(s) of Birth Abroad

If you have previously registered the birth of a U.S. citizen child born abroad, please bring a copy of the previous Consular Report of Birth Abroad to accelerate the processing time.

C) Consular Report of Birth Abroad Fee

Sixty-five dollars ($65) in cash. Personal checks are not accepted. Required Documents Checklist for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad: The American parent should submit the following documents to the Consular Section of the Embassy, either in the original form or a certified copy:

The child's birth certificate issued by the local authorities at the place of birth.

 

Evidence of the U.S. citizenship of the child's parent(s) (i.e. Passport, naturalization certificate)

 

The U.S. or Cambodian marriage certificate of the child's parents.

 

If either of the child's parents has been married before, evidence of termination of that marriage such as an original or certified copy of the decree of dissolution or divorce or a death certificate.

 

If only one of the parents is a U.S. citizen, a statement by that parent listing the precise periods of his or her actual physical presence in the United States.

 

The completed Consular Report of Birth Abroad application form (DS-2029)

 

The fee for the report of birth is $65. Fees must be paid in cash. Personal checks are not accepted.

 

If applying for a U.S. passport for a child, please remember that the fee for a first passport, for a minor under 16 years old, is $85. If you are applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad as well as a first passport, the total fees are $150.

Applying for a First Passport for all Minors Under Age 16:

A.  Each minor child shall appear in person and:

a)  Both parents must appear together and sign the application form (DS-11) in the presence of a Consular officer;

OR

b)  One parent must appear; he/she signs the application form in the presence of a Consular officer, and submits second parent's notarized Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, authorizing passport issuance for the child. For information concerning notarial services, please click here.

and shall submit ALL of the following:

a)  Form DS-11

b)  Important: both parents must submit a legible photocopy of proof of identification, such as a signed passport whether they are U.S. citizens or not. Non-U.S. citizens may submit a legible photocopy of a signed passport or a signed national identification card.

c)  You MUST also submit the child's original birth certificate. Copies will not be accepted.

d)  Two (2) identical color photographs taken full face, with a white background, measuring 5 cm by 5 cm (2 in x 2 in). Please ask the photographer for photos for a U.S. passport, otherwise you may be given the wrong format.

For more information see:

Important Notice: All Minors Must Appear in Person; and

Special Requirements for Children Under Age 16 Applying for Passports