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U.S. Citizen Services
CRBA Information
Eligibility for a CRBA
CRBA Documentation
Completing a CRBA application
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15 MINUTE READ
March 16, 2023

Eligibility for a CRBA

The information below is intended for use only as a general reference guide. Final adjudication authority rests with the consular officer. Sufficient documentation should be submitted which adequately demonstrates that the required periods of time have been met.

 

Parents are married at time of child’s birth
Both are U.S. citizens At least one parent must have held residence in the U.S. or its possessions for any length of time.

Proof of Residence may include a U.S. drivers license, or documents which are considered evidence of physical presence listed below.

 
Only one is a U.S. Citizen The U.S. citizen parent must have had physical presence in the U.S. or its possessions for at least five years, two of which must be after the age of 14.

 
Parents are unmarried at time of child’s birth
Mother is a U.S. citizen & child was born before June 12, 2017 The mother must have had physical presence in the U.S. or its possessions for one continuous year.

 
Mother is a U.S. citizen & child was born on or after June 12, 2017 The mother must have had physical presence in the U.S. or its possessions for at least five years, two of which must be after the age of 14.

 
Father is a U.S. citizen A person born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father and a non-U.S. citizen mother may acquire U.S. citizenship if:

  1. A blood relationship between the person and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence.
  2. The father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until he or she reaches the age of 18 years; and
  3. While the person is under the age of 18 years:
    • the person is legitimated under the law of his/her residence or domicile, or
    • the father acknowledges paternity of the person in writing under oath, or
    • the paternity of the person is established by adjudication of a competent court.
  4. The U.S. citizen father had physical presence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years prior to the person’s birth, two of which must be after the age of 14.

 

 

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Examples of Documentation

It is up to the consular officer to determine if the evidence presented fulfills the requirements. Some examples of documentary evidence which may be considered to demonstrate that physical presence requirements have been met may include (but are not limited to) any of the following.

Preferable:

  • Academic transcripts
  • Lifetime earnings statement from the Social Security Administration
  • Records of honorable U.S. military service, employment with U.S. Government or certain intergovernmental international organizations; or as a dependent, unmarried child and member of the household of a parent in such service or employment (except where indicated)
  • Wage and tax statements (W-2 statements preferred)
  • Employment records with actual work location and periods of work listed

Acceptable:

  • Rental receipts showing address and duration of rental
  • Signed employer letter on company letterhead confirming employment at a site in the United States
  • Immunization records
  • U.S. passport stamps may be considered a part of the evidence submitted, but should not be the sole documentary evidence.
  • Driver’s licenses do not constitute evidence of physical presence, but can show residence.
  • A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued to another child may be considered as supplemental evidence.

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