Chapter 4 - Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship after Birth (INA 320)

A. General Requirements: Child Automatically Acquiring Citizenship after Birth^[1]

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) amended INA 320 and removed INA 321 to create only one statutory provision and method for children in the United States to automatically acquire citizenship after birth. According to INA 320, a child born outside of the United States automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when all of the following conditions have been met on or after February 27, 2001:^[2]

• The person is a child^[3] of a parent who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization (including an adoptive parent);^[4]
• The child is under 18 years of age;
• The child is a lawful permanent resident (LPR);^[5] and
• The child is residing^[6] in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.^[7]

B. Legal and Physical Custody of U.S. Citizen Parent

Legal custody refers to the responsibility for and authority over a child. For purposes of this provision, USCIS presumes that a U.S. citizen parent has legal custody of a child and recognizes that the parent has lawful authority over the child, absent evidence to the contrary, in all of the following scenarios:^[8]

• A biological child who currently resides with both biological parents who are married to each other, living in marital union, and not separated;

• A biological child who currently resides with a surviving biological parent, if the other parent is deceased;

• A biological child born out of wedlock who has been legitimated and currently resides with the parent;

• An adopted child with a final adoption decree who currently resides with the adoptive U.S. citizen parent;^[9]

• A child of divorced or legally separated parents where a court of law or other appropriate government entity has awarded primary care, control, and maintenance of the child to a parent under the laws of the state or country of residence.

USCIS considers a U.S. citizen parent who has been awarded “joint custody” to have legal custody of a child. There may be other factual circumstances under which USCIS may find the U.S. citizen parent to have legal custody to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

C. Children of Armed Forces Members or U.S. Government Employees (or their Spouses)^[10]

On March 26, 2020, the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act was enacted into law.^[11] This Act provides that, under certain conditions, children of U.S. armed forces members or U.S. government employees (or their spouses)^[12] who are residing outside the United States acquire citizenship under INA 320.^[13] This applies to such children who were under the age of 18 on that date.^[14] 

A child born outside of the United States acquires automatic citizenship under INA 320 in cases where the child is an LPR and is in the legal and physical custody of his or her U.S. citizen parent who is:^[15]

• Stationed and residing outside of the United States as a member of the U.S. armed forces;^[16]
• Stationed and residing outside of the United States as an employee of the U.S. government;^[17] or

• The spouse residing outside the United States in marital union^[18] with a U.S. armed forces member or U.S. government employee who is stationed outside of the United States.^[19]

In cases involving the child of a U.S. armed forces member residing outside the United States, the child must be authorized to accompany and reside with the U.S. armed forces member as provided by the member’s official orders.^[20] If the spouse of the U.S. armed forces member is the qualifying U.S. citizen parent, the spouse must be authorized to accompany and reside with the U.S. armed forces member as provided by the member’s official orders.^[21] 

The official orders that authorize a child and, if applicable, his or her U.S. citizen parent, to accompany and reside with the member of the U.S. armed forces outside of the United States are a statutory requirement for that child to acquire citizenship under INA 320. If the child (and, if applicable, U.S. citizen parent) being added to the orders is the last action for the child to qualify for acquisition, then the date of the order becomes the date of acquisition. There is no statutory requirement for children of U.S. government employees or their spouses to be included on the employee’s official orders. 

The child of a U.S. armed forces member or a U.S. government employee (or his or her spouse) must meet the general requirements under INA 320(a)(1)-(2) in addition to being an LPR residing in the legal and physical custody of his or her U.S. citizen parent. All statutory requirements must be met before the child reaches the age of 18, including, if applicable, the issuance of the official orders for the child (and, if applicable, the U.S. citizen parent) to accompany and reside with the U.S. armed forces member who is stationed outside the United States.

D. Acquiring Citizenship Before the Child Citizenship Act of 2000

The Child Citizenship Act (CCA) applies only to those children born on or after February 27, 2001, or those who were under 18 years of age as of that date. Persons who were 18 years of age or older on February 27, 2001, do not qualify for citizenship under INA 320. For such persons, including adopted children,^[22] the law in effect at the time the last condition was met before reaching 18 years of age is the relevant law to determine whether they acquired citizenship.

Former Section 321 of the Immigration and Nationality Act

In general, former INA 321 applies to children who were already 18 years of age on February 27, 2001, but who were under 18 years of age in 1952, when the current Immigration and Nationality Act became effective.

In general, a child born outside of the United States to two noncitizen parents, or one noncitizen parent and one U.S. citizen parent who subsequently lost U.S. citizenship, acquires citizenship under former INA 321 if:

• The child’s parent(s) meet one of the following conditions:​

  • Both parents naturalize;​

  • One surviving parent naturalizes if the other parent is deceased;​

  • One parent naturalizes who has legal custody of the child if there is a legal separation of the parents; or​

  • The child’s mother naturalizes if the child was born out of wedlock and paternity has not been established by legitimation.

• The child is under 18 years of age when his or her parent(s) naturalize; and

• The child is residing in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence at the time the parent(s) naturalized or thereafter begins to reside permanently in the United States.

As originally enacted in 1952, this section did not apply to adopted children of naturalized citizens.^[23] Beginning on October 5, 1978, however, INA 321 became generally applicable to an adopted child if the child was residing in the United States at the time the adoptive parent or parents naturalized and the child was in the custody of his or her adoptive parents pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence.^[24]

E. Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600)

1. Submission of Application

A person who automatically obtains U.S. citizenship is not required to file an Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600). A person who seeks documentation of U.S. citizenship, however, must submit Form N-600 to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship from USCIS.^[25] A person may also apply for a U.S. passport with the U.S. Department of State to serve as evidence of U.S. citizenship.

A person who is at least 18 years of age or over, may submit the Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) on the person’s own behalf. There is no filing fee for Form N-600 for current or former members of the U.S. armed forces if they are filing on their own behalf. If the application is for a child , the child’s U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian must submit the application.^[26]

USCIS issues proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of a Certificate of Citizenship if the Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) is approved and the person takes the Oath of Allegiance, if required to do so.^[27]

2. Photographs and Signature

USCIS may require the applicant (person seeking the Certificate of Citizenship), regardless of age, to appear at a local Application Support Center (ASC)^[28] for photograph and signature submission.^[29] A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under the age of 14.^[30] The parent or legal guardian of the person for whom the Certificate of Citizenship is sought does not submit any photographs in connection with the Form N-600.

USCIS does not submit information collected in connection with Form N-600 to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a background check.

Photograph Submission Outside the United States

A person seeking a Certificate of Citizenship who is residing outside the United States only needs to submit two passport-style photographs with the properly submitted application. USCIS does not schedule overseas applicants for an ASC appointment. USCIS coordinates with military service members who are stationed outside of the United States, if necessary, to secure photographs.

Failure to Appear for the ASC Appointment

USCIS may consider the Form N-600 abandoned in cases where the person seeking a Certificate of Citizenship fails to appear for the ASC appointment, unless, by the appointment time, USCIS receives a change of address or rescheduling request that USCIS concludes warrants excusing the failure to appear.^[31]

If USCIS denies the application due to abandonment, the person eligible for the Certificate of Citizenship, or the parent or legal guardian of the person eligible for the Certificate of Citizenship, or the parent or legal guardian who filed on behalf of a child seeking a Certificate of Citizenship, may submit a motion to reopen or reconsider by filing a Notice of Appeal or Motion (Form I-290B).^[32]

USCIS does not deny an application for abandonment for failure to provide photographs if USCIS has evidence that the applicant is a member of the U.S. armed forces who is permanently or temporarily outside the United States and unable to provide photographs or appear to submit a photograph and signature for reasons related to the individual’s military service. USCIS coordinates with military service members in these circumstances.

F. Documentation and Evidence

The applicant must submit the following required documents unless such documents are already contained in the USCIS administrative record or do not apply:^[33]

• The child's birth certificate or record.

• Marriage certificate of child's parents, if applicable.

• Proof of termination of any previous marriage of each parent if either parent was previously married and divorced or widowed, for example:​

  • Divorce Decree; or​

  • Death Certificate.

• Evidence of United States citizenship of parent:​

  • Birth Certificate;​

  • Naturalization Certificate;​

  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240);​

  • A valid unexpired U.S. passport; or​

  • Certificate of Citizenship.

• Documents verifying legitimation according to the laws of the child's residence or domicile or father's residence or domicile if the child was born out of wedlock.

• Documentation of legal custody in the case of divorce, legal separation, or adoption.

• If applicable, official orders (that is, a Permanent Change of Station (PCS)) from the respective department that authorized the child of the U.S. armed forces member, or the child of the spouse of such member and the spouse,^[34] to accompany the U.S. citizen parent.

• Copy of Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card or other evidence of lawful permanent resident status, such as an I-551 stamp in a valid foreign passport or travel document issued by USCIS.

• Copy of the full, final adoption decree, if applicable.^[35]

• Evidence of all legal name changes, if applicable, for the child and U.S. citizen parent.

An applicant does not need to submit documents that were submitted in connection with:

• An immigrant visa application retained by the American Consulate for inclusion in the immigrant visa package; or

• An immigrant petition or application and included in a USCIS administrative file.

If necessary, an officer may continue the application to request additional documentation to make a decision on the application. 

G. Citizenship Interview and Waiver

In general, an applicant must appear in person for an interview before a USCIS officer after filing an Application for Certificate of Citizenship. This includes the U.S. citizen parent or parents if the application is filed on behalf of a child under 18 years of age.^[36] USCIS, however, may waive the interview requirement if all the required documentation necessary to establish the applicant's eligibility is already included in USCIS administrative records or if the required documentation is submitted along with the application.^[37]

H. Decision and Oath of Allegiance

1. Approval of Application, Oath of Allegiance, and Waiver for Children under 14 Years of Age

If an officer approves the Application for Certificate of Citizenship, USCIS administers the Oath of Allegiance before issuing a Certificate of Citizenship.^[38]

However, the INA permits USCIS to waive the taking of the Oath of Allegiance if USCIS determines the person is unable to understand its meaning.^[39] USCIS has determined that children under the age of 14 are generally unable to understand the meaning of the oath. 

Accordingly, USCIS waives the oath requirement for a child younger than 14 years of age. If USCIS waives the oath requirement, USCIS issues a Certificate of Citizenship after the officer approves the application.

2. Denial of Application

If an officer denies the Certificate of Citizenship application, the officer must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for denial and include information on the right to appeal in the notice.^[40] An applicant may file an appeal within 30 calendar days after service of the decision (33 days if the decision was mailed).

Footnotes

[^ 1] See INA 320. See Appendix: Nationality Chart 3 - Derivative Citizenship of Children [12 USCIS-PM H.3, Appendices Tab].

[^ 2] February 27, 2001 is the effective date for these CCA amendments.

[^ 3] For the definition of a child, see Chapter 2, Definition of Child and Residence for Citizenship and Naturalization [12 USCIS-PM H.2].

[^ 4] For cases based on an adoptive relationship, the requirements of INA 101(b)(1)(E), INA 101(b)(1)(F), or INA 101(b)(1)(G) must be met. For guidance on citizenship for adopted children, see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children [5 USCIS-PM F].

[^ 5] A person is generally considered to be an LPR once USCIS approves the adjustment application or once the person enters the United States with an immigrant visa. See INA 245(b). For certain classifications, however, the effective date of becoming an LPR is a date that is earlier than the actual approval of the status (commonly referred to as a “rollback” date). See Part D, General Naturalization Requirements, Chapter 2, LPR Admission for Naturalization, Section A, LPR at Time of Filing and Naturalization [12 USCIS-PM D.2(A)]. A person who is born a U.S. national and is the child of a U.S. citizen may establish eligibility for a Certificate of Citizenship without having to establish LPR status.

[^ 6] For the definition of residence, see Chapter 2, Definition of Child and Residence for Citizenship and Naturalization, Section F, Definition of U.S. Residence [12 USCIS-PM H.2(F)].

[^ 7] See INA 320. See 8 CFR 320.2. Certain children of U.S. armed forces members or U.S. government employees (or their spouses) who are residing outside the United States may acquire citizenship under INA 320. See Section C, Children of Armed Forces Members or U.S. Government Employees (or their Spouses) [12 USCIS‑PM H.4(C)]. See INA 320(c) (added by the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act, Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF) (March 26, 2020)).

[^ 8] See 8 CFR 320.1.

[^ 9] If the requirements of INA 101(b)(1)(E), or INA 101(b)(1)(F), or INA 101(b)(1)(G) are met. See Volume 5, Adoptions, Part E, Family-Based Adoption Petitions [5 USCIS-PM E]. See Volume 5, Adoptions, Part C, Child Eligibility Determinations (Orphan) [5 USCIS-PM C]. See Volume 5, Adoptions, Part D, Child Eligibility Determinations (Hague) [5 USCIS-PM D]. For information on citizenship for adopted children, see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children [5 USCIS-PM F].

[^ 10] For information about USCIS policies pertaining to this group of children before March 26, 2020, see Appendix: History of Acquiring Citizenship under INA 320 for Children of U.S. Citizens who are Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Government Employees, or their Spouses [12 USCIS-PM H.4, Appendices Tab].

[^ 11] See Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF) (March 26, 2020) (codified at INA 320(c)).

[^ 12] Spouses must be U.S. citizens if the child seeks to acquire citizenship under INA 320 based on the child’s residence with that spouse.

[^ 13] The Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act, Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF) (March 26, 2020), did not redefine “residence in the United States” for these children. Instead, it created an exception to the U.S. residence requirement by providing that INA 320(a)(3) is deemed satisfied in applicable cases.

[^ 14] These provisions do not affect children who have already been recognized by USCIS or the Department of State as having acquired U.S. citizenship under INA 320 through the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship or passport.

[^ 15] This provision would also apply to a child adopted by a U.S. citizen parent if the child satisfies the requirements applicable to adopted children under INA 101(b)(1) and INA 320(b).

[^ 16] See INA 320(c)(2)(A)(i). For a list of qualifying military branches, see Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 2, One Year of Military Service during Peacetime (INA 328), Section B, Honorable Service [12 USCIS-PM I.2(B)] and Section C, National Guard Service [12 USCIS-PM I.2(C)]. Service is not required to be “honorable” for the purposes of INA 320(c)(2)(A)(i) and a Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service (Form N-426) is not required as evidence.

[^ 17] See INA 320(c)(1)(A). An “employee of the U.S. government” means a person employed by the U.S. government and does not include a person employed under contract with the U.S. government. Because there is no statute or regulation defining employee or “employee of the Government of the United States” in the citizenship and naturalization context, the common law definition of employee applies. See Clackamas Gastroenterology Assoc., P.C., v. Wells, 538 U.S. 440, 448 (2003). See Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co. v. Darden, 503 U.S. 318, 322-23 (1992). The concept of “control” is the key to determining whether a person is an employee under the common law. See Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co. v. Darden, 503 U.S. 318, 323 (1992). Further, the plain language of the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act, Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF) (March 26, 2020), does not include persons employed under contract with the Government of the United States, in contrast to INA 316(b), which applies more specifically to persons “employed by or under contract with the Government of the United States.” 

[^ 18] Temporary orders, such as to serve in a combat zone or for mission support performance, do not affect the marital union between a military member and his or her spouse and would not impact acquisition of citizenship provisions under INA 320(c).

[^ 19] See INA 320(c)(2)(A)(ii) (spouses of U.S. armed forces member) and INA 320(c)(1)(B) (spouses of U.S. government employees).

[^ 20] See INA 320(c)(2)(B). For guidance on “official orders,” see Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 9, Spouses, Children, and Surviving Family Benefits, Section A, General Provisions for Spouses, Children, and Parents of Military Members, Subsection 2, Documenting “Official Orders” [12 USCIS-PM I.9(A)(2)].

[^ 21] See INA 320(c)(2)(A)(ii).

[^ 22] For more information about adopted children who did not qualify under the CCA because they were at least 18 years of age on February 27, 2001 (were born on or before February 27, 1983), see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children, Appendix: How Previous Citizenship Provisions Apply to Adopted Children [5 USCIS-PM F, Appendices Tab].

[^ 23] See Section 321(b) of INA of 1952, Pub. L. 82-414 (PDF), 66 Stat. 163, 245 (June 27, 1952). 

[^ 24] See Section 5 of the Act of October 5, 1978, Pub. L. 95-417 (PDF). The 1978 amendment limited this benefit to a child adopted while under 16 years of age. This restriction was removed in 1981 by the Act of December 21, 1981, Pub. L. 97-116 (PDF).

[^ 25] USCIS automatically issues Certificates of Citizenship for certain adopted children. For information on Certificates of Citizenship for adopted children, see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children, Chapter 3, Eligibility, Documentation and Evidence, Section B, Child Residing in the United States [5 USCIS-PM F.3(B)].

[^ 26] See 8 CFR 320.3(a).

[^ 27] See Section H, Decision and Oath of Allegiance [12 USCIS-PM H.4(G)]. See Part J, Oath of Allegiance, Chapter 2, The Oath of Allegiance [12 USCIS-PM J.2].

[^ 28] Military service members may appear at any stateside USCIS ASC with or without an appointment. See Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 6, Required Background Checks, Section C, Ways Service Members may Meet Fingerprint Requirements [12 USCIS-PM I.6(C)].

[^ 29] See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(9). See Volume 1, General Policies, and Procedures, Part C, Biometrics Collection and Security Checks, Chapter 2, Biometrics Collection [1 USCIS-PM C.2].

[^ 30] See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(2). See Volume 1, General Policies, and Procedures, Part B, Submission of Benefit Requests, Chapter 2, Signatures [1 USCIS-PM B.2].

[^ 31] See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(13)(ii). See Volume 1, General Policies and Procedures, Part C, Biometrics Collection and Security Checks, Chapter 2, Biometrics Collection [1 USCIS-PM C.2(A)].

[^ 32] See Notice of Appeal or Motion (Form I-290B). See 8 CFR 103.5 and 8 CFR 341.5(e). Although a person may file a motion to reopen or a motion to reconsider a denial due to abandonment, such a denial may not be appealed to the Administrative Appeals Office. See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(15). Moreover, any subsequent Application for a Certificate of Citizenship is rejected, and the applicant is instructed to submit a motion to reopen or reconsider. See 8 CFR 341.5(e). See 8 CFR 320.5(c).

[^ 33] See 8 CFR 320.3(b).

[^ 34] For guidance on “official orders,” see Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 9, Spouses, Children, and Surviving Family Benefits, Section A, General Provisions for Spouses, Children, and Parents of Military Members, Subsection 2, Documenting “Official Orders” [12 USCIS-PM I.9(A)(2)].

[^ 35] For more information see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children, Chapter 3, Eligibility, Documentation and Evidence, Section B, Child Residing in the United States [5 USCIS-PM F.3(B)].

[^ 36] See 8 CFR 320.4.

[^ 37] See 8 CFR 341.2. See Section G, Documentation and Evidence [12 USCIS-PM H.5(G)].

[^ 38] See 8 CFR 320.5(a) and 8 CFR 337.1. See INA 337. See Part J, Oath of Allegiance, Chapter 2, The Oath of Allegiance [12 USCIS-PM J.2].

[^ 39] See INA 337(a). See 8 CFR 341.5(b).

[^ 40] See 8 CFR 320.5(b) and 8 CFR 103.3(a).