Chapter 5 - Child Residing Outside of the United States (INA 322)

A. General Requirements: Child Residing Outside the United States^[1]

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to cover foreign-born children who did not automatically acquire citizenship under INA 320 and who generally reside outside the United States with a U.S. citizen parent.^[2]

A child who regularly resides outside of the United States is eligible for naturalization if all of the following conditions have been met:

• 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’s U.S. citizen parent or citizen grandparent meets certain physical presence requirements in the United States or an outlying possession;^[5]

• The child is under 18 years of age;

• The child is residing outside of the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent, or of a person who does not object to the application if the U.S. citizen parent is deceased; and

• The child is lawfully admitted, physically present, and maintaining a lawful status in the United States at the time the application is approved and the time of naturalization.

There are certain exceptions to these requirements for children of U.S. citizens in the U.S. armed forces accompanying their parent outside the United States on official orders.^[6]

B. Eligibility to Apply on the Child’s Behalf

Typically, a child’s U.S. citizen parent files a Certificate of Citizenship application on the child’s behalf. If the U.S. citizen parent has died, the child’s citizen grandparent or the child’s U.S. citizen legal guardian may file the application on the child’s behalf within 5 years of the parent's death.^[7]

C. Physical Presence of the U.S. Citizen Parent or Grandparent^[8]

1. Physical Presence of Child’s U.S. Citizen Parent

A child’s U.S. citizen parent must meet the following physical presence requirements:

• The parent has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for at least 5 years; and

• The parent met such physical presence for at least 2 years after he or she reached 14 years of age.

A parent’s physical presence is calculated in the aggregate and includes time accrued in the United States during periods when the parent was not a U.S. citizen.

2. Exception for U.S. Citizen Member of the U.S. Armed Forces

The child’s U.S. citizen service member parent may count any period of time he or she has resided abroad on official orders as physical presence in the United States.^[9]

3. Reliance on Physical Presence of Child’s U.S. Citizen Grandparent

If the child’s parent does not meet the physical presence requirement, the child may rely on the physical presence of the child’s U.S. citizen grandparent to meet the requirement. In such cases, the officer first must verify that the citizen grandparent, the citizen parent’s mother or father, is a U.S. citizen at the time of filing. If the grandparent has died, the grandparent must have been a U.S. citizen and met the physical presence requirements at the time of his or her death.

Like in the case of the citizen parent, the officer also must ensure that:

• The U.S. citizen grandparent has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for at least 5 years; and

• The U.S. citizen grandparent met such physical presence for at least 2 years after he or she reached 14 years of age. 

Like the citizen parent, a grandparent’s physical presence is calculated in the aggregate and includes time accrued in the United States during periods when the grandparent was not a U.S. citizen.

D. Temporary Presence by Lawful Admission and Status in United States

1. Temporary Presence and Status Requirements

In most cases, the citizenship process for a child residing abroad cannot take place solely overseas.

• The child is required to be lawfully admitted to United States, in any status, and be physically present in the United States;^[10]

• The child is required to maintain the lawful status that he or she was admitted under while in the United States;^[11] and

• The child is required to take the Oath of Allegiance in the United States unless the oath requirement is waived.^[12]

2. Exception for Child of U.S. Citizen Service Member of the U.S. Armed Forces

Certain children of U.S. citizen members of the U.S. armed forces are not required to be lawfully admitted to or physically present in the United States.^[13]

E. Children of U.S. Government Employees and Members of the Armed Forces Employed or Stationed Outside the United States

In addition to certain provisions for children of U.S. armed forces members and U.S. government employees stationed or employed outside the United States under INA 320, such U.S. citizen parents may apply for U.S. citizenship under INA 322 on behalf of their children under age 18 (if the children have not acquired citizenship under INA 320).^[14] Children of members of the U.S. armed forces who are accompanying their parents outside of the United States on official orders may be eligible to complete all aspects of the naturalization proceedings outside the United States. This includes interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings relating to naturalization.^[15]

F. Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322 (Form N-600K)

A U.S. citizen parent of a biological, legitimated, or adopted child^[16] born outside of the United States who did not acquire citizenship automatically may file an Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Form N-600K) for the child to become a U.S. citizen and obtain a Certificate of Citizenship. The application may be filed from outside of the United States.

If the U.S. citizen parent has died, the child's U.S. citizen grandparent or U.S. citizen legal guardian may submit the application, provided the application is filed not more than 5 years after the death of the U.S. citizen parent.^[17]

The child of a U.S. citizen member of the U.S. armed forces accompanying his or her parent abroad on official orders may be eligible to complete all aspects of the naturalization proceedings abroad. This includes interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings relating to citizenship and naturalization.

G. Documentation and Evidence

The applicant must submit the following required documents unless such documents are already contained in USCIS administrative record or do not apply.^[18]

• 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.

• Documentation establishing that the U.S. citizen parent or U.S. citizen grandparent meets the required physical presence requirements, such as school records, military records, utility bills, medical records, deeds, mortgages, contracts, insurance policies, receipts, or attestations by churches, unions, or other organizations.

• Evidence that the child is present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission and is maintaining such lawful status or evidence establishing that the child qualifies for an exception to these requirements as provided for children of members of the U.S. armed forces.^[19] Such evidence may be presented at the time of interview when appropriate.

• Copy of the full, final adoption decree, if applicable.^[20] ​

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

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. 

H. Citizenship Interview and Waiver

In general, an applicant must appear in person for an interview before a USCIS officer after filing an Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Form N-600K). This includes the U.S. citizen parent or parents if the application is filed on behalf of a child under 18 years of age.^[21] USCIS, however, waives the interview requirement if all the required documentation necessary to establish the applicant's eligibility is already included in USCIS administrative records or if any of the following documentation is submitted along with the application.^[22]

I. 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 Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Form N-600K), USCIS administers the Oath of Allegiance before issuing a Certificate of Citizenship.^[23]

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.^[24] 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.^[25] An applicant may file an appeal within 30 days of service of the decision.

Footnotes

[^ 1] See Appendix: Nationality Chart 4 - Children of U.S. Citizens Regularly Residing Outside United States (INA 322) [12 USCIS-PM H.3, Appendices Tab].

[^ 2] See INA 322.

[^ 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. 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].

[^ 5] See Section C, Physical Presence of U.S. Citizen Parent or Grandparent [12 USCIS-PM H.5(C)].

[^ 6] See INA 322(d).

[^ 7] As of November 2, 2002, a U.S. citizen grandparent or U.S. citizen legal guardian became eligible to apply for naturalization under this provision on behalf of a child. See the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act for Fiscal 2002, Pub. L. 107-273 (PDF) (November 2, 2002), which amended INA 322 to permit U.S. citizen grandparents or U.S. citizen legal guardians to apply for naturalization on behalf of a child if the child’s U.S. citizen parent has died.

[^ 8] See INA 322(a)(2). See 8 CFR 322.2(a)(2).

[^ 9] See Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 9, Spouses, Children, and Surviving Family Benefits, Section C, Children of Military Members [12 USCIS-PM I.9(C)]. See INA 322(d). See 8 CFR 322.2(c).

[^ 10] See INA 322(a)(5). See 8 CFR 322.2(a)(5).

[^ 11] See INA 322(a)(5).

[^ 12] See INA 322(b). See Section I, Decision and Oath of Allegiance [12 USCIS-PM H.5(I)].

[^ 13] See Part I, Military Members and their Families, Chapter 9, Spouses, Children, and Surviving Family Benefits [12 USCIS-PM I.9]. See INA 322(d). See 8 CFR 322.2(c).

[^ 14] See INA 322(a). To be eligible for citizenship under INA 322, the child must be under 18 and “residing outside of the United States in the legal and physical custody of the applicant.” If the child has already acquired U.S. citizenship under INA 320, USCIS denies the Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Form N-600K).

[^ 15] See INA 322(d).

[^ 16] For more information about citizenship for adopted children, see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children, Chapter 3, Eligibility, Documentation and Evidence, Section C, Child Residing Outside of the United States [5 USCIS-PM F.3(C)].

[^ 17] See 8 CFR 322.3(a).

[^ 18] See 8 CFR 322.3(b).

[^ 19] See INA 322(d)(2).

[^ 20] For more information see Volume 5, Adoptions, Part F, Citizenship for Adopted Children, Chapter 3, Eligibility, Documentation and Evidence, Section C, Child Residing Outside of the United States [5 USCIS-PM F.3(C)].

[^ 21] See 8 CFR 322.4.

[^ 22] See 8 CFR 341.2. See Section G, Documentation and Evidence [12 USCIS-PM H.5(G)].

[^ 23] See 8 CFR 322.5(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].

[^ 24] See INA 337(a). See 8 CFR 341.5(b).

[^ 25] See 8 CFR 322.5(b) and 8 CFR 103.3(a).