Proving Your Child is a Citizen
If you are going to be abroad and know that you want to start a family, you might run into some trouble proving your child is a citizen of the US if you don’t meet with an immigration attorney.
Proving Your Child is a Citizen | CRBA
Many times, clients will come to our office before they transfer abroad, specifically a US citizen. They always want to know, “I’m planning a family. What if I have one or more children abroad? How can I prove that they’re citizens?” That’s a great question. There is a form that the consul or the embassy produces if you apply for it. It’s called the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. CRBA. It’s a very straightforward form. They give you one original, and it’s very, very had to get a replacement.
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Proving Your Child is a Citizen | Passports
That form is proof of identification and citizenship, but it is not proof. It is not used for travel. It is very important that you get your child a passport, a US passport. You can accomplish that at the same time at the US Embassy. I also recommend that anyone with a US citizen child born abroad applies for a Certificate of Citizenship. It’s an excellent document. It looks like a naturalization certificate with a photo, and it can be used for I.D. and also to obtain a passport if you’re in this country.
Proving Your Child is a Citizen | Certificate of Citizenship
However, it’s different than a Certificate of Citizenship, a Certificate of Naturalization. A Naturalization Certificate shows that you were born abroad, not as a citizen, and you became a citizen later on. A Certificate of Citizenship shows that you were born as a US citizen or derived US citizenship. It’s important to get that document as soon as you can. If you have further questions, please call our office to speak to our New Jersey immigration attorney today.