Sometimes a child is born to a U.S. citizen abroad or sometimes parents in the U.S. wish to adopt a child from another country. These parents may want to reside in the U.S. with their child. It is important for parents in Georgia to understand how children in such situations can obtain U.S. citizenship.
A child born abroad can automatically become a U.S. citizen in certain situations. First at least one of the child’s parents (whether biological or adoptive) must be a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization. The child cannot be more than 18 years old and must be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. Finally, the child must be living in the U.S. under the legal and physical custody of the parent or parents who are a U.S. citizen.
Children living abroad may also become U.S. citizens if certain elements are met. First, at least one of the child’s parents (whether biological or adoptive) must be a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization. The U.S. citizen parent or the U.S. citizen grandparent of the child must satisfy specific physical presence requirements in the nation. The child cannot be more than 18 years old and must be living abroad under the legal and physical custody of the parent or parents who are a U.S. citizen. Finally, the child must be lawfully admitted and physically present in the U.S. and must maintain a lawful status in the nation at the time that the child’s application for citizenship is approved and at the time the child becomes a naturalized citizen.
As this shows, there are several ways a child born or living abroad can obtain U.S. citizenship. However, it is important to note that the information in this post is for general purposes only, and it cannot guarantee a specific result in one’s application for U.S. citizenship. Parents who want their child to become a U.S. citizen will want to seek the professional guidance they need to make informed decisions as they move forward with the application process.
