Immigrant Visas
Child Citizen Act of 2000
The "Child Citizenship Act of 2000" greatly streamlines the process by which foreign-born children of U.S. citizen parents can become U.S. citizens when they did not acquire citizenship at birth.
As of February 27, 2001, biological and adopted children of U.S. Citizens who are born overseas can automatically acquire citizenship provided the following requirements are met:
• One parent is a U.S. Citizen by birth or through naturalization;
• The child is under the age of 18;
• The child is residing in the United States as a lawful permanent resident alien (has entered the U.S. on an immigrant visa and/or has an alien resident card) and is in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent; and
• If the child is adopted, the adoption must be final. If the adoption is to be finalized in the United States, the child becomes eligible for citizenship once the adoption process is completed.
Children under age 18 who had already fulfilled the above four conditions acquired U.S. citizenship automatically on February 27, 2001. Children who have not yet fulfilled these conditions will acquire U.S. citizenship on the day the last of these criteria has been met, provided the child is still under 18 at the time.
Visit the Department of State's website for further information:
Visa Services
Immigrant Visas
Family Based Visas
Employment Based Visas
Returning Resident
Lost or Stolen Alien Card
Fiancee (K-1) Visas
Child Citizen Act of 2000
Diversity Program
