PHAM & CLOVES, PLLC

NATURALIZATION AND DERIVATIVE APPLICATIONS

What is the Child Citizenship Act of 2000?

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted, children of American citizens to acquire American citizenship automatically as derivative citizens. These children did not acquire American citizenship at birth, but they are granted citizenship when they enter the United States as lawful permanent residents (LPRs).  The Houston Texas U.S. Citizenship Application Attorneys and the U.S. Naturalization and Derivative Citizenship Lawyers at Veritas Legal Group are experienced in assisting applicants obtaining citizenships through naturalization and derivative citizenship.  Please contact our Houston Immigration Lawyer and our Houston Naturalization Attorneys for assistance.  Our U.S. Immigration Lawyers may be reached at 832-484-9015. 

Prior to the enactment of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, a child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. citizen parent must be qualified as a citizen at birth to qualify as a U.S. Citizen.  Alternatively, to qualify as a derivative citizen, the child must be under 18 when BOTH of the parents became U.S. citizens.  That is, if a child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. citizen parent on or after November 14, 1986: A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. citizen parent may be entitled to citizenship providing the U.S. citizen parent had been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years, at least two years of which were after the parent reached the age of fourteen. This period of physical presence must have taken place prior to the birth of the child.

A child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. Citizen parent between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986: A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. Citizen parent and one non-U.S. Citizen parent, may be entitled to citizenship providing the U.S. Citizen parent had, prior to the birth of the child, been physically present in the United States for a period of ten years, at least five years of which were after the American parent reached the age of fourteen.

A child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. Citizen parent between January 13, 1941 and December 23, 1952: A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. Citizen parent and one non-U.S. Citizen parent, may be entitled to citizenship providing the U.S. Citizen parent had, prior to the birth of the child, resided in the United States for a period of ten years, at least five years of which were after the American parent reached the age of sixteen.

What Are the Requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000?

The child must have at least one American citizen parent by birth or naturalization, be under 18 years of age, live in the legal and physical custody of the American citizen parent, and be admitted as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence. In addition, if the child is adopted, the adoption must be full and final.

The effective date of Act is 2-27-2001.  As such, if you are under 18 at the time of that date, you are a U.S. citizen. As such, you can file an application for derivative citizenship with the U.S.CIS section of the Consulate Abroad.  Alternatively, you can also try to apply for a passport with the U.S. Consular Office. 

Please contact the Houston Naturalization and Derivative Lawyers and the Houston U.S. Citizenship Application Lawyers at Veritas Legal Group for more information and to set up a Consultation.  Our Houston Immigration Law Office and our U.S. Consular Application Attorneys would be able to assist you any here across the country and around the world.