Documentary Evidence Needed to Establish a Citizenship Claim

C H E C K L I S T

Please submit the following checked item(s) to the Consular Section, American Citizens Services Section of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate ________________________ or the appropriate geographic division of the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, Room 4811 N.S., 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520 for transmittal to the U.S. embassy or consulate.

( ) 1. Child's original foreign birth certificate.

( ) 2. Proof of parent's or parents' U.S. citizenship (i.e. certified copy of U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, etc.)

( ) 3. Proof of parents' identity: Photo ID.

( ) 4. Certified copy of the parents' marriage certificate.

( ) 5. Documentary evidence of termination of any previous marriages of either parent (i.e. divorce decree, death certificate, etc.), if applicable.

( ) 6. Affidavit of Paternity/Maternity and Physical Presence (attached) executed before a notary public.

( ) 7. For the child's passport, two photographs. The photos must be recent (taken within the past six months), identical, 2×2 inches, and either color or black/white; (Full face, on a plain, light (white or off-white) background. Vending machine photographs are not acceptable.)

( ) 8. Fees: $40.00 for the Report of Birth; $40.00 for a five year passport for persons under the age of 16 (this includes a $15.00 execution fee.)

( ) 9. Other. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that both a blood and a legal relationship exist between the child and the U.S. citizen parent. 22 CFR 51.40 provides that the burden of proof is upon the applicant to establish a claim to U.S. citizenship. If a child is born out-of-wedlock, the U.S. citizen father must provide proof of access to the mother at the probable time of conception. Similarly, in unusual circumstances, such as in vitro fertilization cases, surrogate mother cases, etc., additional evidence may be required.

( ) 10. Power of Attorney: If passport application is executed by alien parent or person other than Notarized statement of authorization from U.S. citizen parent for alien spouse to execute application for U.S. passport and Report of Birth for child.