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Acquiring or Deriving Citizenship Through Parents
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Even if you were not born in the United States, you may be a U.S. citizen. This can happen by being born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, or by having held a green card when your parents became naturalized U.S. citizens. However, the legal details have changed over the years. Find out more here.
How Acquisition and Derivation of U.S. Citizenship Works
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U.S. Citizenship by Birth or Through Parents
An overview of who may acquire or derive U.S. citizenship through their parents' citizenship status or naturalization. -
Acquisition or Derivation of Citizenship for Adopted Children
Adopted children can acquire or derive U.S. citizenship from parents in similar ways to biological children -- but additional rules apply. -
Can I get U.S. citizenship through a grandparent?
When U.S. citizenship can pass down through generations. -
When U.S. parents use assisted reproductive technology, is baby born abroad a U.S. citizen?
Longstanding U.S. immigration law creates complications and injustices when applied to modern technological possibilities. -
Can my daughter gain U.S. citizenship through my ex, her father?
Your daughter may have been a U.S. citizen at birth, but if not, the key will be to not have the new spouse adopt her.
Checking Your Birth Date Against the Laws of Acquisition
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Acquiring Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents (If You were Born Between 12/24/1952 and 11/13/1986)
Born abroad to U.S. citizens between 12/24/1952 and 11/13/1986? You yourself may be a U.S. citizen. -
Acquiring Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents (If You were Born Between 11/14/1986 and the Present)
Here's the law on who, born in recent decades, becomes a citizen automatically through a U.S. citizen parent.
Checking Your Birth Date Against the Laws of Derivation
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Deriving Citizenship Through Parents (Naturalized between 10/24/1952 and 10/04/1978)
If you have a green card, check into your family history, you may discover that you're already a U.S. citizen based on your parents naturalization. -
Deriving Citizenship Through Parents (Naturalized between 10/05/1978 and 02/26/2001)
For green card holders whose parents naturalized, derivation of U.S. citizenship is a possibility. -
Deriving Citizenship Through Parents If You Turn 18 on or After February 27, 2001
You may already be a U.S. citizen, through an automatic process called derivation."
Applying for U.S. Government Recognition of Your Status as a Citizen
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How the Foreign-Born Children of American Citizens Can Prove or Obtain U.S. Nationality
You should be able to obtain proof of your acquired or derived U.S. citizenship. -
What should I get first: a Certificate of Citizenship or U.S. passport?
Citizens by acquisition or derivation can apply for a passport without first having a certificate of citizenship, and vice versa.
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