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.
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.
Will Our Surrogate Child Born Overseas Acquire U.S. Citizenship From Us?
Longstanding U.S. immigration law creates complications and injustices when applied to modern technological possibilities.
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.
Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents (If Born Between 11/14/1986 and Today)
Here's the law on who, born in recent decades, becomes a citizen automatically through a U.S. citizen parent.
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."
How 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.
Filling Out Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
How people who became citizens automatically through their parents can prepare the USCIS form requesting a Certificate of Citizenship.