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Who Has Citizenship By Birth?

Persons who are born in the United States are citizens at birth unless they are born to foreign diplomats.

A person who is born abroad to TWO US citizens is a US citizen if both parents were US citizens at his or her birth and at least one parent lived in the US at some point in his or her life.

For those born abroad to only ONE US citizen, if you are born outside the United States after November 14, 1986 and only one of your parents was a citizen at the time of your birth you may qualify for citizenship if: (1) Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the US before you were born, and (2) 2 out of 5 of these years were after his or her 14th birthday.

If you were born outside the United State before November 14, 1986 and only one of your parents was a citizen at the time of your birth you will qualify for citizenship if: (1) Your citizen parent lived in the US for at least 10 years before you were born, and 2) 5 out of 10 of these years were after his or her 14th birthday.

Other Citizenship and Naturalization FAQs

Q: Who Is An Alien For Purposes Of United States Immigration?
A: An alien is any individual who is not a citizen or a national of the U.S. Within the category of alien are several distinctions: Legal alien: one who is … More
Q: How Do I Become A Naturalized Citizen?
A: If you are not a US citizen by birth or did not acquire citizenship automatically after birth, you may still be eligible to become a citizen through the normal … More
Q: What Is An Immigration Visa?
A: Immigrant and nonimmigrant are the two types of visas. The granting or denying of visas helps achieve the goals of immigration laws. Nonimmigrant visas are … More
Q: How Long Does It Take To Become Naturalized?
A: The time it takes to be naturalized varies from one local USCIS Service Center to another. More
Q: Who Determines Whether Or Not My Request(S) For Entry Into The U.S. Will Be Granted?
A: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency responsible for approving immigrant entry into the U.S. USCIS is a bureau … More
Q: Where Can I Be Fingerprinted?
A: After the USCIS has received your application, the USCIS will notify you of the location where you should get fingerprinted. More
Q: How Do I Know If My Immigration Problem Involves The Department Of State, Uscis, Or The Department Of Labor?
A: The answer depends on whether the problem involves a visa, a petition requesting permission to enter the United States, or labor certification.If the problem involves … More
Q: Should I Hire A Lawyer?
A: Yes, whether you are filing forms because you were a child born abroad to one or two parents who are U.S. citizens, filing for natural or adopted children born abroad, … More
Q: How Do Most People Become U.S. Citizens?
A: One way in which citizenship may be achieved is by birth in the U.S., or birth to parents who are U.S. citizens. If neither of these situations applies, one may … More
Q: What Is A Green Card?
A: A green card is, technically, a United States Permanent Resident Card. This card serves as identification for one who is a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the … More

Immigration Sub-categories

Diversity Visa Program (Green Card Lottery)
Filing for Permanent Residency
Immigration Decision Appeals
Port-of-Entry

Seeking Asylum in the USA
Studying in the USA
Temporary Protected Status
Visiting the USA - Visas