8 FAM 301.4
Acquisition by Birth Abroad to U.S. Citizen Parent(s) and
Evolution of Key Statutes
(CT:CITZ-13; 11-07-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/A)
8 FAM 301.4-1 (U) BASIS FOR DETERMINATION
OF ACQUISITION
8 FAM 301.4-1(A) Authority
8 FAM 301.4-1(A)(1) Federal
Statutes
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Acquisition of U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to a
U.S. citizen parent is governed by Federal statutes. Only insofar as Congress has
provided in such statutes, does the United States follow the traditionally
Roman law principle of jus sanguinis under which citizenship is acquired by
descent (see 8
FAM 301.1.
b. Section 104(a) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1104(a)) gives the Secretary of State the responsibility for the
administration and enforcement of all nationality laws relating to "the
determination of nationality of a person not in the United States."
8 FAM 301.4-1(A)(2) Applicable
Statute
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
The law applicable in the case of a person born abroad who
claims citizenship is the law in effect when the person was born, unless a
later law applies retroactively to persons who had not already become
citizens. Instructions in 8 FAM 301.4
will note when a law is retroactive.
8 FAM 301.4-1(A)(3) Delegation
of Authority
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Consular officers may decide cases involving acquisition
of citizenship by birth abroad. Designated nationality examiners may also do
so in connection with providing passport and related services. If guidance is
needed, a case may be submitted to the Department (see 8 FAM 105.1).
8 FAM 301.4-1(B) Prerequisites
for Transmitting U.S. Citizenship
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Since 1790, there have been two prerequisites for
transmitting U.S. citizenship at birth to children born abroad:
(1) At least one biological parent must have been a
U.S. citizen when the child was born. The only exception is for a posthumous
child; and
(2) The U.S. citizen parent(s) must have resided or
been physically present in the United States for the time required by the law
in effect when the child was born.
8 FAM 301.4-1(C) Adoption By a
U.S. Citizen Does Not Automatically Result in U.S. Citizenship for the Child
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Adoption of an alien minor by a U.S. citizen does
not, in and of itself, result in U.S. citizenship for the child. Adoption,
however, is one way in which a U.S. citizen father may be able to legitimate
his biological child born out of wedlock abroad for purposes of transmitting
citizenship (see 8 FAM
301.4-3(D)(2)).
b. For provisions that govern the naturalization of
adopted children, see 8 FAM 301.6.
8 FAM 301.4-1(D) A Biological
Relationship, or Blood Relationship, Is Required for a U.S. Citizen Parent of a
Child Born Abroad to Transmit U.S. Citizenship to the Child
8 FAM 301.4-1(D)(1) Establishing
Blood Relationship
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. The laws on acquisition of U.S. citizenship through
a parent have always contemplated the existence of a blood relationship between
the child and the parent(s) through whom citizenship is claimed. It is not
enough that the child is presumed to be the issue of the parents' marriage by
the laws of the jurisdiction where the child was born. Absent a blood
relationship between the child and the parent on whose citizenship the child's
own claim is based, U.S. citizenship is not acquired. The burden of proving a
claim to U.S. citizenship, including blood relationship and legal relationship,
where applicable, is on the person making such claim.
b. Applicants must meet different standards of proof of
blood relationship depending on the circumstances of their birth:
(1) Section 309(a) INA (8 U.S.C. 1409(a)), as amended
on November 14, 1986, specifies that the blood relationship of a child born out
of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father must be established by clear and convincing
evidence. This standard generally means that the evidence must produce a firm
belief in the truth of the facts asserted that is beyond a preponderance but
does not reach the certainty required for proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
There are no specific items of evidence that must be presented. DNA tests are
not required, but may be submitted and can help resolve cases in which other available
evidence is insufficient to establish the relationship. For the procedures for
establishing legal relationship to or legitimation by a citizen father once
blood relationship has been proven, see 8 FAM
301.4-3(D). (8 FAM 304.2 provides guidance regarding DNA tests.); and
(2) The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) does not
specify a standard of proof for persons claiming transmission of U.S.
citizenship based upon birth (a) in wedlock to a U.S. citizen parent or (b) out
of wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother. The Departments regulations also do not
explicitly establish a standard of proof in these two circumstances. Where no
other standard of proof is explicitly required by law, the Department applies
the general standard of a preponderance of the evidence. This standard means
that the evidence of the biological relationship is of greater weight than the
evidence to the contrary. In such a case, the evidence is credible and best
accords with reason and probability. Meeting the standard does not depend on
the quantity of evidence presented.
c. A man has a biological relationship with his child,
or a "blood relationship" as required in the current text of INA
section 309(a), when he has a genetic parental relationship to the child. A
woman may have a biological relationship with her child through either a
genetic parental relationship or a gestational relationship. In other words, a
woman may establish a biological relationship with her child either by virtue
of being the genetic mother (the woman whose egg was used in conception) or the
gestational mother (the woman who carried and delivered the baby). (See 8 FAM 304.3.)
d. Children born in wedlock are generally presumed to
be the issue of that marriage. This presumption is not determinative in citizenship
cases, however, because an actual biological relationship to a U.S. citizen
parent is required. If doubt arises that the U.S. citizen "parent"
is biologically related to the child, the consular officer is expected to
investigate carefully. Circumstances that might give rise to such a doubt
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Conception or birth of a child when either of the
alleged biological parents was married to another person during the relevant
time period;
(2) Naming on the birth certificate, as father and/or
mother, person(s) other than the alleged biological parents;
(3) Evidence or indications that the child was
conceived at a time when the alleged father had no physical access to the
mother;
(4) If the child was conceived or born when the mother
was married to someone other than the man claiming paternity, a statement from
the man to whom the mother was married disavowing paternity, a divorce or
custody decree mentioning certain of her children but omitting or specifically
excluding the child in question, or credible statements from neighbors or
friends having knowledge of the circumstances leading up to the birth may be
required as evidence bearing on actual natural paternity; and
(5) The child was born through surrogacy or other forms
of assisted reproductive technology. (8 FAM 304.3 provides guidance about acquisition of U.S.
citizenship by birth abroad and assisted reproductive technology.)
e. In such cases, it is within the consular officer's
discretion to request additional evidence pursuant to 22 CFR 51.45.
8 FAM 301.4-1(E) Suspected
False or Fraudulent Citizenship Claim of Minor Child
8 FAM 301.4-1(E)(1) General
Guidance
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Questions of possible parentage fraud must be handled
sensitively. Necessary efforts to enforce the citizenship laws may result in
the Department being accused of threatening the family unit and of jeopardizing
the welfare of the child. Cases of this kind often have public relations
ramifications or give rise to congressional interest. All such cases must be
handled in a timely manner with consideration for the family. Posts may
provide information on visa eligibility in cases where it has been proven that
the child has no claim to U.S. citizenship and the parents wish to take the
child to the United States. Posts should suggest that parents consult a lawyer
knowledgeable in family law and U.S. immigration law.
8 FAM 301.4-1(E)(2) Paternity
Issues
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Issues of false or fraudulent paternity claims:
Paternity fraud is an intentionally-filed claim to citizenship filed on behalf
of a child said to have been born to a U.S. citizen father who is not, in fact,
the biological father of the child. Paternity fraud is most commonly found in
cases where the claimed biological mother is an alien. In some cases, the
alleged father believes that he is the biological father in which case the
claim is properly considered false rather than fraudulent. In other cases, he
knows that he is not the father, and intentional fraud is involved.
Circumstances that might indicate false or fraudulent claim to paternity
include, but are not limited to:
(1) The child was conceived at a time when there is
doubt that the alleged father had physical access to the mother;
(2) The mother admits, or there is other evidence,
that she had physical relationships with other men around the time of
conception;
(3) The child allegedly was born prematurely, but its
weight at birth appears to indicate that it was a full-term baby;
(4) The physical characteristics of the child and of
the alleged father do not seem compatible; or
(5) There are discrepancies in the birth records.
(6) The record contains a DNA test that demonstrates
that the putative father is not genetically related to the child.
(7) The record contains a court order that indicates
that another man is the child's father.
b. How to resolve doubts: To ascertain the true
circumstances surrounding the child's conception and birth, the consular
officer may wish to:
(1) Obtain available records showing periods of time
when the alleged father had physical access to the mother;
(2) Interview the parents separately to determine any
differences in their respective stories as to when and where the child was
conceived. Often, in separate interviews, one party will admit that the U.S.
citizen is not the parent;
(3) Interview neighbors and friends to determine the
facts as understood within the local community; and
(4) Advise DNA testing if the couple continues to
pursue the claim even though the facts as developed seem to disprove it. The
propriety of requesting DNA testing is discussed in 8 FAM 304.2.
If post disapproves the application, enter the N lookout in the Consular
Lookout and Support System (CLASS) using the Passport Lookout Tracking System
(PLOTS) as explained in 8 FAM 1204.1 and forward the application to Passport
Services for scanning and record keeping in accordance with 8 FAM 501.5.
8 FAM 301.4-1(E)(3) Maternity
Issues
(CT:CITZ-1;
06-27-2018)
a. Indications of fraudulent maternity claims: Cases
in which a U.S. citizen woman intentionally and falsely claims a child as her
biological child for citizenship purposes are relatively rare but can occur.
The U.S. citizen woman, alone or in collaboration with her spouse, claims that a
foreign-born child is her biological child, when instead she has adopted the
child or otherwise, obtained physical custody of the child. The false claim
that the child is hers is made to avoid full legal adoption and/or visa procedures and to instead fraudulently
document the child as a U.S. citizen. Circumstances that might indicate a
possibility of maternity fraud include, but are not limited to:
(1) The alleged mother arrived in the foreign country
a few days before the child's birth;
(2) The alleged mother is beyond normal child-bearing
years;
(3) The child was born in a private home with the
alleged mother unattended or with only a midwife present;
(4) The alleged mother claims to have had no prenatal
care and not to have known the baby's due date;
(5) The alleged mother claims that the child was born
prematurely in cases where the documentation does not suggest a premature birth
(e.g. due to height/weight at birth) or the child's appearance suggests
otherwise; and
(6) The physical characteristics of the child and of
the alleged parents do not seem compatible.
b. How to resolve doubts: If the post has any doubts
about the child's parentage, further inquiry and documentation are required.
Posts should take any of the following steps that seem appropriate or
necessary:
(1) Establish that pregnancy did exist by, for
example, requesting copies of prenatal and post-natal records;
(2) Request any authorization letter given to the
woman by her physician stating that she could fly without endangering her
health. Airlines may refuse to assume responsibility for a woman who has
reached an advanced stage of pregnancy and may request such a letter before
allowing a pregnant woman on board;
(3) Investigate the clinic or hospital where the birth
allegedly occurred to determine if it is a legitimate medical facility.
Request medical records to determine whether the woman was a patient, and is
the biological mother of the child;
(4) When the consular officer strongly suspects that a
newborn child is not the gestational child of the alleged mother, yet the
alleged mother claims a gestational (but not genetic) relationship, was
adopted, request that the woman undergo a physical examination as soon as
possible by a physician whom the post believes to be reliable. Physical
evidence of pregnancy and childbirth may be obvious for only a few weeks after
the birth;
(5) Contact the midwife or doctor who attended the
birth to confirm statements given by the alleged parents; and
(6) If doubts remain about the child's blood
relationship to the alleged parents, DNA tests might be useful (see 8 FAM 304.2.)
8 FAM 301.4-1(F) Nature of
Citizenship Acquired by Birth Abroad to U.S. Citizen Parents
8 FAM 301.4-1(F)(1) Status
Generally
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Persons born abroad who acquire U.S. citizenship at birth
by statute generally have the same rights and are subject to the same
obligations as citizens born in the United States who acquire citizenship
pursuant to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. One exception is that, if
born prior to October 10, 1952, persons who acquired U.S. citizenship at birth
by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen(s) may be subject to citizenship retention
requirements described in 7 FAM 1100 Appendix L.
8 FAM 301.4-1(F)(2) Not
Citizens by Naturalization
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
Section 201(g) NA and section 301(g) INA (8 U.S.C.
1401(g)) (formerly 301(a)(7) INA) both
specify that naturalization is "the conferring of nationality of a state
upon a person after birth." Accordingly, U.S. citizens who acquire U.S.
citizenship at birth by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) are not
considered "naturalized" citizens under either act.
8 FAM 301.4-1(G) Citizenship
Retention Requirements
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Persons who acquired U.S. citizenship by birth
abroad were not required to take any affirmative action to keep their
citizenship until May 24, 1934, when a new law imposed retention requirements
on persons born abroad on or after that date to one U.S. citizen parent and one
alien parent.
b. Retention requirements continued in effect until
October 10, 1978, when section 301(b) INA was repealed. Because the repeal was
prospective in application, it did not benefit persons born on or after May 24,
1934, and before October 10, 1952 (see 7 FAM 1100 Appendix L).
c. Persons born abroad on or after October 10, 1952,
are not subject to any conditions beyond those that apply to all citizens.
d. Persons whose citizenship ceased as a result of the
operation of former section 301(b) were provided a means of regaining
citizenship in March 1995 by an amendment to section 324 INA (8 U.S.C. 1435).
A more detailed discussion of the retention requirements and remedies for
failure to comply with them is provided in 7 FAM 1100 Appendix L.
8 FAM 301.4-1(H) Report on
Applicant Who Has Not Acquired U.S. Citizenship
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
When the post determines that a person applying for
documentation as a U.S. citizen has no claim to U.S. citizenship at birth, the
post should enter an N looking in CLASS via PLOTS in accordance with 8 FAM 1204.1.
A discussion of the various types of lookouts is found in 8 FAM 501.5.
8 FAM 301.4-1(I) Birth in
Panama; Special Provisions
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Congress has enacted special legislation governing
the conditions under which U.S. citizenship may be acquired by birth in Panama
(see also 8
FAM 302.1 for legislation relating to the Canal Zone). This legislation
does not apply to all children born in Panama, but only to those born to U.S.
citizens employed by the U.S. Government or the Panama Railroad Company.
Section 303(b) INA (8 U.S.C. 1403(b)) states that: Any person born in the
Republic of Panama on or after February 26, 1904, and whether before or after
the effective date of this Act, whose father or mother or both at the time of
birth of such person was or is a citizen of the United States employed by the
Government of the United States or by the Panama Railroad Company, or its
successor in title, is declared to be a citizen of the United States.
b. This provision is the same as those in section
203(b) NA and section 2 of the Act of August 4, 1937 (50 Stat. 558). Because it
applies retroactively, it is not necessary to refer to the prior versions for
citizenship adjudication purposes; they are of historical interest only. Under
all three sections, a child born in Panama on or after February 26, 1904, to a
U.S. citizen employee of the U.S. Government or the Panama Railroad Company is
automatically a U.S. citizen at birth even if the citizen parent had never
previously resided or been physically present in the United States. The child
is not required to take any particular steps in order to retain citizenship.
c. Legitimation is required for a child born out of
wedlock to a male U.S. citizen engaged in qualifying employment. A child born
out of wedlock to an American woman employed by the U.S. Government or the
Panama Railroad Company acquires U.S. citizenship at birth.
d. Until August 4, 1937, there was no special law
relating to Americans born in Panama. Acquisition of citizenship was governed
by Section 1993, Revised Statutes which on May 24, 1934, was amended to include
retention requirements. Those retention requirements were superseded by the
August 4, 1937 Act, however, because it applied retroactively, as does its
modern version, section 303(b) INA.
e. In cases outside the scope of section 303(b) INA,
the general laws that govern the acquisition of U.S. citizenship by birth
abroad apply.
f. Evidence to prove a claim to U.S. citizenship under
section 303(b) INA would include:
(1) The child's Panamanian birth certificate or other
proof of the child's birth to a U.S. citizen (the blood relationship must be
established);
(2) The parents' marriage certificate, if applicable;
and
(3) Proof of the citizen parent's employment by the
U.S. Government or the Panama Railroad Company at the time of the child's
birth.
8 FAM 301.4-2 EVOLUTION OF KEY
ACQUISITION STATUTES
8 FAM 301.4-2(A) March 26, 1790
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. The First Congress enacted "An Act to Establish
an Uniform Rule of Naturalization" (1 Stat. 103,104) that stated, in part,
that: the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond
the sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural
born citizens; Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to
persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States.
b. This Act was repealed by the Act of January 29,
1795.
8 FAM 301.4-2(B) January 29,
1795
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. This act (1 Stat. 414) repealed the Act of March 26,
1790, but in section 3, adopted essentially the same provision for acquiring
U.S. citizenship by birth abroad.
b. This act was repealed by the Act of April 14, 1802.
8 FAM 301.4-2(C) April 14, 1802
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Section 4 of this act (2 Stat. 153,155) stated, in
part, that: the children of persons who now are, or have been citizens of the
United States, shall, though born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the
United States, be considered as citizens of the United States: Provided, That
the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never
resided within the United States.
b. This acts formula of permitting transmission of
citizenship by persons who now are, or have been citizens raised a question
whether persons who subsequently became citizens by birth or naturalization
could transmit citizenship to their children born abroad. The right of such
persons to transmit was clearly provided in the act of February 10, 1855.
8 FAM 301.4-2(D) February 10,
1855
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. On this date, Congress enacted "An Act to
Secure the Right of Citizenship to Children of Citizens of the United States
Born Out of the Limits Thereof," (10 Stat.604).
b. It stated, in part, that: persons heretofore born,
or hereafter to be born, out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United
States, whose fathers were or shall be at the time of their birth citizens of
the United States, shall be deemed and considered and are hereby declared to be
citizens of the United States: Provided, however, that the rights of
citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers never resided in the
United States.
c. The act of February 10, 1855 did not repeal the act
of April 14, 1802.
8 FAM 301.4-2(E) Section 1993,
Revised Statutes of 1878
(CT:CITZ-13; 11-07-2018)
a. The provisions of the act of 1802 and the act of
1855 were codified as Section 1993 of the Revised Statutes of 1878. From 1878
to 1934, Section 1993, Rev. Stat., stated that: All children heretofore or
hereafter born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, whose
fathers were or may be at the time of their birth citizens thereof, are
declared to be citizens of the United States; but the rights of citizenship
shall not descend to children whose fathers never resided in the United States.
b. Section 1993 permitted the transmission of
citizenship only by U.S. citizen fathers until it was amended prospectively on
May 24, 1934, to permit transmission by U.S. citizen mothers. (The similar
rights of women were also addressed by the 1994 amendment to section 301 INA
(see 8
FAM 301.7-2(B)).
8 FAM 301.4-2(F) May 24, 1934
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Section 1993 (48 Stat. 797) was amended by the act
of May 24, 1934, to permit U.S. citizen women to transmit U.S. citizenship to
their children born abroad, regardless of the fathers citizenship.
b. The amended section 1993 was in effect from May 24,
1934, at noon eastern standard time until January 12, 1941. The text of the
amended law is shown in 7 FAM 1135.6-1.
It was repealed, and superseded by the Nationality Act of 1940.
8 FAM 301.4-2(G) January 13,
1941
(CT:CITZ-13; 11-07-2018)
a. The Nationality Act of 1940 (NA) (54 Stat. 1137)
went into effect on January 13, 1941. Section 201 NA addressed acquisition of
citizenship by birth abroad. The pertinent text of section 201 NA is shown in 8 FAM 301.6-2.
b. The NA was repealed and superseded by the
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
8 FAM 301.4-2(H) December 24,
1952
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952,
the current law, has been in effect since December 24, 1952.
b. For original and amended provisions of this act, see
8 FAM
301.4-3(B)(1) and 8 FAM
301.4-3(B)(2).
8 FAM 301.4-2(I) 1986, 1988,
1994, and 1997 Amendments of INA
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. The citizenship provisions of the INA have been
amended by the following significant Public Laws:
(1) The Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of
1986 (Public Law 99-653), effective November 14, 1986;
(2) The Immigration Technical Corrections Act of 1988
(Public Law 100-525), effective October 24, 1988;
(3) The Immigration and Nationality Technical
Corrections Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-416), effective October 25, 1994; and
(4) Public Law 105-38 of August 8, 1997, which amended
Section 102 of Public Law 103-416.
b. The relevant parts of these statutes:
(1) Reduced the amount of U.S. physical presence
required to transmit citizenship to children born abroad;
(2) Changed the procedures by which children born
abroad out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father can acquire citizenship;
(3) Enabled children born abroad prior to May 24,
1934, to acquire U.S. citizenship through U.S. citizen mothers;
(4) Provided a means for persons whose citizenship
ceased through failure to comply with the retention requirements to have their
citizenship restored; and
(5) Specified the effective dates of various amended
provisions.
8 FAM 301.4-3 through 301.4-9
unassigned