How to Become a Citizen If You Are Under 18
- 1). Be born in the United States. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, the 14th Amendment guarantees automatic citizenship to all children born within the U.S., with the only proof of citizenship required being a legal U.S. birth certificate. However, in most cases, this does not apply to the children of certain foreign heads of state and visiting diplomats.
- 2). Have two parents who are U.S. citizens. If you are born abroad, and both of your parents are U.S. citizens at the time of your birth, and at least one of them lived in the U.S. at some point in their lives, then you are automatically an American citizen. You must first, however, register your birth with a U.S. consulate or embassy by presenting them with your birth certificate. In some cases, you may apply for a U.S. passport to have your citizenship recognized. Other times, you may need to fill out an Application for Certificate of Citizenship, USCIS Form N-600, available in the Resources section below.
- 3). Have one parent who is a U.S. citizen and meets certain requirements. If one of your parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of your birth and that person lived in the U.S. for five years before your birth, with at least two of those years coming after their 14th birthday, then you are automatically a U.S. citizen. The procedure for having this citizenship recognized is the same as in Step 2.
- 4). Be adopted by U.S. citizens. Parents adopting a foreign-born child lacking U.S. citizenship must file an Application for a Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child, USCIS Form N-643, also available in the Resources section. The child is not a citizen until the form is submitted and approved, the child swears an oath of allegiance to the U.S., and the certificate of citizenship is issued, all of which must occur before the child turns 18. At least one of the children's parents must be a U.S. citizen, the child must have been adopted before the age of 16, and the child must be living with his parent as a legal permanent resident.
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