TN 53 (06-24)
RM 10210.540 General Information for Evidence of U.S. Citizenship for a Foreign Born Adopted Child
Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 CCA certain foreign-born children, including adopted children, residing permanently in
the U.S. automatically acquire U.S. citizenship if they meet certain requirements.
Under the CCA, “automatic” means the child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship
on the date that the child meets all the requirements of the law, without additional
action.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of State (DOS) determines
when the requirements for citizenship are met. DHS issues and mails a Certificate
of Citizenship to the adopting parent(s) of foreign-born adopted children who enter
the U.S. on or after January 20, 2004, and who meet the requirements of the CCA. The
parent’s do not have to request the certificate and should receive it within 45 days
after the child is admitted to the U.S.
However, prior to January 20, 2004, DHS did not automatically issue and mail the Certificate
of Citizenship when the child entered the U.S. In these cases, the parent(s) must apply to DHS, USCIS for the child's citizenship documentation.
We do not have the authority to make citizenship determinations for foreign-born children
in the absence of acceptable evidence or a prior SSA record.
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