Determining US Citizenship

  1. Who is a US Citizen?

All persons born or naturalized in the US and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of the US.  Thus, a child born in the US to parents who are diplomats of a foreign country are not subject to the jurisdiction of the US and the child is therefore not a US citizen.  In addition, certain individuals are citizens of the US at birth even though they were born abroad, which is discussed below.

  1. Born outside the US to Two US citizen parents.

Individuals born outside of the US to parents, both of whom are citizens of the US and one of whom has had a residence in the US or one of its outlying possessions prior to birth of such individual, is a US citizen.

  1. Born outside the US to One US citizen parent and other parent a US national.

Individuals born outside the US and its outlying possessions of parents, one of whom is a citizen of the US who has been physically present in the US or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the birth of such individual, and the other whom is a national but not a citizen of the US.  A US national is a person born in or having ties with an outlying possession of the US.

  1. Born outside the US to One US citizen parent and other parent an alien.

Individuals born outside of the US and its outlying possessions of parents, one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the US who, prior to the birth of such individual, was physically present in the US or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining age of fourteen years.