Frequently Asked Questions On Immigration
Children of
Citizen Parents
Q.
When I was just 4 months old my father, a U.S. citizen, brought my mom and me here with
resident alien visas. Later my mom became a U.S. citizen. Though my name was on my mom's
application for citizenship, the INS has never called me and given the citizenship. What's
my status?
A. You are a U.S. citizen. To get proof, have one of your parents apply
to get you a U.S. passport. Under the law in place at the time your mother naturalized,
you became a U.S. citizen on the day she was sworn in. Her naturalization gave you two U
S. citizen parents. Current law make it even easier for a child to get U.S. citizenship.
Under the Child Citizenship Act enacted on Feb. 27, 2001, a permanent resident under 18
needs only one U.S. citizen parent to get automatic U.S. citizenship. To benefit, the
child must be in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.
(By Alan Wernick)
 
¡@ |