Eligible U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals include individuals who:
Were born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory., including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after November 4, 1986.
Were naturalized (made a U.S. citizen) by the USCIS.
Get citizenship from parents who are naturalized U.S. citizens. The parents must become naturalized before on tof the following:
The child's 21st birthday when the parents were naturalized before October 14, 1940,
The child's 18th birthday when the parents were naturalized on or after October 14, 1940
Are children, including adoptive children, born abroad to U.S. citizen parent or parents. Citizenship is acquired automatically if all of the following conditions are met:
At least one parent is a U.S. citizen, whether by birth or naturalization
The child is unmarried and under age 18
The child is residing in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S citizen parent
The child is a lawful permanent resident
If adopted, the child meets the requirements of Section 101(b)(1)(E) or (F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and has had a full and final adoption
Granted citizenship through application by at least one U.S. citizen adoptive parent(s).
8 U.S.C. § 1431
The CAO must:
Accept an individual's statement on the application that he is a citizen. An adult household member must sign the application, under penalty of perjury, declaring each member of the household’s citizenship status. 7 CFR § 273.2(b)(1)(iii) If there are no adult household members, the applicant must sign the statement for himself or herself and for all other household members under age 18.
Verify citizenship only if questionable. The applicant's statement regarding citizenship is questionable when:
The claim of citizenship is inconsistent with statements made by the applicant on the application or previous applications
The claim of citizenship is inconsistent with information received from another source
Acceptable forms of verification include:
Birth certificates and hospital birth records.
NOTE: Accept only birth certificates for Puerto Rican individuals issued on or after July 1, 2010
Religious records recorded in the U.S., if place and date of birth are shown.
Voter registration cards.
Military service papers.
Certificate of citizenship (form N-560 or N-561) from the USCIS.
Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) from the USCIS
USCIS Forms I-179 identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States--(no longer issued but still acceptable evidence of citizenship) or I-197 U.S. citizen ID Card--(no longer issued but still acceptable evidence of citizenship)..
Department of State forms FS-545(Certification of Birth Abroad), DS-1350 (Certification of Report of Birth) or FS-240 (Consular report of Birth Abroad) issued to citizens born abroad.
NOTE: As of December 31, 2010, the Department of State no longer issues the DS-1350. The form is still valid for proof of identity and citizenship.
U.S. passports.
Form I-872, American Indian Card
Form I-873, Northern Marianas Card
U.S. census record showing the name, U.S. citizenship or a U.S. place of birth and the age or birth date of the individual
If an individual has made a reasonable effort to get proof but cannot do so, accept a signed affidavit from another U.S. citizen.
The affidavit must state that:
The signer is a U.S. citizen;
The signer knows that the applicant is a U.S. citizen; and
The signer may be fined, imprisoned, or both if he or she gives false information.
Revised October 3, 2014, replacing March 1, 2012