Eligible U.S. citizens include the following:
Persons who were born in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Swains Island, and American Samoa
Persons who were naturalized (made U.S. citizens) by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Persons who have citizenship through parents becoming naturalized U.S. citizens
Persons who got U.S. citizenship at birth abroad through a U.S. citizen parent or parents
Persons who got citizenship through application by U.S. citizen adoptive parent
NOTE: Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) became USCIS on March 1, 2003.
A person’s signature on the PA 600 or other DHS authorized application form stating that they are a U.S. citizen is acceptable verification of citizenship, unless there is information to the contrary. If documentation of U.S. citizenship is required, acceptable verification includes, but is not limited to the following:
Birth certificate or hospital records of birth
Religious records if the place and date of birth are shown
School records
Voter registration cards
Military service papers showing birth information
Certificate of citizenship or naturalization from the USCIS (N-550 or N-560)
Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizens in the U.S. (I-179)
U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-197)
U.S. passports
Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States (FS-240)
Certification of Birth Issued by the Department of State (FS-545)
Certification of Birth Abroad Issued by the Department of State (DS-1350)
If verification of citizenship is required, the CAO must note in the case record the type of documentation used to establish citizenship. Once U.S. citizenship is established, it is not necessary to verify this item again.
NOTE: This section does not affect verification requirements for noncitizens.
Updated September 27, 2024, replacing September 18, 2012