US Citizenship or Naturalization certificate?

Question

my friend was born in canada, and came for a vacation to the US when she was 1. her mother then realized that she couldnt go back to her abusive husband (she is a US citizen) and decided to stay in the US. my friend wants to get her passport, and is claiming US citizenship through her mother, but they said that she actually needs to get her own citizenship or naturalization certificate. what is the easier one to obtain, as she has school documents to certify that she has lived here for a LONG time, but she doesnt have any documents that show that she came to US legally (she did have papers, but they were lost)?

Answer 1

If her mother was a US citizen when she was born, then she would have been considered an American citizen if her mother had filed the birth with the American Embassy. Since her mother didn't, I believe she is not considered a US citizen and will have to apply for US citizenship.

Answer 2

Since your friend was born outside the US, it is true that she will need proof that she acquired citizenship from her mother before she can have a passport. If her mother did not apply for the child's citizenship at birth, that doesn't mean that your friend is not a citizen - it only means that she has never been documented as a citizen and she needs to take care of that now. If she acquired citizenship from her mother, your friend does not have to be naturalized, but she will need the active cooperation of her mother to finally get herself documented properly. Here is a link to the process.

http://www.travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html

Saying that "she did have papers, but they were lost" is very suspicious. It usually means that there are no "papers." On the other hand, if her mother actually had applied for your friend's citizenship, she can get a copy of the FS-240 through the process specified in the link I gave you above.

Answer 3

INA: ACT 301 - NATIONALS AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AT BIRTH

Sec. 301. [8 U.S.C. 1401] The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:

....
(d) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is a citizen of the United States who has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the birth of such person, and the other of whom is a national, but not a citizen of the United States;

....

Answer 4

first step check with USCIS website, i guess they should be able to pull out your info through your social security number, name, and date of birth there are always kept records for such cases

Answer 5

I am afraid that if she is over 18 years old she will have to it on her own.Perhaps there is still a record of her entering the US with her mom. A lawyer should be able to straighten things out for her.

Answer 6

Canadians are welcome. She needs a citizenship.