If hope this isn't a dumb question, but I don't know and would like to find out. My husband and I are both US citizens, born and bred. My husband has been in the Army for 2 1/2 yrs., is downrange until Nov. '08 and completely out by Oct. '09. I am 4 months pregnant. We've been here for one year. We live on a small post, so it doesn't have it's own hospital and I will have to deliver in a German hospital. Will that make the baby a German citizen or because we're both US citizens, automatically a US citizen as well? Please. Thx :)
2007-09-13 03:23:20 · 17 answers · asked by lstgrl23 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
My eldest was born in the Birkenfeld Krankhaus in Germany. The treatment was so superior to that received for the other 2 in US hospitals that it cannot be compared.
Your baby will be a US citizen. You will apply for and receive a "Certificate of Birth Abroad" from the US State Dept, through the embassy, by mail. There are people at your post that can help will all that. As soon as possible get your baby's passport. In addition your baby will have a German birth certificate but, unlike the US, Germany does not automatically confer citizenship. It is possible that later in life your child might want to consider citizenship or residency in Germany and this would help with it. In the meantime the German birth certificate is a nice memento. And no, your child won't be subject to the draft in Germany.
My son is 20 in November and we've had no problems.
2007-09-13 03:34:27 · answer #1 · answered by chessale 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was born in Germany too. Air force brat. =) I also was not born on the base, but in a german hospital.
I do believe I had dual citizenship until I was 18. I could have claimed my german citizenship up until that point, but it defaulted to American, since that is where I was living. Your baby will definitely be an American citizen by virtue of your citizenship. Also, just as an fyi, your baby will have to get his birth certificate from the State Department. Do yourself a favor and get several copies in case the first one gets lost. It is a HUGE pain to replace it.
Not sure if the laws have changed though. It's been a while.
2007-09-13 03:33:53 · answer #2 · answered by gefyonx 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The baby WILL BE a American Citizen because
you and your husband are American Citizens and that will be noted on the birth certificate at the German Hospital!!
2007-09-13 04:19:58 · answer #3 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He or she will be a US citizen. Unlike in the US, Germany does not give citizenship to a child born in the country unless one of the parents is:
-German
-Has a legal residency permit and has had this status for at least 3 years.
-Has lived in Germany for 8 years or longer.
2007-09-13 03:33:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If the parents are american,
It does not matter where their child is born, the child is a natural born american citizen.
Being in the Military has nothing to do with it.
Some countries grant citizenship to any child born in their country, just like the US does.
But just because a country grants citizenship, does not mean you have to accept it.
My nephew was born in athens greece, he couild if he wanted to, move back to greece as a citizen.
But he is still an american citizen.
And i will have to say, Greece has much nicer birth certificates than the US does.
They are suitable for framing, lots of gold and ribbons on it.
2007-09-13 16:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I remember, with both being US citizens, the child is US but you need to register with the US authorities so that you have travel documents,, healthcare etc. - also register a home in the US. Go see the embassy and get some documents prepared, save worrying later.
I know people who have dual citizenship from the 1980's, which makes travel easier but I'm not sure how that works.
2007-09-13 03:32:44 · answer #6 · answered by typoifd 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
American citizen, since you are over there under SOFA status. You will just need to file a certificate of Birth Abroad( and for cripes' sake don't EVER lose a copy! they are a pain in the tuckus to get replaced!
2007-09-13 05:44:59 · answer #7 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both of my sons were born whie we were station with the4 USAF in England.
Both of my sons are US citizens, neither is dual citizen.
My sons have birth certificates which read 'US citizen born abroad'.
Contact the JAG office, they can fill you in on the rest fo the details, but in short answer, your child iwll be a US citizen at birth.
2007-09-13 03:40:27 · answer #8 · answered by Michael H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
did you register your children at US embassy in Germany? Citizenship through the parent(s) is not automatic if the child is born overseas. The parent through which citizenship is derived has to meet residency requirements. (Normally ten years, five of which after the age of 14)
2016-04-04 18:43:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the child will be a U.S. Citizen as the child will be carried on your citizenship regardless of the place of birth.
2007-09-13 04:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by oscarsix5 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋