Mom with US Citizenship, baby was born in Italy 5 months ago, how do I make him an american?

Question

I am american citizen, my husband was born in New York and then moved to Italy, so he has american passport. We got married 2 years ago in Houston texas and I moved with him to Italy. Our baby was born in Italy 5 months ago, now I'm back in Texas, what do I need to do to register my baby and get his american passport?

Answer 1

I see your here in Texas, but you don't say where the child is. If the child is still in Italy, then the child's birth needs to be registered with the US embassy in Rome or at one of the consulates. See http://italy.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/services/N-600K.asp
for the procedures in Rome. Otherwise, check out usembassy.state.gov for the websites of the consulates. They normally issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and a passport. If the child is here somehow, then you need to go see USCIS in Houston right away.

Answer 2

Most of what Alex said is correct.

A U. S. citizen child born outside the U.S. may apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad at a United States Embassy or Consulate where the birth occurred. Requirements for two US citizen parents is that one of the parents established a residence in the US at any point prior to the birth of the child.

He's right when he says: "If you obtain the CRBA, this will be proof of US citizenship, which well then allow you to apply for a passport and SSN."

He's right when he says: "However, if the baby is already back in the US, the situation is a little bit different. He will no longer be able to get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, but he will be allowed a US passport: you must apply directly to the passport office for a passport, enclosing similar documentation to that shown above."

This isn't good advice: "For reference, you do NOT need to contact UCSIS unless you are not able to transmit citizenship to your child (ie: neither of you has ever had a residence in the US)." If you want to get a Ceritificate of Citizenship for the baby, you need to contact USCIS.

This is true: "For the benefit of others on here: babies DO need a passport to travel in and out of the US,..." See 22 CFR 53.1(a). Just being a baby isn't one of the exceptions listed in 22 CFR 53.2.

A U.S. citizen traveling by air needs a U.S. passport under the current regulations. I'm assuming that the baby traveled by air from Italy to the U.S. (unless he's still in Italy).

This is true: "...and he will NOT have to choose between citizenships at age 18."

Good job Alex.

EDIT: Alex, I think we agree. I carefully worded what I said. I said "If you want to get a Ceritificate of Citizenship for the baby, you need to contact USCIS."

"If you want".........not "you better or else all the powers of ICE, the FBI and the Border Patrol will hunt you down and take your baby away from you!!!" ;-)

Answer 3

You should have applied for your baby's citizenship and US passport immediately, in Italy. Since he was born outside the US, the only proof of his citizenship will be the FS-240 Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, which can only be issued by the US embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over the place where the child was born. The application process will be more complicated now, especially if you brought him into the US on an Italian passport.

Here is the process:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_828.html

You need to contact the American Citizen Services unit of the correct embassy or consulate (find it here, email is okay to start with - http://usembassy.state.gov/ ), explain the situation, and get busy on the paperwork.

ADDENDUM: I am delighted to be able to say that everybody else - even George and Alex - has written something that is wrong. Even if the child is in the US, you still must apply for the FS-240 BEFORE you can apply for a US passport. An SSN has nothing to do with citizenship. USCIS cannot help you; you MUST contact the US embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over the place the child was born.

Answer 4

DISREGARD MOST OF THESE OTHER ANSWERS: PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

If the child is still in Italy, you must apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad at a United States Embassy or Consulate in Italy. Requirements for two US citizen parents is that one of the parents established a residence in the US at any point prior to the birth of the child.

All information and documents required are here: http://italy.usembassy.gov/acs/birth.asp
If you obtain the CRBA, this will be proof of US citizenship, which well then allow you to apply for a passport and SSN.

However, if the baby is already back in the US, the situation is a little bit different. He will no longer be able to get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, but he will be allowed a US passport: you must apply directly to the passport office for a passport, enclosing similar documentation to that shown above.

For reference, you do NOT need to contact UCSIS unless you are not able to transmit citizenship to your child (ie: neither of you has ever had a residence in the US). For the benefit of others on here: babies DO need a passport to travel in and out of the US, and he will NOT have to choose between citizenships at age 18.

EDIT: @dognhorsemom: The baby can NOT receive an FS-240 once he has entered the US for the first time. See here: It does state that http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_828.html
"A Consular Report of Birth can be prepared only at an American consular office overseas". If he back in the US, there is no point contacting the embassy in Italy, because they won't be able to do anything for you.

EDIT: @Fred S: there really is no need to contact UCSIS if you obtain a CRBA and a passport. These are both, indivually proof of US citizenship (they are two of the six or so documents that I am aware of that are commonly used to prove US citizenship). However, if you wish to get a Certificate of Citizenship, you certainly can but there isn't really much point if you have CRBA and passport. That is why I say not to bother: it is simply a bit of a waste of time and money. Otherwise, thanks for the compliment!

Answer 5

May already be one, you just have to paper it, likely. It would have been easier to register a birht of a US Citizen abroad, but you can get a certificate of citizenship through uscis.gov

Put 'certificate citizenship' in the search bar and the link to the forms will come up with instructions.

Answer 6

specific! specific! and specific! remember here: a million.) the technique for a spousal visa could take it gradual to confirm by way of, a million year or greater. 2.) interior the mean time you may get your toddler registered as a US CITIZEN. 3.) you will ought to coach which you lived interior the U. S. for greater desirable than 5 years, on a similar time as nevertheless a minor. 4.) you will additionally ought to coach the whole background of return and forth out of and into the U. S.. as maximum suitable your reminiscence serves you. 5.) your buddies and relatives will in all probability recommend in comparison, yet believe me your toddler would be effective and your baby desires his/her father! 6.) There are stable docs everywhere. very own observe to You: the 1st year of marriage is going to be your genuine project, and that i don´t understand in case you have lived exterior your usa earlier, yet that too is a stressful ingredient, so which you will ought to be stable willed approximately making the marriage paintings. You and your HUSBAND are going to be taking over plenty: a million.) being pregnant 2.) Language 3.) custom 4.) Marriage 5.) Immigration do no longer provide up!

Answer 7

Contact the local American Embassy immediately. In addition, go online to the INS and read their instructions on this issue.. there may well be forms to fill out on-line.

Make sure you have a documented.. offical... birth certificate. Don't tell anyone you thinks so.. call the hospital and make sure... documented offical birth certificate, and tell the hospital what you are planning to do... ask them if that birth certificate is sufficent to do the job.

By way of explaination... I am 66 and in the U.S. I had to jump hoops and do backflips to get my drivers license and set up my Medicare. (Texan) This country has a massive... MASSIVE document fruad problem at the moment and you want all your documents in very strict order.

Answer 8

I believe your child is an american citizen by virtue of having been born to someone with citizenship. Babies don't need passports, all they need are birth certificates and social security numbers. Go to the local Social Security Administration building in your town and register for a Soc.

Answer 9

well, since he was born out of country, i assume he doesnt have a ssn yet, right?
well, first, you should go take care of that, youll probally only need your+daddys birth certificates, proving you were born here, then youd need the bebe's birth certificate. id definately contact uscis for that first. then that should get you started!
but really, im just guessing. it might be better to go to the consulate.

Answer 10

Take him to the US Consulate. I'm sure there's one in Houston. If not, you'll probably have to go to Austin. He'll have dual citizenship until he's 18, at which point he will choose the country of which he wants to be a citizen.