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My Adopted Son is a U.S. Citizen

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Brian D. Lerner, Immigration Lawyer & Deportation Attorney

Question: My wife and I were unable to have our own children. Therefore, we looked to adopt a child. Because this took years in the U.S., we decided to do an international adoption which has turned out to be much quicker. However, now that the adoption has gone through, we are unsure what must be done to bring our adopted child into the United States. Can you help?

Answer: Yes. Eduardo Aguirre, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), today announced an important step toward the fulfillment of the Child Citizenship Act (CCA). USCIS is launching a CCA Program to simplify and streamline the process by which parents obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for their children.

“I want prospective parents, who are seriously considering international adoption, to know that the process just got a little easier. This program will help parents to more rapidly realize the privileges of American citizenship for their children. It accelerates reassurance of their child’s citizenship status,” said Director Aguirre.

One of the Director’s eight strategic initiatives, the CCA Program will eliminate the backlog of N-643 forms (Application for Certificate of Citizenship in Behalf of an Adopted Child) relating to children affected by the CCA. Additionally, the program will soon automatically provide Certificates of Citizenship to certain adopted children within 45 days of entry into the United States. These Certificates of Citizenship will be produced and mailed to the parents without application and without fee.

Managed from the USCIS Buffalo, New York District Office, the program will initiate 45-day processing for children who fall within the Immediate Relative visa category. This will be for adoptions whereby adoptions are made final overseas. This program will eliminate the issuance of a Permanent Resident Card for newly entering children, since these cards are not applicable to U.S. citizens.

Question: What must I do to fall under this program?

Answer: Assuming you are a U.S. Citizen and your child is under 18 years old, he or she will be considered to be an Immediate Relative. You must petition him or her for lawful permanent residency. Once this is done, then the adopted child can enter the United States. The moment the child takes one step in the United States, he or she will automatically become a U.S. Citizen. According to the new policy, the Certificate of Citizenship should be sent within about 45 days.

Filed under: Adoption, CCA, Immigrant Visa, Immigration Law, immigration provisions | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

My child is a U.S. Citizen – and I didn’t even know!

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Brian D. Lerner, Immigration Lawyer & Deportation Attorney

Question: We just petitioned our child after not seeing him in our home country for over 2 years. He will be coming to the U.S. as a Lawful Permanent Resident. When can we apply for citizenship for him?

Answer: On October 30, 2000, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) was signed into law. The new law permitted foreign-born children (including adopted children) to acquire citizenship automatically if they meet certain requirements. It became effective on February 27, 2001.

Question: Which Children Automatically Become Citizens Under the CCA?

Answer: Since February 27, 2001, certain foreign-born children of U.S. citizens (including adopted children) residing permanently in the United States acquired citizenship automatically. The term “child” is defined differently under immigration law for purposes of naturalization than for other immigration purposes, including adoption. To be eligible, a child must meet the definition of “child” for naturalization purposes under immigration law, and must also meet the following requirements: The child has at least one United States citizen parent (by birth or naturalization); The child is under 18 years of age; The child is currently residing permanently in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the United States citizen parent; The child has been admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident or has been adjusted to this status; An adopted child must also meet the requirements applicable to the particular provision under which they qualified for admission as an adopted child under immigration law. Acquiring citizenship automatically means citizenship is acquired by operation of law, without the need to apply for citizenship.

Question: Must an application be filed with USCIS to establish a child’s citizenship?

Answer: No. If a child qualifies for citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act, the child’s citizenship status is no longer dependent on USCIS approving a naturalization application. The child’s parents may, however, file an application for a certificate of citizenship on the child’s behalf to obtain evidence of citizenship. If a child satisfies the requirements listed above, he or she automatically acquires U.S. citizenship by operation of law either on the day of admission to the United States or on the day that the last condition for acquiring citizenship is satisfied.

Question: Will Eligible Children Automatically Receive Proof of Citizenship?

Answer: If the child falls under this provision, they will automatically receive a Certificate of Citizenship within 45 days of admission into the U.S. This program eliminates the need for the issuance of a Permanent Resident Card for newly entering children, since these cards are not applicable to U.S. citizens.

In other words, if the child falls under this provision of law, the moment they are admitted as a Lawful Permanent Resident, they are immediately considered to be a U.S. Citizen.

 

Filed under: CCA, Citizenship, Immigration Law, immigration provisions, U.S. Citizens | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

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