Passports
Frequently Asked Questions About American Citizenship and Passports
Our American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy is a busy place. Yearly, we receive over 2,000 passport applications and birth registrations. One of the prime functions of the ACS Unit is to provide information and guidance on citizenship questions. Below are the twelve most common questions we get concerning American citizenship and Passport.
Q. I was born in the United States while my parents were there temporarily for studies. Do I have a claim to American citizenship?
Yes, almost anybody born in the United States is an American citizen regardless of the nationality or status of the parents. The only exceptions are children of foreign diplomats who have full diplomatic immunity. Anyone else can apply for an American passport by presenting an original birth certificate showing birth in the United States and adequate identity documents.
Q. I am an American citizen. I recently had a child born in Qatar. Does the child have a claim to American citizenship?
Most likely. Whether an American citizen can transmit citizenship to a child born overseas depends on several factors: whether or not both parents are American citizens, whether or not the child is born in wedlock and when the child is born. The most common case is a child born in wedlock to one American citizen parent, and one non-American parent. The American citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for five years prior to the birth of the child. In addition, two of those five years must be after the parent reached the age of fourteen. For children born before 1986, the parent must have spent ten years in the United States with five years after the age of fourteen. The five years is cumulative so a few months here and a few years there can be used to add up to the five years. When both parents are American, they need only show that one of them has ever resided in the United States (no specified time). An American citizen mother of a child born out wedlock needs to show that she spent one continuous year in the United States. An American citizen father of a child born out of wedlock must have the five years and must have recognized the child and agreed to the child's financial support.
Q. My daughter has lived all her life in Qatar and cannot give American citizenship to her children. Is there any way they can become American through their grandparents?
Yes. When American citizens cannot transmit citizenship to their children born overseas because they do not have the required physical presence in the United States, they have two options:
- They can apply for the expeditious naturalization of their children, if an American citizen grandparent has enough physical presence in the United States. This procedure must be done through the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. The process takes longer (up to 3 years) and the child must go to the United States to be naturalized, but the end result is that the child receives a Certificate of U.S. Citizenship and is an American citizen. The process must be completed before the child is eighteen.
- The U.S. citizen parent may file for an immigrant visa for the child. Under the Child Citizenship Act, once the child enters the U.S. on an immigrant visa, the child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen. The child must be under 18 and in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent at the time of entry. Immigrant visas may be obtained through the Embassy in Doha. The immigrant visa process usually takes no more than 6 months.
Q. We are Americans living in Qatar. We just adopted a Vietnamese girl and she is living with us there. How do we get her an American passport?
The same process mentioned above can be used for children adopted overseas by American citizens. While adoption by a U.S. citizen parent does not automatically confer citizenship, it does qualify a child for expeditious naturalization, or citizenship upon entry to the U.S.
Q. My son has both Qatari and American citizenship. At what age must he choose which citizenship he wants to keep?
American citizenship is for life. The laws covering the retention of citizenship have been greatly liberalized - thanks in large part to the lobbying of American community groups. No child has to do anything at any age to retain, choose, affirm, or confirm American citizenship.In the 1980's, the Supreme Court ruled that citizenship is a Constitutional right, which cannot be taken away from a citizen who does not intend to relinquish it. Therefore, such actions as naturalization in a foreign election, do not automatically jeopardize American citizenship.
Q. I lost my citizenship long ago because I got a job with the Qatari government. I have heard that things have changed. Can I be American again?
Probably. The same Supreme Court decisions mentioned above have opened the way for review of many loss of citizenship cases. Although each case is different, many do not stand up to the revised level of scrutiny and can be vacated with the consequent restoration of citizenship.
Q. If we don't plan to travel back to the United States any time soon, why should we renew our passports now?
Three reasons:
- The passport is proof of American citizenship. Every American abroad should have valid proof of her or his citizenship at all times.
- Life is unpredictable. You will never know when you may need to travel suddenly to the United States. The last thing you need to do in an emergency is worry about getting downtown to get your or your child's passport renewed. It is much better to do it when it is convenient for you.
- A passport is required for countless Qatari administrative purposes and you do not want to get caught with an expired passport.
Q. I travel frequently and my passport is always at some embassy to obtain a visa. Can I get a second passport?
Generally, citizens are allowed to carry only one valid passport at a time. In some cases, the issuance of a second passport is possible : frequent travel and the delays due to visa applications; the presence of a stamp from one country that causes problems in another country. We will ask for justification from an employer or proof of compelling reasons for personal travel.