Us Citizen Fathers Applying For Us Citizenship For Their Thai Born Children

[thaisail]

I just discovered from reading the "Instructions for Consular Report of Birth abroad of a US Citizen" the following Quote:

"Birth Abroad to One Citizen and Alien Parent in Wedlock: A child born to one U.S citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301 (g) of the INA, provided the citizen parent was physically present in the US for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. For birth on or after November14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two of which come after the age of fourteen, is required. For a birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, the parent must of resided in the U.S. for a period of ten years, five of which must have been after the age of fourteen. Aceptable written documentation of physical presence includes school transcripts, work evidence and previous passports."

My appointment at the US Embassy to declare the birth of my daughter born 2 weeks ago, is on July 11th. I was born in the US and lived all but one year in the US from 1955 to 1984. I have started to write to schools that I attended before age 14 and the first one sent back an email that since they are a "elementry school" they do not keep records that go back to 1962 (the age before computers!). Who knows where my passport from 1962 is now 45 years later. I have lived in foreign countries since 1984 and have two other children whe were born in France in Are there any US citizen fathers out there with Thai wives who have had Thai children born recently, who can tell me about their experience dealing with the US Embassy in Bangkok? Was this issue of physical presence documentation being enforced?

[jumnien]

This process was no problem in my case. They were very cordial and efficient and just believed what was written on the application. Apparently, no investigation of my 1966 third grade class was attempted. Don't worry.

[chanchao]

In other words, no worries if you're white and look and sound American.

[jumnien]

I'm not white and people tell me I have a Canadian accent...

[Old Man River]

I just discovered from reading the "Instructions for Consular Report of Birth abroad of a US Citizen" the following Quote:

"Birth Abroad to One Citizen and Alien Parent in Wedlock: A child born to one U.S citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301 (g) of the INA, provided the citizen parent was physically present in the US for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. For birth on or after November14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two of which come after the age of fourteen, is required. For a birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, the parent must of resided in the U.S. for a period of ten years, five of which must have been after the age of fourteen. Aceptable written documentation of physical presence includes school transcripts, work evidence and previous passports."

My appointment at the US Embassy to declare the birth of my daughter born 2 weeks ago, is on July 11th. I was born in the US and lived all but one year in the US from 1955 to 1984. I have started to write to schools that I attended before age 14 and the first one sent back an email that since they are a "elementry school" they do not keep records that go back to 1962 (the age before computers!). Who knows where my passport from 1962 is now 45 years later. I have lived in foreign countries since 1984 and have two other children whe were born in France in Are there any US citizen fathers out there with Thai wives who have had Thai children born recently, who can tell me about their experience dealing with the US Embassy in Bangkok? Was this issue of physical presence documentation being enforced?

Several of us have been through this. I don't know of anyone who has had to produce evidence of physical presence. What they will check is your passport to make sure you are a US citizen.

If this is your first interview and you are in Bangkok, then it isn't with the US Embassy, but rather Home Security. You have to get Home Security's approval first before your file is transferred to the US Embassy. Each step requires additional information, but once presented then it is on to the next step.

[ilyushin]

No difficulties. Should be no problem.

[Gumballl]

Several of us have been through this. I don't know of anyone who has had to produce evidence of physical presence. What they will check is your passport to make sure you are a US citizen.

If this is your first interview and you are in Bangkok, then it isn't with the US Embassy, but rather Home Security. You have to get Home Security's approval first before your file is transferred to the US Embassy. Each step requires additional information, but once presented then it is on to the next step.

Have things changed? I applied for US citizenship for my Thailand-born daughter at the ACS (American Consular Services) section of the US Embassy in Bangkok in Sept 2005. I did not have to go through DHS. I do not recall having to provide hard evidence either. All I had to do was complete a form indicating the time periods I was physically in the US. A tedious task because the only records I had were my passports which show the dates when I was out of the country!

My petition was approved in about 35 minutes, and then 2 weeks later the passport was ready. I cannot recall if I also received my daughter's SSN as the same time or some time later when I was back in the US. But I applied for both at the same time.

[Old Man River]

Several of us have been through this. I don't know of anyone who has had to produce evidence of physical presence. What they will check is your passport to make sure you are a US citizen.

If this is your first interview and you are in Bangkok, then it isn't with the US Embassy, but rather Home Security. You have to get Home Security's approval first before your file is transferred to the US Embassy. Each step requires additional information, but once presented then it is on to the next step.

Have things changed? I applied for US citizenship for my Thailand-born daughter at the ACS (American Consular Services) section of the US Embassy in Bangkok in Sept 2005. I did not have to go through DHS. I do not recall having to provide hard evidence either. All I had to do was complete a form indicating the time periods I was physically in the US. A tedious task because the only records I had were my passports which show the dates when I was out of the country!

My petition was approved in about 35 minutes, and then 2 weeks later the passport was ready. I cannot recall if I also received my daughter's SSN as the same time or some time later when I was back in the US. But I applied for both at the same time.

I can't explain this. Hopefully, they have changed for the better as I started the process prior to you and DHS came first.

One thing hasn't changed. Proving physical presence is not needed, only proof of US citizenship.

[Old Man River]

Several of us have been through this. I don't know of anyone who has had to produce evidence of physical presence. What they will check is your passport to make sure you are a US citizen.

If this is your first interview and you are in Bangkok, then it isn't with the US Embassy, but rather Home Security. You have to get Home Security's approval first before your file is transferred to the US Embassy. Each step requires additional information, but once presented then it is on to the next step.

Have things changed? I applied for US citizenship for my Thailand-born daughter at the ACS (American Consular Services) section of the US Embassy in Bangkok in Sept 2005. I did not have to go through DHS. I do not recall having to provide hard evidence either. All I had to do was complete a form indicating the time periods I was physically in the US. A tedious task because the only records I had were my passports which show the dates when I was out of the country!

My petition was approved in about 35 minutes, and then 2 weeks later the passport was ready. I cannot recall if I also received my daughter's SSN as the same time or some time later when I was back in the US. But I applied for both at the same time.

I just thought of this and perhaps this would be the difference. You are, apparently, living in Seattle. I was and am living in Thailand. Perhaps DHS gets involved for those of us with residences outside of the US who plan on not returning to live in the US in the foreseeable future.

[qualtrough]

I live in Thailand and have two daughters. My memory of the process is that it was very simple and the embassy personal were very helpful. They advised me to apply for SS cards at the same time. I don't recall having to provide any detailed info about residing in the USA.

[thaisail]

Several of us have been through this. I don't know of anyone who has had to produce evidence of physical presence. What they will check is your passport to make sure you are a US citizen.

If this is your first interview and you are in Bangkok, then it isn't with the US Embassy, but rather Home Security. You have to get Home Security's approval first before your file is transferred to the US Embassy. Each step requires additional information, but once presented then it is on to the next step.

Have things changed? I applied for US citizenship for my Thailand-born daughter at the ACS (American Consular Services) section of the US Embassy in Bangkok in Sept 2005. I did not have to go through DHS. I do not recall having to provide hard evidence either. All I had to do was complete a form indicating the time periods I was physically in the US. A tedious task because the only records I had were my passports which show the dates when I was out of the country!

My petition was approved in about 35 minutes, and then 2 weeks later the passport was ready. I cannot recall if I also received my daughter's SSN as the same time or some time later when I was back in the US. But I applied for both at the same time.

I just thought of this and perhaps this would be the difference. You are, apparently, living in Seattle. I was and am living in Thailand. Perhaps DHS gets involved for those of us with residences outside of the US who plan on not returning to live in the US in the foreseeable future.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I can get a good night sleep now that I know that I won't have to call any more schools to find transcripts!!!

[gavstah]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I can get a good night sleep now that I know that I won't have to call any more schools to find transcripts!!!

Transcripts? Fuggeddaboutit!

I went through this just last month. The only documentation I'd provided were original and certified (by the legalization division at the Thai Foreign Ministry) translations of:

Marriage certificate

Baby's Thai Birth certificate

Also had to provide:

- Wife's ID card (since we had a previous certified translation of that, we gave them that too)

- Wife's old passport (since she'd told them she had previously lived outside of Thailand).

- My passport

Went into the interview with wife, baby, and mother-in-law (our 24/7 day care)

Very nice Thai lady pre-screened us to make sure we had everything we needed, then she interviewed my wife with a few questions (where'd you meet, how long have you been together, etc)

Consular officer then showed up and asked me if I went to elementary/junior/high school in the US, what I did after that, etc. That was as in-depth as it got for me. Brief interview - just a couple of minutes. Case approved on the spot.

The only thing that held things up for us was that they asked to see my wife's old passport (prior to changing to her married name and getting new passport). Once we provided that they told us to come back in a couple of weeks to pick up the baby's passport and docs.

Hope this helps - feel free to pm me if you want any more details on the process.

[Sulaphat]

I think that the residency requirement applies only to those who were themselves not born in the US. The intent is to try to prevent transmitting citizenship to multiple generations via persons who may have had little or no physical presence in the US.

[thaihome]

Just a small technicality. You are not apply for US citizenship for your daughter. You are reporting the birth abroad of a US citizen.

TH

"Documentation of United States Citizens Born Abroad Who Acquire Citizenship At Birth

The birth of a child abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the nearest American consular office for the purpose of establishing an official record of the child’s claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record is in the form of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. This document, referred to as the Consular Report of Birth or FS-240, is considered a basic United States citizenship document. An original FS-240 is furnished to the parent(s) at the time the registration is approved."

[drbill]

Even if you do not meet the U.S. residence requirements your child can still be a U.S. citizen under the Children's Citizen Act of 2000 if a grandparent of the child meets/has met the residence requirements. Don't worry. Best regards, Bill