The US government says effective
October 29, children of citizens born outside the country will no longer
automatically become citizens of the country.
The directive is contained
in a new policy issued on Wednesday by
the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
US citizenship can be acquired by
being born in the country or children born abroad can acquire citizenship
through their US citizen parents either at birth or before the age of 18.
But with the new policy, which
the US says it does not exempt “children of U.S military and U.S. government
employees stationed outside of the United States”, the children will now have to apply to become
citizens.
USCIS said children affected by
the policy change have the option of completing the naturalisation process
abroad before the age of 18.
It explained that the policy
change does not deny these children citizenship but narrows and affects the
process through which they can become citizens.
USCIS says the policy could
affect children of lawful permanent residents who naturalized after a child’s
birth.
“Effective October 29, 2019,
children residing abroad with their U.S. citizen parents who are U.S.
government employees or members of the U.S. armed forces stationed abroad are
not considered to be residing in the United States for acquisition of
citizenship,” the policy read.
“Similarly, leave taken in the
United States while stationed abroad is not considered residing in the United
States even if the person is staying in property he or she owns.
“Therefore, U.S. citizen parents
who are residing outside the United States with children who are not U.S.
citizens should apply for U.S. citizenship on behalf of their children under
INA 322 8, and must complete the process before the child’s 18th birthday.
“The child of a member of the
U.S. armed forces accompanying his or her parent abroad on official orders may
be eligible to complete all aspects of the naturalization proceedings abroad.
This includes interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings
relating to naturalization.
“Applications filed on or after
October 29, 2019 are subject to this policy. The policy in place before October
29, 2019 applies to applications filed before that date. Children who have
already been recognized through the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship as
having acquired U.S. citizenship under INA 320 are not affected by this policy
change.”
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