When a child is born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, the citizen parent(s) may be able to transmit U.S. citizenship to that child at birth. For children born in wedlock to two U.S. citizen parents, the parents only need to provide proof that at least one parent resided in the U.S. prior to the birth. If only one parent is a U.S. citizen, the citizen parent must show that s/he resided in the U.S. for at least five years (including two years after the age of 14) prior to the birth of the child. For children born out of wedlock, or prior to November 1986, please see Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship by a Child Born Abroad.
Children who acquire U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen receive a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). See below for applying for a CRBA. Once you have obtained a CRBA, you can apply for a passport for your child and a Social Security number.
Applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
To apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, at least one parent/guardian and the child must appear at the U.S. Embassy.
The following original documents must be presented, along with translations into English by a sworn translator.
- Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. Please complete the information requested in section A of form DS-2029(PDF 4.1 MB). Number 24, regarding parents’ physical presence in the United States, is particularly important and should be carefully reconstructed and documented for the U.S. citizen parent(s), prior to going to the embassy for your appointment. Please use additional sheets of paper if necessary. Section B is only completed when requested by the Consular officer at the Embassy. (If the child was born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father and a non-U.S. citizen mother, and the father is not present for the application, he should complete DS-5507 Affidavit of Physical Presence or Residence, Parentage, and Support and sign in the presence of a consular officer or U.S. notary.)
- One 5 cm x 5 cm (2 in x 2 in) photograph. See Photo Requirements. Local photography shops can provide the appropriate type photos.
- Original Algerian birth certificate (12S) for the childissued by the Algerian government. (Ensure that the name shown on the birth certificate is how you want it to appear on the U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad.) Please also provide a photocopy so that the original document can be returned to you.
- Parents’ original marriage certificate(if the parents are married). Please also provide a photocopy so that the original document can be returned to you.
- Evidence of termination of previous marriagesif applicable, such as divorce decree or death certificate (certified copies).
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship for one or both parents: U.S. passport, original birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. Please also provide a photocopy so that the original document can be returned to you.
- Photo identification for both parents: U.S. or foreign passport, U.S. Alien Resident Card (I-551), U.S. driver’s license, or certain foreign government-issued identification. Please also provide a photocopy so that the original document can be returned to you.
- Evidence of physical presence in the United States:For children born after November 1986 to just one U.S. citizen parent, the citizen parent must show that s/he physically resided in the U.S. for at least five years (including two years after the age of 14) prior to the birth of the child. This is the actual time when the parent was physically within the borders of the United States. This means that any travel outside the United States, including vacation, should be excluded. Maintaining a residence in the U.S. does not constitute physical presence. (However, service abroad with the U.S. government/military does count toward physical presence.) Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. could include school transcripts, payroll statements for jobs in the United States, apartment/house rental payments, bank statements showing transactions in the U.S., or other evidence. You must account for at least five years of residency. Tax returns or Social Security statements of income are not sufficient to demonstrate presence.
- Evidence of maternity/paternity: The consular officer may require additional evidence of the blood relationship between the child and the parents listed on the birth certificate. When you attend your appointment, please bring the mother’s pre-natal medical records including sonograms, the hospital’s birth certificate, a doctor’s signed statement attesting to pre-natal treatment, or other evidence. In addition, bring evidence that the father was in the country with the mother at the time of conception.
- Payment of application fee: $100, or the equivalent in Algerian dinar, payable in cash.
Submitting the Application
Once you have all of the above, please either scan and email the documents to ACSAlgiers@state.gov, or mail the documents (but not the payment) to us at:
U.S. Embassy
05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi
El-Biar 16030
Alger, Algeria
We will review the documents provided within a week of receipt and notify you when your appointment is scheduled. You will make payment when you attend your appointment.
Replacing a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
If you need to replace a lost U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, please follow these on-line instructions.
