If your child is a foreign national, you may wonder about the legal avenues for their entry to the United States. Fortunately, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recognizes that immigration policies impact children’s health and well-being. Therefore, the Child Citizenship Act was introduced for family reunification. Please continue reading to learn how the Child Citizenship Act impacts immigrant families and why connecting with an experienced Middlesex County, New Jersey Citizenship & Naturalization Lawyer is in your best interest.
What is the Child Citizenship Act?
The effective date of the Child Citizenship Act is February 27, 2001. This federal law allows foreign-born, biological, and adopted children of U.S. citizens to acquire U.S. citizenship if they meet specific requirements before the age of 18. It’s important to note that this Act applies to children who did not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. However, they will be granted citizenship when they enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident (LPR).
Immigration policies and enforcement actions have significant physical, emotional, developmental, and economic repercussions for children who have immigrant parents. As such, immigration reform expands the definition of “child” in immigration law to apply to the children of “permanent partners,” meaning legal partnerships other than marriage qualify. Essentially, U.S. citizens legally recognized as a child’s parents may pass citizenship on to their children.
What Are the Requirements?
To qualify, a child must meet the following requirements:
- Have at least one U.S. citizen parent by birth or naturalization
- Be admitted to the U.S. as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence
- Be under 18 years of age
- After admission to the U.S., reside in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent
- If adopted, the adoption must be full and final so that the adoption process is legally completely and fully recognized by the U.S. state where the child is residing
How Does a Child Show Lawful Permanent Residence?
A child who has lawful permanent residence status will receive a green card. In addition to their green card, they can prove their LPR status by showing the I-551 stamp on their passport. This stamp indicates that the child has entered the U.S. on an immigrant visa and has been admitted as an LPR.
At the Law Offices of Aditya Surti, LLC, we are prepared to guide you through your legal options. If you have any questions regarding the Child Citizenship Act, please don’t hesitate to contact a trusted Middlesex County, New Jersey, citizenship and naturalization lawyer who can help you reunite your family. Allow our legal team to advocate for your interests.
