Consulate General of the United States Hyderabad, India

REPORT A BIRTH ABROAD

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad is a certificate that states that a child is a U.S. citizen from birth.  Many, but not all children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, are eligible to be documented as U.S. citizens through issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and U.S. passport. For more information please read http://www.travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html

If you were previously issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and wish to request a replacement copy, please click here. 

Appointment and Interview

Appointments are required to file a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad. Appointment are available for American citizens Monday through Thursday from 12:30pm to 4:00pm.  We are closed on last Wednesday of the month and on American and Indian holidays.

    Make an Appointment Here

We strongly recommend that both parents and the child appear at the Consulate in person on the date of the appointment with all of the required documents.

Required Documents

Parents typically choose to apply for the child's U.S. passport at the same time they apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The list below covers both the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and the U.S. Passport. 

Please bring the following original items to the interview:

• Proof the parents' identity and citizenship such as U.S. or other passports.
• Child's original computer generated birth certificate issued by the local authorities. The name of the child as it is recorded on the local birth certificate should be in the following order: FIRST MIDDLE LAST. (Otherwise you will be asked to return with a new birth certificate.)
• One (2) photo studio quality photograph of the child, 2" x 2" in size and taken against a light background.  The child must be facing forward with his/her ears showing and eyes open. (More Information)

• Prenatal and hospital records (e.g., ultrasounds, prescriptions, evidence of pre-natal doctor visits, hospital discharge documents, vaccination card, etc.) Applicants using surrogacy or ART services should also read here.
• The parents' marriage certificate, or other proof of their relationship prior to the child’s conception. 
• Present original divorce decrees from previous marriages.
• Proof of the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the U.S.  (This is not required if BOTH parents are U.S. citizens.)  For children born to one U.S. citizen and one foreign national, the U.S. citizen parent will need to show five years of physical presence in the U.S., two of which must be after the age of 14.  Examples of items that show physical presence are school transcripts, income tax returns with Form W-2, Social Security earnings history, pay receipts, passport entry/exit stamps in current and previous passports, etc.
• If also applying for a passport (see below) and only one parent is present in India, the other parent must complete Parental Consent Form DS-3053. This form must be notarized.
• Complete and print the following forms online before coming to your appointment but PLEASE DO NOT SIGN THE FORMS UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO BY A CONSULAR OFFICER.

DS-2029, Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad

Form DS-2029 Continuation Sheet (Use this form as a continuation sheet for Question number 12 on DS-2029--Precise Periods of Physical Presence in the United States.  This form must be completed ONLY for the U.S. citizen parent.  If BOTH parents are U.S. citizens, you may disregard this form.)

Form SS-5-FS Application for a Social Security Card

Form DS-11 Application for a U.S. Passport

Fees

Complete fee information is available here. If applying in person, you may pay with cash dollars, cash rupees (at the current exchange rate), demand draft,or a major U.S. credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

ART/surrogacy services

Indian Visa

Whether you plan to stay in India or travel outside India, your child will need a visa to stay in India or an exit permit to travel outside of India. After receiving the passport for your child, you can apply for the appropriate travel document at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Hyderabad. The Consulate will provide you with a letter of introduction to present to the FRRO.

Passport Processing Time

Except in emergencies, passports are printed in the United States and take approximately 10 business days.  Please consider this timeline when renewing or applying for passports. You will receive an automated email when your passport is ready.

CRBA and Passport delivery:

U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad is pleased to provide courier delivery services for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and U.S. passports.  This service will allow for timely tracking and fast delivery of your documents.  Please carefully read the instructions below to arrive at your appointment prepared. 

1. At the Consulate, you will be asked to purchase a courier envelope in the lobby for INR 300. The fee may be paid by cash or demand draft in favor of "First Flight Couriers LTD."  Drafts can be drawn on any nationalized or foreign bank operating in India. Drafts of co-operative banks are not accepted at this time. Along with your payment, you will also be asked to submit a completed  courier slip (PDF 176KB).
2. Once your CRBA or U.S. passport application is processed, the ACS Unit will return a sealed courier envelope containing your CRBA or U.S. passport to First Flight.
3. Once your CRBA or U.S. passport reaches First Flight, you will be able to check the status of your delivery on First Flight’s website.
4. You will receive a receipt from First Flight with the return of your CRBA or U.S. passport. 
5. If you opt to pick up your CRBA or passport in person, you may do so on Thursdays between 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  You do not need an appointment to pick up your CRBA or U.S. passport.  Please check our holiday calendar.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you are submitting your passport renewal application by mail and would like to have your new passport couriered to you, please submit a courier slip (PDF 176KB) and an additional bank draft for INR 300 payable to "First Flight Couriers LTD."  Bank drafts for courier fees can be drawn on any nationalized or foreign bank operating in India.  Drafts of co-operative banks are not accepted at this time.

Insufficient Evidence of Relationship

If the documentation provided does not clearly establish the stated relationship, DNA testing may be recommended.
In cases involving Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), clear evidence of the child’s genetic relationship to the transmitting U.S. citizen parent is required in addition to the other transmission requirements noted above.  We recommend that all medical procedures and agreements be carefully documented in order to establish the facts regarding the genetic parentage of the child. Consular Officers must consider all pertinent documents related to the CRBA application. It is highly likely that DNA will be recommended in these cases. Please review the DNA testing procedures on our website for more information on the procedures.  DNA kits take approximately two weeks to arrive at post, and it takes at least another two weeks after the testing to receive the results.  If you feel that DNA may be required in your case, you may order DNA kits in advance of your appointment. Please email hydacs@state.gov to inform us that the DNA kit is on the way. DNA testing information is available here. DNA test results may be emailed directly from the lab to the U.S. Consulate using this email address: HydDNA@state.gov.

Questions?
hydacs@state.gov