Birth of a U.S. Citizen abroad
Reporting the Birth Abroad of a Child to U.S. Citizen Parent(s)
If you are a U.S. citizen and the parent of a child born outside of the United States, you will need to document your child's citizenship with a Consular Report of Birth. This document is used in the United States like a certified copy of a birth certificate, and it is acceptable evidence of citizenship for obtaining a passport and entering school. Although the application forms and final documents are the same everywhere, the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain also requires the following.
The child's birth certificate must be electronic. If the child is under three months of age, and an electronic birth certificate is unavailable, you must get an Apostille stamp placed on the handwritten birth certificate. Children older than three months must have an electronic birth certificate - there are no exceptions. Electronic birth certificates and Apostille services are provided by these offices of the Registrar General:
Registration House
Ministry of Legal Affairs
South Quay, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Tel 624-1660
Registrar General
Caroline Building No. 2
11 Hamilton Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Tel 639-3210/1330
The other requirements are the same worldwide. Please visit the Department of State's website for requirements and forms:
Applying For a Consular Report of Birth Abroad
(from travel.state.gov)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/living_5497.html
Appointments are Required
Applications for a Consular Report of Birth (CRBA) are accepted by appointment only. Please click here for instructions on how to schedule your appointment. New CRBAs are usually ready to pick up two weeks after the complete application is submitted.
We strongly recommend that you apply for the child's passport concurrently with your application for the CRBA. You do NOT need separate appointments to do so.
Replacements of Consular Reports of Birth Abroad
Replacements must be requested in writing from the Department of State in Washington, DC.
Please call (202) 955-0307 or visit this website for more information: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_825.html