A: It is important to report your child’s birth as soon as possible. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad is an official record confirming that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. Also, in order to travel abroad, whether urgent and unexpected or planned, your child will need to have a U.S. passport. In order to apply for your child’s passport, you will need to have a CRBA to use as a proof of citizenship.

A: Yes. All routine U.S. citizen services such as a request for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad require an appointment.

A: Yes. If only one parent is able to come to the Embassy, a parental consent form (DS-3053)(PDF-27.8KB) must be completed by the absent parent and notarized within 3 months of the application. The original notarized consent form along with a copy of the ID used during the notary process must be submitted. Only the child's parents or legal guardian may apply on the child's behalf.  The application(s) must be signed before a U.S. consular officer or a designated military official.

A: Yes. Your child, even a newborn, must appear in person at our office at the time you submit the application. Military children can appear before the designated passport agent on base. There are no exceptions or waivers possible for this requirement.

A: The final decision on all matters relating to Korean law, including immigration law, rests with the Korean authorities and not with the U.S. Embassy. The information below is a guide to obtaining a Korean visa for your child. In cases where our general information conflicts with that published by the Korean authorities, their requirements are controlling. Please call (1345) or visit the Korea Immigration Service website for more information.

Korean Immigration requires parents of U.S. citizen children who are not also dual citizens of Korea to obtain a Korean visa in the child's passport within 90 days of the child's birth, if the child will remain in Korea for more than 90 days. Failure to register the child for a Korean visa within 90 days after birth could result in a fine by Korean Immigration. 

If your U.S. citizen child has a dual U.S. and Korean citizenship (i.e., one parent is a Korean national), she/he must be registered at the Korean ward office closest to your residence within 30 days of birth, as required of all Korean citizens. Please note that for all dual citizens, when entering the United States he/she must enter on a U.S. passport.

A: Requirements for your child's Korean visa vary if one or both of the parents are in SOFA status. Contact your unit’s legal office for additional information and assistance. Your child's visa or SOFA stamps are your responsibility. While the Embassy can provide some information about Korean visa regulations, we cannot intervene with Korean Immigration on your behalf. Military employees can contact the Administration Section of the 121st Hospital, their own Personnel Offices, or Army Community Services for assistance or information.

A: No. All U.S. citizens (even dual citizens) are required by law to travel into and out of the United States on their U.S. passport. Therefore if your child holds a dual citizenship, you will be turned around at the port of entry if you attempt to bring your child into the United States on his/her Korean passport. We encourage all U.S. citizens to apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and passport as soon as possible after their child is born.

A: No. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad can only be processed abroad. If your child was born in Korea, then the processing must be done in Korea. While you can file the documents at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, that office is required to send the paperwork to us in Korea for processing. This will delay processing, so it is best to complete the whole procedure while you are still in Korea.

A: You are encouraged to apply for your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DS-2029)(PDF-52KB), U.S. passport, and social security number (SS-5) at the same time.

A: You may apply for a Social Security number for your child at the same time you apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. His/her Social Security number is assigned by the regional Social Security office in Manila. Please remember that the processing time can take several months and the Social Security card will be mailed directly to you. If you have not received your child's Social Security card and need to file U.S. federal income taxes, please contact the IRS directly for advice on how best to proceed.

A: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is not a Social Security processing post. For all questions related to social security such as the status of the social security card, required documentation, social security claims, etc., please contact the regional Social Security Administration office in Manila, Philippines:

Social Security Administration
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Ermita, 0930 Manila
Philippines

Email: FBU.Manila@ssa.gov
Phone Number: +(63)(2)301-2000
Fax Number: +(63)(2)708-9723/9714

A: Yes. You may request the regional office in Manila to send the Social Security Number to the U.S. Embassy Seoul. Once you receive confirmation from Manila that the Social Security Number has been sent to the U.S. Embassy, please call the Embassy to confirm then you can make an appointment via our website to pick up the number.

A: The processing times for your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad and passport vary on a case-by-case basis but typically require three to four weeks once you have submitted all of the necessary documents. You may schedule an appointment to come to the Embassy to pick up the finished Consular Report of Birth Abroad and passport or take advantage of a courier delivery service and avoid another trip to the Embassy.

If your application for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad included an application for a Social Security card, your child’s Social Security card will be sent to you directly by the Social Security Administration office in Manila. Please allow several months for the card to arrive.

A: Yes. The Embassy provides routine consular services such as passport application services, requests for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, notarial services, etc. every Wednesday from 9:00am-2:00pm at the Yongsan ACS Bldg on the 2nd floor.

Service members can also receive assistance at the legal office or the Registrar's office at the 121st General Hospital to prepare the applications, and advise you about obtaining other documents you may need. When the forms and documents are ready, submit them to a USFK passport acceptance agency, or to the Embassy in person.

A: No. Additional copies of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad are available from the Department of State only; no records are kept at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

You can get details here on obtaining copies of your child's Report of Birth.

A: All Consular Report of Birth Abroad forms can be found at http://seoul.usembassy.gov/acs_download.html.