Application Process for Children Under the Age of 18, Born to U.S. Citizen Parent(s)

Persons age 18 and over are not eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).  Information for persons over the age of 18 who are attempting to acquire citizenship through their U.S. citizen parent(s) as adults can be found at our webpage “Citizenship Claim.”

Working Hours and Processing Times

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana accepts CRBA applications, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m., by appointments only though our online appointment system.

On the day of your appointment, one of the parents is required to bring all the listed documentation to the Consular Section at 8:30 a.m.  Our consular staff will enter the information in the system and will assign an appointment for 1:15 p.m., for both parents and the child (the applicant), on the same day of your scheduled appointment.  Both parents and the child(ren) must be present at the 1:15 p.m. interview.

Usually, upon approval of a CRBA, the certificate requires 15 to 20 business days to be produced.

Please read all the information on this page to understand the application process, including making an appointment and preparing documents for the interview.  If you do not bring the required documentation, we will suspend processing of the application and you may be required to schedule another appointment.

Before You Apply

Please visit the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs web page “Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship by a Child Born Abroad” to learn more on the U.S. citizenship law requirements on physical presence.

How you prove you were physically present will depend a lot on your situation.  There is no one-size-fits-all answer.  Some examples of acceptable evidence include school transcripts, old passports, income tax returns, utility bills in the name of the parent, employment records, military records, and or medical records.  The more you can provide, the easier it will be for the consular officer to approve the CRBA.

Check List

Please download and print our “CRBA Checklist” (PDF 301.77 KB) and bring it to your appointment, signed, and dated.  Please check the appropriate box in front of each document that you bring with you.  Many of the documents require you submit both an original and photocopy (See Photocopy Requirements.)  If you do not bring a photocopy as indicated, you will be charged for each page that needs to be copied.  The documents should be placed in the same order as the checklist with the original on top of the copy.  If you appear more than 30 minutes late for your appointment, your appointment will be cancelled and you will need to make a new appointment.  In addition to this list, a personal appearance by the applicant (the child) is required.

Scheduling an Appointment

Upon completion all of the below required documents, please schedule an online appointment by through our online “Consular Calendar.”  Your interview appointment time will be scheduled at 8:30 a.m.  On the day of your appointment, one of the parents is required to bring all the listed documentation to the Consular Section at 8:30 a.m.  Please make sure that you have included a signed copy of this checklist, together with all the required documentation, including originals and photocopies as explained below.  Our consular staff will enter the information in the system and will assign an appointment for 1:15 p.m., for both parents and the child (applicant), on the same day of your scheduled appointment.  If the documents are not presented to the Consular Section by 8:30 a.m., on the day of your appointment, your appointment will be canceled and you will need to make a new appointment.

Fee Payment

The CRBA application fee is paid at the time of the application.  Payment is made to the cashier in the Consular Section, and can be done by cash (Dollars or Leke) or by credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover.)

Reminder

We stand ready to assist you; however, the biggest obstacle to a quick completion of the CRBA application process is obtaining all of the necessary documents.  If you do not bring the required documentation, we will suspend processing of the application and you may be required to schedule another appointment.  You may be asked to provide additional documentation at the time of your interview.  By regulation you will have 90 days to submit the requested documentation or the case will be closed for insufficient evidence to establish U.S. citizenship of the applicant.  Be reminded all fees are non-refundable.

More Information

For more information please visit the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs web pages “Birth of U.S. Citizens Abroad” and “Applying For a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).”