Embassy of the United States Athens, Greece

In addition to the naturalization process, the United States recognizes the U.S. citizenship of individuals according to two fundamental principles: jus soli (right of birthplace) and jus sanguinis (right of blood).  The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals born in the United States or in U.S. jurisdictions, according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals born in the United States, such as children of foreign heads of state or children of foreign diplomats, do not obtain U.S. citizenship under jus soli.

Certain individuals born outside of the United States are born citizens because of their parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis, which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his/her parents. The U.S. Congress is responsible for enacting laws that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S. citizen parent or parents according to the principle of jus sanguinis. These laws are contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA".)

Naturalization of Children Who Regularly Reside Outside the United States (Form N-600K)

Certain children who regularly reside outside the United States may be eligible for citizenship under Section 322 of the INA. Form N-600K may be filed by:

• A U.S. citizen parent seeking citizenship on behalf of a minor adopted or biological child under section 322 of the INA (providing for citizenship through an application process for biological and adopted children who regularly reside outside of the United States and meet certain conditions while under age 18), or
  
  
• If a U.S. citizen parent of a child who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of INA 322 has died, a U.S. citizen grandparent or a U.S. legal guardian can file the application at any time within five years of the US citizen parent’s death.
•  If the child’s citizen parent has not lived in the United States for at least 5 years, 2 of which were after that parent’s 14th birthday, the citizen parent currently has a parent (child’s grandparent) who:
• Is also a U.S. citizen, and
   
  
• Lived in the United States for 5 years, at least 2 of which were after the citizen grandparent’s 14th birthday, and
   
• May be living or deceased at the time of the adjudication of the application and the taking of the oath.
• Form N-600K (PDF 76 KB)
• Instructions for  Form N-600K (PDF 231 KB)

Note:  

Effective October 30, 2011, Form N-600K must be filed with the USCIS Phoenix, AZ Lockbox at:

For U.S. Postal Service:
USCIS
P.O. Box 20100
Phoenix, AZ 85036

For USPS Express Mail and Courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attention: N-600K
1820 E. Skyharbor, Circle S, Floor 1
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Form N-600K applications for children of military service members still should be filed with the Nebraska Service Center. 

For more information about the N-600K process, please visit the USCIS website page on "Citizenship of Children".

In addition, the U.S. Department of State's website pages on "Citizenship and Nationality" provides guidance on some citizenship issues, including information on the Child Citizenship Act, dual nationality, documentary evidence required to establish a citizenship claim, and renunciation of U.S. citizenship.