REPORT OF BIRTH

To better serve customers, all routine services in ACS, including reports of birth, are by appointment only. Please click here to access the appointment calendar.

General Information

A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met. The child’s parents should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA) to document that the child is a U.S. citizen. If the U.S. embassy or consulate determines that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth, a consular officer will approve the CRBA application and the Department of State will issue a CRBA, also called a Form FS-240, in the child’s name.

According to U.S. law, a CRBA is proof of U.S. citizenship and may be used to obtain a U.S. passport and register for school, among other purposes.

Parents of a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen or citizens should apply for a CRBA and/or a U.S. passport for the child as soon as possible. Failure to promptly document a child who meets the statutory requirements for acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth may cause problems for the parents and the child when attempting to establish the child’s U.S. citizenship and eligibility for the rights and benefits of U.S. citizenship, including entry into the United States. By law, U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

The application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad includes an application for a social security number. The number will be mailed to you approximately three to six months after registration by the Social Security Administration. Any questions or issues regarding the application for a social security number should be addressed to the Social Security Administration. The child’s passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad are processed by the U.S. State Department and take approximately two weeks to arrive.

Original documents must be presented with the applications. All original documents will be reviewed by a consular officer and returned to the applicant. Visitors are not allowed to bring any electronic devices into the Embassy, so please bring hard copies of all documents and photos needed for the appointment. In order to efficiently establish the U.S. citizenship of your child, please bring the following: 

1.  The  child's original Chinese birth certificate and a clear, high-resolution photocopy of it. English translation is not required;

2.  Passports or other proof of their citizenship and identity (required for both parents) of the child's parents. Please also bring clear and high-resolution photocopies of the documents;

3.  Original or certified copy of parents' marriage certificate and a clear, high-resolution photocopy of it, English translation is not required;

4.  Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. This applies if only one parent is U.S. citizen, see details below;

5.  One recent 2 inches by 2 inches (5x5 cm) photo (see photo requirements);

6.  The following unsigned application forms: Consular Report of Birth Abroad application DS-2029 (PDF - 420.3kb), U.S. Passport application DS-11, Social Security Card application (PDF - 233.8KB); 

Note: For DS-11 – enter zeroes in the SS# box; social security application SS-5 manually completed form is also accepted; After you fill out the application online, print it, and bring it with you the day of your appointment.

7.  Prenatal and hospital birth records, pictures of the child’s growth and mother's pregnancy;

8.  Both parents’ proof of termination of all previous marriage(s), if relevant; and

9.  Fee USD 100 for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and USD 105 for a passport

NOTE: The child must appear in person with the parents at the Embassy or the Consulates General when the parents are reporting the birth.

More information on how to report the birth of a child is available at the Department of State's website.

Physical Presence    

Physical presence is the actual time when the parent was physically within the borders of the United States. This means that any travel outside the United States, including vacation, should be excluded. Maintaining a residence in the U.S. does not constitute physical presence. You may submit tax returns, wage statements (W2s), school transcripts, utility bills, rental/lease agreements, etc. as evidence of your physical presence in the United States. If you submit W-2s as evidence of physical presence, please also submit a letter from the employer stating your period of stay in the U.S. If a parent is a naturalized U.S. citizen, previous Chinese passports can be used as evidence of physical presence.

Note: Any periods of time spent overseas with the United States Military/Government or qualifying international organization (such as the United Nations) may be computed as physical presence in the United States for transmission of citizenship purposes. Time spent as a dependent of such person may also be computed as physical presence. Military records or other proof may be requested.  

Children born abroad to U.S. citizen parents may have a claim to U.S. citizenship. The following is a brief description of the various circumstances under which a child born abroad acquires American citizenship.

Child born in wedlock to two U.S. citizens:  

A child born outside of the United States or its outlying possessions to two U.S. citizen parents is entitled to citizenship, provided one of the parents had, prior to the birth of the child, been resident in the United States or one of its outlying possessions. No specific period of time is required.

Child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non U.S. citizen parent on or after November 14, 1986:

A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-U.S. citizen parent may be entitled to citizenship, providing the U.S. citizen parent had been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years, at least two years of which were after s/he reached the age of fourteen. This period of physical presence must have taken place prior to the birth of the child.  

Child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-U.S. Citizen parent between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986:  

A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. Citizen parent and one non-U.S. Citizen parent may be entitled to citizenship providing the U.S. Citizen parent had, prior to the birth of the child, been physically present in the United States for a period of ten years, at least five years of which were after s/he reached the age of fourteen.    

Child born out of wedlock to a U.S. Citizen mother:

A child born outside of the United States and out of wedlock to a U.S. Citizen mother is entitled to U.S. citizenship, provided the U.S. Citizen mother had been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least one year at some time prior to the birth of her child. (NOTE: The U.S. citizen mother must have lived continuously for 1 year in the United States or its outlying possessions.. Periods spent overseas with the U.S. government/military or as a government/military dependent, may NOT be computed as physical presence in the U.S.).  

Child born out of wedlock to a U.S. Citizen father:  

A child born outside of the United States to an U.S. Citizen father where there is no marriage to the non-American mother is entitled to U.S. Citizenship providing the American citizen father had been physically present in the United States for the period of time as specified in previous paragraphs for children born in wedlock to one U.S. Citizen and one non-U.S. Citizen parent, either before or after November 14, 1986; and 

• The father signs a sworn statement agreeing to provide financial support for the child until s/he reaches the age of 18 years.

Child born outside of China seeking a Consular Report of Birth Abroad

Beijing ACS will accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) if the child is born outside of China. Beijing ACS will forward the application to the appropriate office of the child’s birthplace (for example, the application for a child born in Hong Kong will be sent to Hong Kong for processing) and that office will determine if and when the CRBA will be issued.

Additional Instructions

In cases where the American citizenship of a child hasn't been established, consular officers may require other documentation before a CRBA or passport can be issued. The consular officer will inform you of what documents may still be required.  

These documents should not be mailed but and must be presented in person at the Embassy/Consulate which has jurisdiction over the applicant's place of birth or current place of residence.

Please note, once a U.S. passport is issued, the child's parents must apply for a Chinese visa to ensure that they don't have problems leaving the country. Please contact the local Chinese Exit and Entry Bureau (EEB) for information on how to apply for a Chinese visa.