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For families in Indio and the Coachella Valley, understanding how U.S. citizenship passes from parents to children is important. Many people are already U.S. citizens without knowing it because their parents were citizens. SoCal Immigration Services helps you determine your citizenship status and obtain proof.

Reviewed for accuracy by

Maria Santos

DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience

Ways Children Become U.S. Citizens

Children can become U.S. citizens through their parents in several ways:

1. Acquired Citizenship: Born abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s)
2. Derived Citizenship: Automatically became a citizen when parent naturalized
3. Birth in the U.S.: Automatic citizenship by birth on U.S. soil

The rules depend on when you were born, whether your parents were married, and how long your citizen parent lived in the U.S.

Acquired Citizenship: Born Abroad to U.S. Citizen Parents

If you were born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent, you may have acquired citizenship at birth. The rules differ based on your birth date and family situation:

Born	Parent Situation	Physical Presence Requirement
After Nov 14, 1986	Both parents U.S. citizens	One parent lived in U.S. before your birth
After Nov 14, 1986	One citizen parent, married	5 years in U.S. (2 after age 14) before your birth
After Nov 14, 1986	One citizen parent, unmarried mother	1 year continuous U.S. presence before birth
After Nov 14, 1986	One citizen parent, unmarried father	5 years (2 after age 14) + legitimation requirements
June 12, 1968 - Nov 13, 1986	One citizen parent, married	10 years (5 after age 14) before birth
Before June 12, 1968	Various rules	Consult for specific requirements

Derived Citizenship: When Parents Naturalize

Children can automatically become citizens when their parents naturalize, under the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000:

Requirements (for births after Feb 27, 2001):
• At least one parent is a U.S. citizen (natural-born or naturalized)
• The child is under 18
• The child is a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• The child is in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent

If all conditions are met, the child becomes a citizen automatically - no application needed. But you should still get proof.

Proving Your Citizenship

To prove citizenship acquired or derived through parents, you can use:

•U.S. passport (if previously issued)
•Certificate of Citizenship (N-600 approval)
•Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240 or CRBA)
•Certificate of Naturalization (if you naturalized)
•In some cases, your birth certificate plus parent's citizenship proof

Form N-600: Certificate of Citizenship

The N-600 application is used to get official proof of citizenship acquired or derived through parents:

Process:
• File Form N-600 with USCIS
• Pay filing fee ($1,170 as of 2026)
• Submit evidence of your and your parent's citizenship
• Attend biometrics appointment
• May be interviewed
• Receive Certificate of Citizenship if approved

Current processing time: 8-14 months

Documents Needed for N-600

Gather these documents to prove citizenship through parents:

•Your birth certificate (with certified translation if in Arabic)
•Parent's proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or passport)
•Parent's marriage certificate (if applicable)
•Evidence parent lived in U.S. for required period (school records, tax returns, employment records)
•Your current immigration status evidence (green card if applicable)
•Proof of relationship (if name differs from birth certificate)
•Two passport-style photos
•Filing fee ($1,170)

Children Born Abroad to Arab-American Citizens

For Indio families with ties to Arab countries, common scenarios include:

Scenario 1: U.S. citizen moves to Jordan, has child there
• Child may be U.S. citizen at birth if physical presence requirements are met

Scenario 2: Green card holder naturalizes, child is under 18
• Child may automatically become citizen under the CCA

Scenario 3: Child born abroad, parent didn't meet presence requirements
• Child may need to naturalize separately after becoming a permanent resident

We help document your specific situation.

What if My Parent Didn't Meet the Requirements?

If your citizen parent didn't meet the physical presence requirements at your birth:

• You did NOT automatically acquire citizenship
• You may need to immigrate as a relative of a citizen
• After getting a green card, you can naturalize
• In some cases, grandparents' citizenship may help

Don't assume you're not a citizen - the rules are complex and individual analysis is needed.

Unmarried Fathers and Citizenship

The rules are stricter when the U.S. citizen parent is an unmarried father:

For children born after Nov 14, 1986:
• Father must have been a citizen at the time of birth
• Father must have resided in U.S. for 5 years (2 after age 14) before birth
• Child must be legitimated before age 18 OR father must establish paternity
• Father must agree in writing to provide financial support until age 18

Legitimation methods vary by country - we can help document your case.

Lost or Never Obtained Citizenship Documents

If you believe you're a citizen but never got documentation:

• Apply for a U.S. passport (if you have evidence of citizenship)
• File N-600 for Certificate of Citizenship
• Contact the consulate if born abroad (for Consular Report of Birth)

It's never too late to get proof of citizenship you acquired at birth. The Certificate of Citizenship is valuable for obtaining a passport and proving citizenship for employment.

Indio Citizenship Documentation Services

SoCal Immigration Services helps Coachella Valley families with:

•Analysis of your citizenship status based on family history
•N-600 application preparation and filing
•Document gathering and Arabic translation
•Physical presence evidence compilation
•Legitimation and paternity documentation
•Passport application assistance
•Alternative paths if requirements weren't met
•Appeals for denied applications

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Q:How do I know if I'm already a U.S. citizen through my parents?

A: It depends on when you were born, whether your parents were married, and whether the U.S. citizen parent lived in the U.S. long enough before your birth. We can analyze your specific situation to determine if you acquired citizenship automatically.

Q:My parent became a citizen while I was under 18. Am I automatically a citizen?

A: If you were also a green card holder in your parent's legal and physical custody when they naturalized (and you were under 18), you likely became a citizen automatically under the Child Citizenship Act. You should still get a Certificate of Citizenship as proof.

Q:How long does the N-600 Certificate of Citizenship take?

A: Current processing time is 8-14 months. After filing, you'll have a biometrics appointment and may be interviewed. Once approved, you'll receive your Certificate of Citizenship by mail.

Q:What if I was born in Jordan to a U.S. citizen parent?

A: You may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if your citizen parent lived in the U.S. for the required period before your birth. The specific requirements depend on whether both parents were citizens, if they were married, and your birth date.

Q:Can I just apply for a passport instead of the N-600?

A: Yes, you can apply for a U.S. passport directly with evidence of citizenship through parents. However, the Certificate of Citizenship is more comprehensive proof and makes future passport renewals easier.

Q:My father was a citizen but my parents weren't married. Am I a citizen?

A: Possibly, but the requirements are stricter. Your father must have met physical presence requirements AND taken steps to legitimate you or acknowledge paternity before you turned 18. The specific requirements depend on your birth date.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration services in Indio and does not constitute legal advice. SoCal Immigration Services is a document preparation company, not a law firm. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed immigration attorney.

Published: January 19, 2026Last Updated: January 19, 2026

Questions About Citizenship Through Parents in Indio?

Many people are U.S. citizens without knowing it. Let our Arabic-speaking team analyze your family history and help you obtain proof of citizenship.

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Citizenship Through Parents in Indio: Acquiring U.S. Citizenship at Birth