CRBA and Dept of State

[quann 26]

I filed for my son crba at the embassy in vietnam on may 10th. After calling them last week to ask if passport is there yet (answer is no)...i just called DoS and 2 different csr couldnt pull the info up concerning my son's case. Are they separate dept and wouldnt have the info or should i start worrying? Any info is appreciated. The case will be 6 weeks next tuesday. Thx

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I filed for my son crba at the embassy in vietnam on may 10th. After calling them last week to ask if passport is there yet (answer is no)...i just called DoS and 2 different csr couldnt pull the info up concerning my son's case. Are they separate dept and wouldnt have the info or should i start worrying? Any info is appreciated. The case will be 6 weeks next tuesday. Thx

CRBA's are filed with the consulate, but they are processed by USCIS. Department of State doesn't handle citizenship issues. USCIS has authority over that.

[quann 26]

i emailed them for further clarification...and they gave me this link with everything CRBA-related on it:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_825.html

to check the status of a FS-240 request (CRBA), call 202-955-0307. they're closed atm but i'll get on it tomorrow.

i knew USCIS would be handling the CRBA...just unfortunate for me the HCM field office closed in March...but i thought maybe DOS would issue all of the passport requests.

Edited June 17, 2011 by quann

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

i emailed them for further clarification...and they gave me this link with everything CRBA-related on it:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_825.html

to check the status of a FS-240 request (CRBA), call 202-955-0307. they're closed atm but i'll get on it tomorrow.

i knew USCIS would be handling the CRBA...just unfortunate for me the HCM field office closed in March...but i thought maybe DOS would issue all of the passport requests.

There is a clear separation of authority. US citizenship can only be recognized, registered, or granted by USCIS. A passport can only be issued by Department of State.

I don't know how much involvement the USCIS field office in HCMC had with CRBA's, but I suspect it wasn't much. My friend filed a CRBA in HCMC earlier this year, AFTER the USCIS field office closed, and his CRBA was completed in only a few weeks. I doubt they sent it to the USCIS field office in Bangkok. I think they clear CRBA's through USCIS in the US. I think the USCIS field offices in foreign countries handle the processing of immigrant visa petitions filed via DCF.

The phone number you've got is for checking the status of a amended or replacement FS-240 request filed with Department of State in the US. I'm not sure how much info they'd be able to give you, especially if the request is still with USCIS, but it wouldn't hurt to call.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

I filed for my son crba at the embassy in vietnam on may 10th. After calling them last week to ask if passport is there yet (answer is no)...i just called DoS and 2 different csr couldnt pull the info up concerning my son's case. Are they separate dept and wouldnt have the info or should i start worrying? Any info is appreciated. The case will be 6 weeks next tuesday. Thx

I made the appointment online. We were interviewed about three months later. Approved and received CRBA the same day at consulate. Also received passport a week later. Unless something has changed.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I made the appointment online. We were interviewed about three months later. Approved and received CRBA the same day at consulate. Also received passport a week later. Unless something has changed.

That's a little odd. Did you submit the application and supporting documents before the interview? The burden of proof is a little different when the US citizen parent is married to the foreign parent, but there are still documents that need to be submitted, and USCIS still has to approve the citizenship application.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

That's a little odd. Did you submit the application and supporting documents before the interview? The burden of proof is a little different when the US citizen parent is married to the foreign parent, but there are still documents that need to be submitted, and USCIS still has to approve the citizenship application.

No, I submitted supporting documents at interview. Marriage certificate. Daughter's birth certificate, five years tax records, etc....

Of course this is back in 2010. Maybe they no longer process CRBA at consulate.

[quann 26]

The phone number you've got is for checking the status of a amended or replacement FS-240 request filed with Department of State in the US. I'm not sure how much info they'd be able to give you, especially if the request is still with USCIS, but it wouldn't hurt to call.

i called. csr says he cannot see my file. he told me only once completed can he bring up the image of the certificate, but not before. told me to keep trying the HCM embassy.

No, I submitted supporting documents at interview. Marriage certificate. Daughter's birth certificate, five years tax records, etc....

Of course this is back in 2010. Maybe they no longer process CRBA at consulate.

they told us it would take approximately a month to get passport/crba...we did not get to enjoy instant noodle like you guys.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

No, I submitted supporting documents at interview. Marriage certificate. Daughter's birth certificate, five years tax records, etc....

Of course this is back in 2010. Maybe they no longer process CRBA at consulate.

Fair enough. There's obviously something about the process I don't understand.

[yankeelimer 1]

No, I submitted supporting documents at interview. Marriage certificate. Daughter's birth certificate, five years tax records, etc....

Of course this is back in 2010. Maybe they no longer process CRBA at consulate.

This is true, they stopped sometime in 2010 I think and now print and issue the CRBA from inside the US, you have to wait to get it. They claim it was due to fraud by US consulate employees.