Eligibility for CRBA

[ghafoor786 0]

Hi everyone.

So I have a small question: If someone was 16 when he was granted US citizenship and had lived the past decade or so in the USA, this would fulfill requirements for his children to become US citizens since 16 years of age is obviously 2 more than 14- which is the legal requirement.

Would proof of granting of citizenship at this age within itself be enough proof of physical presence in the USA? It is logical that once must be residing in the USA in order to be granted citizenship (After a period of having a green card) in the first place, yes?

[Mark88 183]

Requirements are 5 years physical presence (doesn't matter if you were a USC or on a green card in the US, both count). But at least 2 years have to be after age of 14. You will have to proofe that it is/was more or exactly two years inable to fullfill the requirement/s. Proof of receiving citizenship at that age might help, but you will more likely be asked for doctor bills, school transcripts and everything else that shows you actually lived in the US.

[iamwhatiam80 92]

Hi everyone.

So I have a small question: If someone was 16 when he was granted US citizenship and had lived the past decade or so in the USA, this would fulfill requirements for his children to become US citizens since 16 years of age is obviously 2 more than 14- which is the legal requirement.

Would proof of granting of citizenship at this age within itself be enough proof of physical presence in the USA? It is logical that once must be residing in the USA in order to be granted citizenship (After a period of having a green card) in the first place, yes?

Some examples of evidence that support 5 year physical presence.

IT returns with original W2, Social security earnings statement, utility bills, school transcripts, bank and cc statements.

[JimmyHou 611]

Hi everyone.

So I have a small question: If someone was 16 when he was granted US citizenship and had lived the past decade or so in the USA, this would fulfill requirements for his children to become US citizens since 16 years of age is obviously 2 more than 14- which is the legal requirement.

Would proof of granting of citizenship at this age within itself be enough proof of physical presence in the USA? It is logical that once must be residing in the USA in order to be granted citizenship (After a period of having a green card) in the first place, yes?

Would proof of granting of citizenship at this age within itself be enough proof of physical presence in the USA?

In itself, no. Here's why:

If the person became a citizen at the age of 16, he (or she) must have got citizenship through his parents. This is because to apply for naturalization based on 5 years of permanent residency, you must be over 18 years old.

Since the person must have got citizenship through his parents, being granted citizenship is not sufficient proof of having lived in the US for the required amount of time. Here's a possible scenario:

Parent gets green card and moves to US in 2000 (child is 11)

Parent sponsors child for green card in 2004 (child is 12)

Child gets green card approved and moves to US in January 2005 (child is 16)

Parent becomes a citizen in March 2005 (child is 16)

The day the parent became a citizen, the child (16 at the time) also become a citizen (automatically), even though he had only ever spent a total of 2 months in the US.

So there are ways for those under 18 have been granted citizenship without having spent much time in the US at all.

The evidence suggested by the two previous posters is more important.

Edited December 15, 2014 by JimmyHou