Crazy citizenship mix-up

[kelly11anne 6]

I'm hoping someone might have some advice here. My grandparents lived very close to the Canadian/US border and my grandmother (a Canadian citizen) worked in a hospital on the Canadian side. When she had my mother, she wanted to give birth in the hospital she worked in so my mother was born to a US citizen father and Canadian citizen mother in Canada although their residence was in the US. At the time (in the 50's) they were not aware of what they had to do in terms of registering her birth here in the US. So fast forward to today - my mom has always lived and worked in the US and even into the 90's crossed the US/Canada border without a passport but post 9/11 now has had trouble with 2 important things. 1. When she finally tried to get a US passport, she was told she needed to prove her US citizenship and now, retired, she has been unable to collect any social security after paying in her entire life. I'm trying to see if anyone can even point me in the right direction to help her.  

[Boiler 45,486]

Would depend on what the rules were back in the early 50's, whether she could obtain US Citizenship though her father.

 

Does she have a Canadian Passport?

 

http://www.mautino.org/

 

I have seen these mentioned as the maven on Citizenship matters.

[Lemonslice 4,838]

Her situation is not uncommon in border states. Have your mom call this number 844-880-6519 tomorrow (today is a holiday), and request a call back from the consular officer for her area.  Again, not uncommon and they will assist her/direct her to local resources.   

 

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

my daugher in law is American born with English parents(never became USC) who returned to England when she was 12

parents have lived since then in england and now are retired

he is collecting his SS

you do not have to be USC to collect Social Security

you only need to have paid into the USA system for the amount of quarters required

 

it would be best if you can establish her USC for many other reasons but SS should not be an issue

[Boiler 45,486]

2 minutes ago, adil-rafa said:

my daugher in law is American born with English parents(never became USC) who returned to England when she was 12

parents have lived since then in england and now are retired

he is collecting his SS

you do not have to be USC to collect Social Security

you only need to have paid into the USA system for the amount of quarters required

 

it would be best if you can establish her USC for many other reasons but SS should not be an issue

I thought you had to be legal?

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I thought you had to be legal?

that would be saying she has no birth certificate at all/   we don't know this but she does not have to be a USC

Edited February 19, 2018 by adil-rafa

[Boiler 45,486]

2 minutes ago, adil-rafa said:

that would be saying she has no birth certificate at all/   we don't know this but she does not have to be a USC

I assume she has a birth certificate, issue is her US Citizenship.

[kelly11anne 6]

Yes, she has her birth certificate and for her entire life has been considered a US citizen (even worked for the government!) but now they are being picky with requiring even her father's birth certificate to prove her citizenship. And they are also refusing to pay social security until she proves it.

[Boiler 45,486]

Presumably her Canadian Birth Certificate?

[kelly11anne 6]

Yes, birth certificate from Canada.

[Boiler 45,486]

Just wanted to be clear.

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, kelly11anne said:

Yes, she has her birth certificate and for her entire life has been considered a US citizen (even worked for the government!) but now they are being picky with requiring even her father's birth certificate to prove her citizenship. And they are also refusing to pay social security until she proves it.

What did she show to prove her US citizenship or work authorization at that time? I'm assuming she has an SSN, so do you know what was shown to obtain that?

[kelly11anne 6]

Thanks for the help everyone! She never had to prove anything or even get a work permit. I don't think she even has an A#. It was never an issue. She has only traveled out of the country to go to Canada and back, but that was back in the 90's and we all crossed with just birth certificates. At that time you didn't need a passport or anything. Like I said, I don't think it was ever questioned that she was a citizen until recently in the last 5 or so years when she thought about taking a trip to a different country and tried to get a passport. 

[Boiler 45,486]

So she entered the US showing her Canadian Birth Certificate as a visitor?

 

You used to be able to get a SSN just by asking so that is not relevant.