Embassy of the United States

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Instructions for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America

Applications for Reports of Birth Abroad are accepted by appointment only.

Appointments can be made online by using the following link:

https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=HCM&appcode=1

Please request an appointment at least 3 months in advance.

General Information

The Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) of a Citizen of the United States of America documents the birth of a United States citizen in a foreign country. It is accepted by all U.S. Government agencies as proof of a child's American citizenship. Although not technically a birth certificate (which can only be issued by the local jurisdiction), the CRBA can be used in the U.S. in the same way as a birth certificate issued by a city or county registrar's office.

We recommend that you apply for a child's U.S. passport at the same time you apply for the CRBA.

Documentary Requirements

1. Official Vietnamese birth certificate of the child: Original and 2 photocopies with 2 English versions translated at the Service of Justice of its district or province.
   
2. Identity evidence of U.S. citizen parent(s), (e.g. U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization…): Original and 2 photocopies or 2 true copies certified by the U.S. Notary Public
   
3. Identity evidence of non-U.S. citizen parent(s), (e.g. passport or identity card…): Original and 2 photocopies with 2 English versions translated at the Vietnamese Notary Public
   
4. Parents' marriage certificate (if married): Original and 1 photocopy with English version translated at the Vietnamese Notary Public
   
5. Proof of termination of any previous marriages of either parent (e.g. divorce decree, death certificate…): original and 1 photocopy with English version translated at the Vietnamese Notary Public  
   
6. Supporting evidence of the relationship between the mother and the father, (e.g. wedding photos, letters…)
   
7. Supporting evidence of the child's birth, (e.g. hospital/pre-natal records, receipts, sonograms, photos of the mother while pregnant…)
   
8. Evidence of both parents' physical presence in the state/country at the time of the child's conception (e.g. passport showing visa stamps, airline tickets, airlines printouts,…): original and 1 photocopy.
   
9. Documentary proof of the American parent’s five years physical presence in the U.S., two of which come after the age of fourteen (Acceptable documentary proof would be: academic records, school transcripts, tax records: form 1722, form 1040 with W2 attached, Social Security Statement…): original and 1 photocopy
   
10. If the alien mother was still legally married to another person other than the child's U.S. citizen father, or if the divorce from her previous marriage was not finalized at the time of conception and/or birth of the child, evidence of the mother's separation from her ex-husband should be presented.

Procedures:

- Complete the following forms (all attached): 

• Form DS-2029 (Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of Citizen of the United States of America)
  
• Form SS-5-FS (Application for Social Security Number Card)
  
• Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence (signed by the U.S. parent and notarized at the U.S. Notary Public)
  

- If parents are also applying for a passport for the child at the same time, please:

- Immigration Office of Ho Chi Minh City: 161 Nguyen Du, D.1, HCMC (Tel: 38299398)

- Immigration Dept. of Ministry of Public Security: 254 Nguyen Trai, D. 1, HCMC(Tel: 39200365)

• Should you have additional questions on completing a CRBA and U.S. passport application, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit at 84-8-3520 4200.
   

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP BY A CHILD BORN ABROAD

A child born outside of the United States acquires U.S. citizenship at birth when the child meets the transmission requirements as follows:

Birth Abroad to Two U.S. Citizen Parents in Wedlock: A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth, provided that one of the citizen parents has resided in the U.S. or a U.S. possession prior to the child's birth as indicated in Section 301(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. (INA).

Birth Abroad to One Citizen and Alien Parent in Wedlock: A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301 (g) of the INA, provided the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. prior to the birth of the child for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two of which come after the age of fourteen, is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, the parent must have resided in the U.S. for a period of ten years, five of which must have been after the age of fourteen. Acceptable written documentation of physical presence includes school transcripts, academic records, evidence of employment, tax records…At least one natural parent of the child must have been a U.S. citizen when the child was born. The only exception is for a child born after the death of the parent.

Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Father: A child born abroad out-of-wedlock
to a U.S. citizen father may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 301(g) and 309 (a) of the INA provided:

• a blood relationship between the child and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence;
  
• the father must have had the nationality of the United States at the time of the child's birth;
  
• the father had been physically present in the United States for a period of five years, two of which were after the age of fourteen;
  
• while the person is under age of 18 years -
  
  a- the father submits recognisition of child born out of wedlock under the law of their residence or domicile,
  
  b- the father (unless deceased) must submit a notarized Affidavit of Paternity and Financial Support or
  
  c- the paternity of the applicant is established by adjudication court.
  

Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Mother: A child born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 301(g) and 309 (c) of the INA if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the child's birth, and if the mother had previously been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year.

For children not covered in the above categories, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit.

U.S. PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH REQUIREMENTS

Dimensions: Photo size is 5 centimeters by 5 centimeters (2x2 inches)

• Image size from bottom of chin to top of head should be between 2.5 & 3.5 centimeters  (1 inch & 1 3/8 inches)
  
• No Polaroids or snapshots
  
• Photos may be color or black and white
  
• Photos must be identical
  
• Photos must have white background
  
• Photos must be full face, front view
  
• Photographs should be taken in normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline. Uniforms should not be worn in photographs with the exception of religious attire which is worn daily. If prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles are normally and consistently worn, they should be worn when the picture is taken. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required to support the wearing of such glasses in photographs.
  

You are not required to obtain your photos from any of these shops. Because of the variety of different standard photograph sizes and specifications, we suggest that you give the photo shop this requirements sheet. The Consulate cannot be responsible for unacceptable photographs.

Quang             70D Nguyen Hue, Dist.1, HCMC- Tel: 38224774
Dong Da          66 Nguyen Hue, Dist.1, HCMC- Tel: 38292595
The Quan        4D Le Loi, Dist.1, HCMC- Tel: 38222035
Lan Anh           286 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh Dist., HCMC -Tel: 38442229
Manh Dan        448 Dien Bien Phu, Dist. 10, HCMC -Tel: 38332794