Generally, people are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the U.S. or if they are born to U.S. citizen parents:
By being born in the U.S.: if you were born in the U.S. (including, in most cases, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you are an American citizen at birth (unless you were born to a foreign diplomat). Your birth certificate is proof of your citizenship;
Through birth abroad to TWO U.S. citizen parents: in most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:
Both your parents were U.S. citizens when you were born;
At least one of your parents lived in the U.S. at some point in their life;
Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file an Application for Certificate of Citizenship or Form N-600, to get a Certificate of Citizenship.
Through birth abroad to ONE U.S. citizen parent: in most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:
One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;
Your citizen parent lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years before you were born and at least 2 of those 5 years in the U.S. were after your citizen parent’s 14th birthday*.
Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file
an Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) with the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Service (USCIS) to get a Certificate of Citizenship.
*If you were born before November 14, 1986, you are a U.S. citizen, if your U.S. citizen parent lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and 5 of those years in the U.S. were after your citizen parent’s
14th birthday.