U.S. citizenship for my dominican-born son?

CorletoLovesDR · #1 09-01-2003, 11:42 AM

Hello,

I have an immigration question: I am a U.S. citizen and I am the father of a two-year old child who was born in the D.R. I want to file an I-130 application for him (Petition for Alien Relative). Once I heard that if a U.S. citizen sponsors a baby or very young child, that this baby does not get a permanent residency but U.S. citizenship.

If that is the case, once my son is approved for it, will he have to travel to the U.S. to complete the naturalization process? Or can he receive his U.S. citizenship while in the D.R. and continue to live there (Since U.S. citizens do not necessarily have to have their residence in the U.S.)?

I will greatly appreciate any comments or information.

Thank you very much!

Dolores · #2 09-01-2003, 01:02 PM

If you can prove you are the father of the boy, and have lived in the US for at least two years after 14 years old, or your father or mother are also US born, then you just need to apply at the US Consulate in the Dominican Republic for the citizenship of the child. If all checks out, the child will be issued a US passport.

See http://www.usemb.gov.do/Consular/ACS...rth_abroad.htm

There is also lot of information on requirements for getting the citizenship/passport on the Internet. These requirements will likely be the same at the US mission in Santo Domingo.

In cases where the US born parent does not meet the living in the US requirement, US law also has a provision where citizenship can be applied for if one of the grandparents is a US citizenship, but this procedure is more complicated.

XanaduRanch · #3 09-01-2003, 02:53 PM

Wow, Dolores, is it really that simple? I need to do that then for my daughter here. One American friend I know he spent forever running back and forth between Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo and here for his daughters papers. A friend of his supposedly pretty much did the whole thing over the internet and just went and picked up the papers and had the passport photos taken. Anyone have a link to the proper site to file on-line some of this stuff?

Jigglebelly · #4 09-01-2003, 03:29 PM

If you were an American at the time of your son's birth, then he is American by birth -- period.

If you are American by birth then, all that need be done is to take your birth certificate and his and register him at the consulate as a citizen born abroad.
If you are naturalized, you will need either your passport or naturalization papers.

Same applies to your son, Corleto. He is not an alien relative. He is an American --- as American as if he were born in Ohio or Alabama.

Jigglebelly · #5 09-01-2003, 03:34 PM

Sorry Xanadu. When I wrote the last post, I forgot that you were talking about a daughter. No insult was intended.

XanaduRanch · #6 09-01-2003, 03:55 PM

No of course not, none taken.

It's just that things seem to work differently down here in that the US Consulate and Embassy seem to work on Dominican rules. Plus, the US seems to make life difficult for anyone applying through this embassy. If I ever had to go through what some friends described I'd end up killing several consular officials in very short order.

My wife is my wife and ought to be treated the same way in applying for at least a visa here, as say in, Guatemala. But apparently it's a snap to do it there and years worth of hair pulling here. Just what I've heard from others who have tried. And I don't even want her to have passport, residency, or anything. I don't have anything in the US. Don't want to live there anymore.

I Just would like to be able to take everybody on a plane and go to Disney World or Las Vegas for a week, you know? But for sure I want that citizenship and passport for my daughter, it's her right. And at least one thing I can give her of great value for her future.

Jigglebelly · #7 09-01-2003, 04:14 PM

As a career bureaucrat, I totally understand!!!

But the fact remains that your daughter has a constitutional right to her citizenship. The Supreme Court ruled on that, if my memory is correct, back in the early 1800's.

If you are registered to vote someplace, then a phone call to your Congressman might be in order. If you don't have one then maybe a brother or sister could call on your daughter's behalf.

I assure you. Congressmen DO respond to that kind of appeal. After a single call from his/her office, the embassy shirks will **** themselves to satisfy you. I have seen it many a time in my career.

Best of luck to you and your daughter!

Hillbilly · #8 09-01-2003, 05:36 PM

All you have to do is get the birth certificate of the daughter, have it "oficializado" (a very simple and not costly bureaucratic proceedure). Go to Santo Domingo, early in the morning, park across from the consulate, get some 2 x 2 passport pictures taken right there where you parked, go across the street with your daughter and your own passport.
Go to the citizens Section, fill out the forms, show the birth certificate, photos, your own proof of citizenship (birth), state that you have lived in the US for a couple of years after your 14th birthday and that should be it.

Read what Dolores posted. You should be out of there in an hour or two.

Note to Jigglebelly: It is certainly NOT the same as if you were born in Ohio. You cannot become president, for instance.

HB

mkohn · #9 09-01-2003, 05:41 PM

I'm pretty sure when a father claims US Citizenship for his child, he must prove that he was married to the mother.
mk

Dominican Babe · #10 09-01-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jigglebelly
The Supreme Court ruled on that, if my memory is correct, back in the early 1800's.

Wow, Jigglebelly, you are soooo old if you can remember that far back hee hee hee