U.S. Citizen Services

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD
OF A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Applications for Reports of Birth Abroad are accepted from 08:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. The Consular Section is closed on U.S. and Vietnamese holidays. 

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 Vietnamese Notary Public

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-5FS (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:

• Complete form DS-11 (Passport application form)
  
• Submit 2 passport photographs of the child (see attached photograph instruction)
  
• Both parents should be present to sign the applicaton form before the consular officer for children under the age of 16.  If only one parent can be present, he/she must provide a written Statement of Consent form (DS-3053) of the absent parent notarized by the U.S. Notary Public. 
  
• Please note that at least one parent and the child must be physically present on the appointment date.
  

- Please bring US$150 to pay for the fee.  (US$25 for non-refundable passport execution fee, US$ 60 for passport fee, and US$65 for Report of Birth Abroad fee). Only cash in U.S. dollars or credit cards (Visa, Master card, American Express) are accepted.

- Submit forms and requested documents to the American Citizen Services Unit at the Consular Section in Hanoi.

NOTES:

• All documents in foreign language should be translated into English by the Vietnamese Notary Public at either:

a. Notary Public Office: 310 Ba Trieu Street, tel: 976-0725

b. Notary Public Office: 654 Nguyen Van Cu Street, tel: 827-3602

c. Notary Public  Office: 59 Lane 61 Tran Duy Hung Street, tel: 556-5025

d. Notary Public Office: 165 Tran Dang Ninh Street, tel: 834-0933     

e. Notary Public Office: 134 National Road (Quoc Lo) 3, Phu Lo, Tel: 884-2448

• All documents should be provided in original (to be returned after review) and 2 photocopies. If the original was issued in the U.S. and not available, please submit the true copy certified by the U.S. Notary Public.
• The photocopies of identity document should be clear.
• Documents to be notarized by the U.S. Notary can be executed at the Notary Public in the U.S or at the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi between 8:30AM and 11:30AM, Monday through Friday.
• The application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form DS-2029) includes an Application for a Social Security Number (SSN).
• The SSN card will be mailed to your mailing address indicated in your form approximately six months after receiving the child’s CRBA and passport.
• If you plan to take your child to the U.S., please be sure to obtain a Vietnamese exit visa or a Vietnamese passport for your child at the Immigration Office. Following are addresses of Immigration Offices in Ha Noi:

- Immigration Office of Hanoi City: 87 Tran Hung Dao, tel: 942-4244

- Immigration Dept. of Ministry of Public Security: 40 Hang Bai Street, tel: 826-0919

• Should you have additional questions on completing a CRBA and U.S. passport application, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit at 84-4-850-5000, extension 6133 or 6103

U.S. Embassy
American Citizen Services Unit
170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Rose Garden Building, Ha Noi
Tel: (84-4) 850-5000     Fax: (84-4) 831-4578
Website: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov  
email: acshanoi@state.gov

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 recognition 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.