It is certainly possible for children and parents to have different citizenship statuses in the United States. First of all, as the law stands, anyone born on U.S. soil receives birthright citizenship. This means that even if their parents are immigrants in the United States on visas or as permanent residents using green cards, the child would be a U.S. citizen at birth.
But what happens if the children were also born in another country and came to the United States with their parents? If those parents decide to go through the naturalization process and become citizens, does that impact the children’s status? Or would the children also need to become naturalized to gain the same benefits and responsibilities?
Many children qualify as citizens
In many cases, when parents become U.S. citizens, this status is also conferred upon their children.
Certain requirements must be met:
- The child must still be under 18 years old. Once they turn 18, they are considered legal adults rather than dependents, and they would need to go through the naturalization process on their own.
- The child must be living with the parents, in their custody, and lawfully present in the United States.
If these qualifications are met, the child can become a citizen automatically after their parents complete the naturalization process. There is no need for the child to repeat the process later in life.
Adjustment of status
Building a better life for their children is one of the top reasons immigrants cite for choosing to come to the United States. A key step in this process may involve helping their children obtain U.S. citizenship. As such, it’s essential to understand how the process works and what legal steps are required.