Chart One: For people born before May 24, 1934
Note: These charts do not cover every exception and limitation to the rules in the charts. If you meet all the requirements in the appropriate portion of the chart, you MIGHT be a
U.S. citizen.
Column 1
At the Time of Your
Birth,
Both of Your Parents
U.S. Citizens
• Must show both
parents U.S. citizens at
the time of your birth.
• Can apply for
citizenship through
either mother or father.
• Must show that the
parent through whom
you are applying,
resided in the U.S. (or
certain possessions after
certain dates) at any time
prior to your birth.
Parent’s residence must
have been more than a
few hours but need not
be a certain number of
days.
Column 2
At the Time of Your
Birth,
One of Your Parents a
U.S. Citizen;
One of Your Parents a
U.S. National
• Must show one of
your parents was a U.S.
citizen and one of your
parents was a U.S.
national at the time of
your birth.
• Must show that the
U.S. citizen parent
resided in the U.S. (or
certain possessions after
certain dates) at any time
prior to your birth.
Parent’s residence must
have been more than a
few hours but need not
be a certain number of
days.
Column 3
At the Time of Your
Birth, One Parent a U.S.
Citizen;
One Parent Not a U.S.
Citizen or U.S. National
• Must show that one
of your parents was a
U.S. citizen at the time
of your birth.
• Must show U.S.
citizen parent resided in
the U.S. (or certain
possessions after certain
dates) at any time prior
to your birth. Parent’s
residence must have
been more than a few
hours but need not be a
certain number of days.
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FIRR–-- last updated July 2001
Column 4
At the time of Your Birth,
Your Mother a U.S. Citizen;
Parents Not Married.
• Must show that mother
was a U.S. citizen at the
time of your birth.
• Must show that U.S.
citizen mother resided in
the U.S. (or certain
possessions after certain
dates) at any time prior to
your birth. Parent’s
residence must have been
more than a few hours but
need not be more than two
days.
• You cannot have been
legitimated by your father
prior to January 13, 1941.
Column 5
If at the time of Your Birth,
Your Father a U.S. Citizen;
Parents Not Married
• Must show that father
was a U.S. citizen at the
time of your birth. And that
he complied with all
requirements for descent of
citizenship through U.S.
citizen father. (Chart 1, 2
or 3)
• Must show that U.S.
citizen father legitimated
you prior to the date you
apply for citizenship
through him. The
legitimation must meet the
requirements of the law of
the father’s domicile.
Chart Two: For people born on or after May 24, 1934 and before January 14, 1941
Note: These charts do not cover every exception and limitation to the rules in the charts. If you meet all the requirements in the appropriate portion of the chart, you MIGHT be a
U.S. citizen.
Column 1
At the Time of Your
Birth,
Both of Your Parents
U.S. Citizens
• Must show both
parents U.S.
citizens at the time
of your birth.
• Can apply for
citizenship through
either mother or father.
• Must show that
either one of your
parents resided in the
U.S. (or certain
possessions after
certain dates) at any
time prior to your
birth. Parent’s
residence must have
been more than a few
hours but need not be
a certain number of
days.
Column 2
At the Time of Your
Birth,
One of Your Parents a
U.S. Citizen;
One of Your Parents a
U.S. National
• Must show that
one parent a U.S.
citizen and one parent
a U.S. national at the
time of your birth.
• Must show that
U.S. citizen parent
resided in the U.S. (or
certain possessions
after certain dates) at
any time prior to your
birth. Parent’s
residence must have
been more than a few
hours but need not be
a certain number of
days.
Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
At the Time of Your Birth, At the time of Your If at the time of Your
One Parent a U.S. Citizen; Birth, Your Mother a Birth, Your Father a U.S.
One Parent Not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. U.S. Citizen; Citizen;
National Parents Not Married. Parents Not Married
• Must show that U.S. citizen parent • Must show that • Must show that father
lived in the U.S. at any time prior to mother was a U.S. was a U.S. citizen at the
your birth. citizen at the time of time of your birth and that
Must show that either (A) your birth. he complied with all
1. you entered the U.S. before the age • Must show that U.S. requirements for descent
of 23; and citizen mother resided of citizenship through
2. immediately after your entry, you in the U.S. (or certain U.S. citizen father. (Chart
were continuously present in the U.S. possessions after certain 1, 2, or 3)
for 5 years between the age of 14 and dates) at any time prior • Must show that U.S.
28, and you were not absent form the to your birth. Parent’s citizen father legiti-mated
U.S. for a year or more during that residence must have you prior to date you
time. been more than a few apply for citizen-ship.
OR you must show (B): hours but need not be a The legitimation must
you were continuously physically specific number of days. meet the require-ments of
present in the U.S. for two years the law of the father’s
between the age of 14 and 28 with no domicile.
absences over 60 days. • You might have to
NOTE: There may be an exception show that you were
to these requirements if you did not continuously present in
know that you had a claim to U.S. the U.S. for a certain
citizenship until after you turned 28. period of time if you were
legitimated by your father
at a certain age.
ii
FIRR–-- last updated July 2001
Chart Three: For people born on or after January 14, 1941 and before December 24, 1952
Note: These charts do not cover every exception and limitation to the rules in the charts. If you meet all the requirements in the appropriate portion of the chart, you MIGHT be a
U.S. citizen.
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
At the Time of Your At the Time of Your At the Time of Your Birth, At the time of Your If at the time of Your
Birth, Birth, One Parent a U.S. Citizen; Birth, Your Mother a Birth, Your Father a
Both of Your One of Your Parents a One Parent Not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. U.S. Citizen; U.S. Citizen;
Parents U.S. U.S. Citizen; One of National Parents Not Married. Parents Not Married
Citizens Your Parents a U.S.
National
• Must show both • Must show that • Can apply for citizenship through U.S. citizen • Must show that • Must show that
parents U.S. one parent a U.S. parent only. mother was a U.S. father was a U.S.C. at
• If you were born outside the U.S., you must
citizens at the time citizen and one show that U.S. citizen parent resided in the U.S. or
citizen at the time of the time of your birth
of your birth. parent a U.S. 1 of its possessions for 10 years prior to your date your birth. and that he complied
• Must show that national at the time of birth. At least 5 of the 10 years, must have been • Must show that U.S. with requirements for
either one of your of your birth. after your U.S. citizen parent turned 16 years old. citizen mother resided descent of citizenship
parents resided in • Must show that • If you were born before October 10, 1952, in the United States through U.S.C. father.
you also must show that either A:
the U.S. (or certain U.S. citizen parent 1. you entered the U.S. before the age of 23; and
some time before your (Chart 1,2 or 3)
possessions after resided in the U.S. 2. immediately after your entry, you were birth. • Must show that prior
certain dates) at any (or certain continuously present in the U.S. for 5 years to the date you turned
time prior to your possessions after between the age of 14 and 28, and you were not 21, your U.S. citizen
birth. The parent certain dates) at any absent from the U.S. for a year or more during that father legitimated you
time.
does not need to time prior to your or established that he is
OR you must show B:
have lived in the birth. Parent’s you were continuously physically present in the
your father through a
U.S. for specified residence must U.S. for two years between the age of 14 and 28 court proceeding.
period of time, but have been more with no absences over 60 days. • According to the
at the time the than a few hours NOTE: There may be an exception to these INS, the legitimation
requirements if you did not know that you had a
parent lived in the but need not be a claim to U.S. citizenship until after you turned 28.
must meet the
U.S., he or she had certain number of OR you must show C: requirements of the law
to have the U.S. as days. You were born in one of the U.S.’s outlying of the father’s domicile.
his or her principal possessions to one U.S. citizen parent and that
home. parent resided in the U.S. or any of its outlying
possessions at any point prior to your birth.

iii
FIRR–-- last updated July 2001
Chart Four: For people born on or after December 24, 1952 and before November 14, 1986
Note: These charts do not cover every exception and limitation to the rules in the charts. If you meet all the requirements in the appropriate portion of the chart, you MIGHT be a
U.S. citizen.
Column 1
At the Time of Your
Birth,
Both of Your Parents
U.S. Citizens
• Must show both
parents U.S. citizens at
the time of your birth.
• Must show that
either one of your
parents resided in the
U.S. or one of its
possessions at any
time prior to your
birth. The parent does
not need to have lived
in the U.S. for
specified period of
time, but at some point
prior to your birth, the
parent had to have the
U.S. as his or her
principal home.
Note: physical presence means any time spent in U.S. or certain possessions even when parent not living in U.S.
Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
At the Time of Your At the Time of Your Birth, At the time of Your If at the time of Your
Birth, One Parent a U.S. Citizen; Birth, Your Mother a Birth, Your Father a
One of Your Parents a One Parent Not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Citizen; U.S. Citizen;
U.S. Citizen; U.S. National Parents Not Married. Parents Not Married
One of Your Parents a
U.S. National
• Must show that Can apply for citizenship
• • Must show that • Must show that
one of your parents a
through U.S. citizen parent only. mother was a U.S. father was a U.S. citizen
U.S. citizen and one
• You must show A: citizen at the time of at the time of your birth.
parent a U.S. national
Your U.S. citizen parent was your birth. And that he complied
at the time of your
physically present in the U.S. or • Must show that U.S. with all requirements
birth. one of its possessions for 10 years citizen mother was for descent of citizen-
• Must show thatprior to your date of birth. At least physically present in the ship through U.S.
U.S. citizen parent was
5 of the 10 years, must have been U.S. or one of its citizen father. (Chart 1,
physically present in
after your U.S. citizen parent possessions for a 2 or 3)
the U.S. or one of its
turned 14 years old. The parent’s continuous period of • Must show that prior
possessions for at least
years in the U.S. do not need to one year at any time to the date you turned
one continuous year
have been continuous. prior to your birth. 21 years old, your U.S.
prior to your birth.
OR You must show B: citizen father
You were born in one of the U.S.’s legitimated you.
outlying possessions, and your According to the
U.S. citizen parent was Immigration Service,
continuously physically present in the legitimation must
the U.S. or any of its outlying have been according to
possessions for one year at any the law of your father’s
point prior to your birth. domicile.
iv
FIRR–-- last updated July 2001
Chart Five: For people born on or after November 14, 1986
Note: These charts do not cover every exception and limitation to the rules in the charts. If you meet all the requirements in the appropriate portion of the chart, you MIGHT be a
U.S. citizen.
Column 1
At the Time of Your
Birth,
Both of Your Parents
U.S. Citizens
• Must show both
parents U.S. citizens at
the time of your birth.
• Must show that
either one of your
parents resided in the
U.S. or one of its
possessions at any
time prior to your
birth. The parent need
not have lived in the
U.S. for specified
period of time, but at
some point prior to
your birth, the parent
must have had the U.S.
as his or her principal
home.
Note: physical presence means any time spent in U.S. or certain possessions even when parent not living in U.S.
Column 2
At the Time of Your
Birth,
One of Your Parents a
U.S. Citizen; One of
Your Parents a U.S.
National
• Must show that
one of your parents a
U.S. citizen and one of
your parents a U.S.
national at the time
you were born.
• Must show that
U.S. citizen parent was
physically present in
the U.S. or one of its
possessions for at least
one continuous year
prior to your birth.
Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
At the Time of Your Birth, One At the time of Your If at the time of Your
Parent a U.S. Citizen; One Parent Birth, Your Mother a Birth, Your Father a U.S.
Not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National U.S. Citizen; Citizen;
Parents Not Married. Parents Not Married
• Can apply for citizenship • Must show that • Must show that father
through U.S. citizen parent only. mother was a U.S. was a U.S. citizen at the
• If you were born outside the citizen at the time of time of your birth. And
U.S., you must show that your your birth. that he complied with all
U.S. citizen parent was physically • Must show that requirements for descent
present in the U.S. or one of its U.S. citizen mother of citizenship through
possessions for 5 years prior to was physically present U.S. citizen father. (Chart
your date of birth. At least 2 of in the U.S. or one of 1, 2 or 3)
the 5 years must have been after its possessions for a • Must show that before
your U.S. citizen parent turned 14 continuous period of you turned 18 years old,
years old. one year prior to your (1) your father
OR birth. legitimated you or (2) he
• You were born in one of the acknowledged that he
U.S.’s outlying possessions and was your father under
your U.S. citizen parent was oath or a competent court
continuously physically present in established that he was
the U.S. or any of its outlying your father AND you
possessions for one year at any must show that your
point prior to your birth. father agreed in writing to
support you financially
until you turned 18 years
old.
v
FIRR–-- last updated July 2001