WAG 03-01-02-a.
A person is determined to be a United States Citizen by one of the following, Birth, Naturalization or a Foreign-Born Child to US Citizen.
Birth
A person born in the US, one of it's territories, or born to a US Citizen on foreign soil is a US Citizen. The US and it's territories are defined as follows with some exceptions:
- The Fifty States
- District of Columbia
- American Samoa
- Swain's Island
- Puerto Rico (born on or after January 13, 1941)
- US Virgin Islands (born on or after January 17, 1917)
- Northern Mariana Islands (born on or after November 5, 1986, NMI local time); and
- Guam (born on or after April 10, 1899)
- Exceptions:
- Persons born to a foreign sovereign individual; or
- Person born to a foreign diplomatic officer
Naturalization
Naturalization is the process by which a foreign-born citizen or a National is granted full US Citizenship.
Foreign-Born Child to US Citizen (includes adoption)
A Foreign-Born Child of a US Citizen, including adopted children, residing in the US automatically acquire citizenship, provided all of the following requirements are met:
- At least one of the parents is a US Citizen (by birth or naturalization); and
- the child is under 18; and
- the child is currently permanently residing in the US in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent; and
- the child is admitted as a Lawful Permanent Resident
