Claims to Citizenship and Renunciations
Possible Derivative Claim to U.S. Citizenship
If you were born outside the United States to one or both United States citizen parent(s), you might have a derivative claim to U.S. citizenship. If your parent(s) had previously registered you as a United States citizen after your birth, one of the following documents would have been issued to you, and is evidence of your U.S. Citizenship.
-
Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240);
-
Certificate of Citizenship;
Your name had been included on your U.S. citizen parent's passport before 1981.
If you believe one of the first three may have been issued to you, but are unable to locate it, you must obtain a certified copy from the Department of State or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (UCSIS) before you can apply for a U.S. Passport.
If the applicant is under the age of 18 years, and has never had any of the above documents issued, please refer to Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
If you are aged 18 years or above, and have never had any of the above documents issued please refer to Transmitting Citizenship to see if you have a possible derivative claim.
Once you have checked that you qualify, please follow the instructions below and click on the links to download relevant forms.
Please disregard the instructions and addresses listed on the online version of the forms and submit your application in person at Consulate General Chennai serving your area.
Completing the application
Please print out and submit only one-sided pages of the application. Please type or print legibly in black ink.
Please complete all sections except Section 16 on Form DS-11. You need to sign this in front of the Consular Officer.
Please be sure to complete all forms, and bring all required supporting documents and evidence in original format.
To be presented in person at the Consulate:
-
Completed (but not signed) passport application (Form DS-11). Please see notes on downloading forms.
-
Your Birth Certificate*
-
Evidence of Parent(s) U.S. Citizenship*
-
Evidence of U.S. Parent(s) physical presence*
-
If applicable — Parents’ marriage certificate*
-
If applicable — Evidence of termination of any previous marriages*
-
Your identification documents*
-
Affidavit of identifying witness* (if applicable)
-
If applicable — documentation to support name change or change of other descriptive data*
-
Affidavit of Physical Presence and Parentage*
-
Completed Application for Social Security Number (Form SS-5) (This is not mandatory, but is recommended. No extra fee applies).
-
Two (2) passport photographs. 5cm × 5cm. (Photographer onsite, if necessary)
-
Applicable Fee. (All fees are subject to change without notice)
-
(Optional) Pre-paid self-addressed Express Post Platinum or Registered Post envelope for return of your passports. If you do not provide an envelope, you must collect your passport in person from the Consulate General at which you applied.
Please read information regarding supporting documents and Transmitting Citizenship carefully
Helpful hints for applications made via Consulate General Chennai:
Make an extra copy of all documents to leave with us or be prepared to pay USD 1 for each photocopy (If you are also applying for a Social Security Number, please make 2 copies of each supporting document).