American citizens have the right to live and work in this country, and employers have a legal obligation not to hire those in the country illegally. In either case though, proving citizenship is a paramount concern. This may not always be easy, however. Records may become lost or destroyed, or, in the event of the birth of a child to a U.S. citizen living in a foreign country, appropriate ones may never exist. Fortunately, legal remedies for these sorts of problems do exist.

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How to Find Out If Someone Is a Citizen?

How to Check Citizenship

Instructions

For a Naturalized Citizen

1

New citizens receive a form to prove their status.

Ask the person for their Certificate of Naturalization. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issues that certificate to any immigrant upon receiving the status of citizen. If needed, the immigrant in question can even get copies of his Certificate of Naturalization by filling out form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, and mailing it to either the Nebraska Service Center at 850 S Street, Lincoln, NE 6850 or the Texas Service Center at 4141 St. Augustine Rd., Dallas, TX, 75227.

2

Verify the Naturalization Certificate by asking the State Department for a certified copy through their Authentication Office, 518 23rd Street, NW, Sa-1 Columbia Plaza, Washington, DC 20520. You also can call them at 202-647-5002. The immigrant in question will need to present his naturalization certificate and a picture ID.

3

The government does offer more than one means to verify citizenship.

Ask United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for a copy of any records of naturalization regarding the person in question under the Freedom of Information Act at their National Records Center, FOIA/PA Office at P. O. Box 648010, Lee's Summit, MO, 64064-8010. You also can call them at 1-800-375-5283 or fax them at 816-350-5785.

For Someone Born a Citizen

4

A birth certificate is probably the most common means to prove citizenship.

Write the person's home state or territory for a copy of their birth certificate. The office keeping this record may vary in different states, but you can find an overall directory at the Center for Disease Control's website. You also may want to insist on receiving the long form of this document. Some states do issue abbreviated forms, but they may not be acceptable for such things as acquiring a U.S. transport. You yourself decide its acceptability.

5

Ambassadors perform many useful functions for citizens living abroad.

Request a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad through the State Department at their office of Passport Services, Vital Records Section, 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705. This document is a record of a birth to one or more American citizens outside the U.S. and serves as proof of the citizenship of the child.

6

Request a Certificate of Citizenship through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283. A child born to one or more U.S. citizens without receiving a Consular Report of Birth Abroad before their 18th birthday can apply for this form to gain citizenship.

Tags: Citizenship Immigration, Citizenship Immigration Services, Immigration Services, Service Center, States Citizenship