Donald Trump, the President of United States (U.S.) has cancelled automatic citizenship status for children who were given birth to abroad.
This means that U.S. citizen parents who are residing outside the country would have to apply for citizenship of the United States for their children after birth.
The new policy, was announced in a statement sighted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
According to a statement by the USCIS, the new immigration policy will take effect from October 29, 2019.
The USCIS said such parents have the option of completing the naturalization process for their children abroad before they turn 8 years.
According to them, any child whose naturalization processes was not initiated before age 8, may not be considered.
The USCIS also said the policy does not exempt children of U.S. military and U.S. government employees stationed outside the country.
“Effective October 29, 2019, children residing abroad with their U.S. citizen parents who are U.S. government employees or members of the U.S. armed forces stationed abroad are not considered to be residing in the United States for acquisition of citizenship.
“Similarly, leave taken in the United States while stationed abroad is not considered residing in the United States even if the person is staying in property he or she owns.
“Therefore, U.S. citizen parents who are residing outside the United States with children who are not U.S. citizens should apply for U.S. citizenship on behalf of their children under INA 322 8, and must complete the process before the child’s 18th birthday.
“The child of a member of the U.S. armed forces accompanying his or her parent abroad on official orders may be eligible to complete all aspects of the naturalization proceedings abroad.
This includes interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings relating to naturalization.
“Applications filed on or after October 29, 2019 are subject to this policy. The policy in place before October 29, 2019 applies to applications filed before that date.
Children who have already been recognized through the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship as having acquired U.S. citizenship under INA 320 are not affected by this policy change”, the statement read.
