OVERSEAS BIRTHS

The birth of a child in the Sultanate of Oman to U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the Consular Section for the purpose of establishing an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship at birth.  The official record is in the form of a CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD OF A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (FS-240).  This document, known as the CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (CROBA), is considered a basic United States citizenship document.  An original FS-240 is furnished to the parents at the time the registration is approved.  Multiple copies of this document are not obtainable from the Embassy.

REPORTING THE BIRTH

A CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH can be prepared only at an American consular office overseas.  It cannot be prepared if the person is 18 years of age or older at the time the application for a CROBA is made.  Because the availability and/or reliability of the information presented and of the supporting evidence diminishes with time, it is advisable that the application be made as soon after birth as possible.  Delay in reporting could cause inconvenience and possibly deprive a child of this valuable document. The law relating to the acquisition of U.S. citizenship abroad by virtue of birth can be complex, but in general the following two basic rules apply:

  • A child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth,

or

  • A child born abroad on or after December 24, 1952 and before November 14, 1986 to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-citizen parent can acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if the U.S. citizen parent can demonstrate that he or she was physically present in the United States for a minimum of ten years, at least five of which were after the age of fourteen, prior to the birth of the child. A child born abroad on or after November 14, 1986 to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-citizen parent can acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if the U.S. citizen parent can demonstrate that he or she was physically present in the United States for a minimum of five years, at least two of which were after the age of fourteen, prior to the birth of the child.

In order for us to process an application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, an official document that demonstrates U.S. citizenship, we require:

1.        That one or both parents bring the child to our office;

2.        The child's original government birth certificate (with English translation if not in English);

The current U.S. passport for each U.S. citizen parent;

4.        Evidence of parent(s) physical presence in the U.S. (Examples of primary evidence: academic records; letters showing employment in the U.S.  Examples of secondary evidence: former and current passports, U.S or foreign, of the U.S. citizen parent(s) showing periods of residence in the United States; any other documents.)

5.        Marriage certificate of the parents, if married;

6.        Evidence of termination of parents' prior marriage(s), if married previously;

7.        The mother's pre-natal documents, e.g., OB/GYN exam results, sonography scan reports, hospital records, etc.; and

8.        The $65 fee (R.O. 26), payable in cash in either U.S. dollars or Rials Omani.

If you are not sure whether your child would qualify for U.S. citizenship by virtue of birth, you can consult us by e-mail at aemctcns@omantel.net.om.