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UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2009

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DOCUMENTS ESTABLISHING U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IDENTITY Ver: 11/19/07

PRIMARY CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENTS Primary Documents

Explanation: Highest reliability; proves U.S. citizenship and identity. No other document required. United States passport The Department of State issues this document. A U.S. passport does not have to be currently valid to be accepted as evidence of U.S. citizenship. Note: Spouses and children were sometimes included on one passport through 1980. U.S. passports issued after 1980 show only one person. Consequently, the citizenship and identity of the included person can be established when one of these passports is presented. Certificate of Naturalization (DHS Forms N-550 or N-570) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues for naturalization. Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (DHS Forms N-560 or N-561) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues certificates of citizenship to individuals who derive citizenship through a parent.

SECONDARY CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENTS Secondary Documents

Explanation: Districts should attempt to obtain the most reliable document available. Satisfactory reliability when a primary document not available; also requires an identity document. A U.S. public birth certificate showing birth in: • One of the 50 U.S. States; • District of Columbia; • American Samoa; • Swain’s Island; • *Puerto Rico (if born on or after January 13, 1941); • *Virgin Islands of the U.S. (on or after January 17, 1917); • *Northern Mariana Islands (after November 4, 1986 (NMI local time); or • Guam (on or after April 10, 1899) The birth record document may be issued by the State, Commonwealth, territory or local jurisdiction. It must have been issued before the person was five years of age.

Note: If the document shows the individual was born in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the U.S., or the Northern Mariana Islands before these areas became part of the United States, the individual may be a collectively naturalized citizen. Collective naturalization occurred on certain dates listed for each of the territories. * See additional requirements for Collective Naturalization, on page 5.

Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State (DS-1350)

The Department of State issues a DS-1350 to U.S. citizens in the U.S. who were born outside the U.S. and acquired U.S. citizenship at birth, based on the information shown on the FS-240. When the birth was recorded as a Consular Report of Birth (FS-240), certified copies of the Certification of Report of Birth Abroad (DS-1350) can be issued by the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The DS-1350 contains the same information as that on the current version of Consular Report of Birth FS-240. The DS-1350 is not issued outside the U.S. (MRG)