A. Primary Evidence has the highest reliability. If provided, no further verification is needed. If any other level of evidence is used to verify U. S. citizenship, a second document verifying identity must be obtained.
1. The following documents may be accepted as
primary proof of an individuals citizenship and identity
a) U.S. Passport. A U.S. Passport does not
have to be currently valid to be accepted as evidence of U.S. citizenship as
long as it was originally issued without limitation. On an emergency basis, the
passport office will issue a U.S. passport without proof of citizenship. In
this instance, the passport is issued with the limitation that is valid for one
(1) year rather than the usual five (5) or ten (10) years. When the holder of a
passport with limitation returns to the country, he has to provide proof of
citizenship to have the passport reissued without limitation. To determine if a
passport was issued with limitation, compare the issuance date, with the
expiration date. If the expiration date is less than five (5) years from the
issuance date, the passport was issued with limitation and cannot be used as
proof of citizenship. Each passport must be examined closely to determine
whether or not the passport was issued with limitation. Spouses and children
were sometimes included on one passport through 1980. U.S. passports issued
after 1980 show only one person. Consequently, the citizenship when it was
issued with a limitation. However, such a passport may be used as proof of
identity. NOTE: Do not accept any passport as evidence of U.S. citizenship when
it was issued with a limitation. However, such a passport may be used as proof
of identity.
b) Certificate of
Naturalization (N-550 or N-570). Issued by Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) for Naturalization.
c)
Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561). Issued by DHS to individuals who
derive citizenship through a parent.
B. Secondary Evidence of citizenship is a documentary evidence of satisfactory reliability that is used when primary evidence of citizenship is not available within the reasonable opportunity period. In addition, a second document establishing identity must be presented.
1. The following documents are secondary
evidence of citizenship: a) A U.S. public
birth record. A birth certificate may be issued by the State Commonwealth
territory, or local jurisdiction. The birth record must have been recorded
before the person was five (5) years of age. A delayed birth record document
recorded after five (5) years of age is considered fourth level evidence of
citizenship. 1) The U.S. birth record should
show one of the following:(a) One of the
fifty (50) U.S. States;
(b)District
of Columbia;
(c) American
Samoa;
(d)Swains Island;
(e) Puerto Rico (if born on or after January
13, 1941);
(f) Virgin Islands of
the U.S. (on or after January 17, 1917);
(g)Northern Mariana Islands (after November
4, 1986, NMI local time); Guam (on or after April 10, 1899).
b) Verification through
the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien verification for
Entitlements (SAVE) database to verify U.S. citizenship for a naturalized
citizen when original naturalization papers are not available.
c) When a child derives U.S. citizenship from
a parent and meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000
establish the parents U.S. citizenship and the child's legal immigration
status, if applicable, through SAVE to verify the child's citizenship. Primary
verification through a Certificate of Citizenship should be available if child
was issued a Visa rather than a permanent resident alien card upon entry into
the country.
d) Certification of
Report of Birth Abroad (FS-1350). The Department of State issues a DS-1350 to
U.S. citizens who were born outside the...
