3 Common Questions About Citizenship for International Adoptees

The Office of Children’s Issues recently issued a notice in response to a high number of inquiries regarding citizenship for adopted children. Many have asked whether children adopted internationally have obtained U.S. citizenship and how to go about documenting U.S. citizenship if acquired.
Here, find answers to common questions regarding citizenship for adopted children from the Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
What is the Child Citizenship Act of 2000?
The Child Citizenship Act automatically grants American citizenship to certain foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens. Adopted children who satisfy the following conditions before turning 18 will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship:- Qualify as a child as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- Be admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, and
- Be residing in the United States in the physical and legal custody of the U.S. citizen parent(s)