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First-Time Report of Birth Abroad

First-Time Report of Birth Abroad

For Filipino Translation of this page, click here. 

NEW PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED FOR A CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD

Please read all information on this page to understand the application process, including making an appointment and preparing documents for the interview.  If you do not bring the required documentation, we will suspend processing of the application and you may be required to schedule another appointment.

In order for a child/applicant to be documented as a U.S. citizen, the U.S. citizen parent(s) must fullfill all of the following three requirements:

  • Transmission - This is the ability of a U.S. citizen parent to transmit citizenship to their child.  The U.S. citizen parent(s) must have been a U.S. citizen at the time of the child's birth and must have accrued sufficient physical presence in the U.S. to transmit citizenship.  The transmission requirements depend on the date of birth of the child and the legal relationship between the parents at the time of the birth of the child.  See the Transmission Requirements for Citizenship. 
  • Legitimation - The child/applicant must meet the legal requirements pertaining to legitimation.  A child born to a female U.S. citizen (and a non-U.S. citizen father) is automatically legitimated.  Proof of legitimation is required for a child born to a male U.S. citizen.  Persons born to an in-wedlock U.S. citizen father and non-U.S. citizen mother are legitimated by virtue of the marriage.  Persons born to an out-of-wedlock U.S. citizen father and non-U.S. citizen mother, and not legitimated by the natural parents' subsequent marriage can be legitimated under the Immigration and Nationality Act by one of two methods.  See the Legitimation Requirements for further details.
  • Filiation - A biological and legal relationship with the child/applicant and the claimed U.S. citizen parent must be established.

 

Requirements for CRBA

YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW FOR A CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD  (PLEASE NOTE, if you do not bring the required documentation, we will be obliged to suspend processing of the application and you will be required to scheduled another appointment.  To assist with your preparation, please download, print out and complete the CRBA checklist below and bring it with you to your appointment.)

Official Department of State forms are available in PDF, fillable PDF, and FAR (the Department's standard form format).  If you encounter difficulties accessing forms, your computer may need additional software to facilitate the FAR format.  You may download such software by clicking this: download the filler application.

Note: The CRBA checklist may require you to bring the original along with photocopies of the document/s.  Please bring photocopies when required.  Otherwise, you will be charged for the photocopying fee of $1.00 per page at the Embassy.

  • The signed CRBA checklist.  Please note that the CRBA checklist is just a guide.  Make sure to still read the read the specific instructions about the CRBA requirements found on this page.  Click to print CRBA Checklist (PDF format).
  • Three (3) identical passport photographs of the child, two identical separate passport photographs of the mother and the father.  These must be in 2in x 2in (5cm x 5 cm) in dimension, set against a while background.  Please click here for photo instructions.
  • Unsigned, completed Application for CRBA (form DS-2029).  Only the child's biological parent or legal guardian, preferably the U.S. citizen parent, can apply for a CRBA.  Either parent, including a non-U.S. citizen parent, may execute and sign this application form before a Consular Officer. If it will be signed and executed by a legal guardian, a special power of attorney from the parent(s) or guardianship affidavit must be submitted.  Please read and follow the "Instructions Page of the CRBA form" when filling it out.  Complete items 1-15 but do not sign this form until you are standing before the Consular Officer during your appointment at the Embassy.  Click here for the application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad (form DS-2029). 
  • The child's original Philippine birth certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO), and one photocopy of same.  Birth certificates issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) in lieu of NSO Birth Certificates, are not acceptable.  Click here for a sample of an NSO birth certificate.  For an applicant born in a country other than the Philippines, please bring the birth certificate issued by the government in the country of birth.
  • For a school-age child, photo identification of child, if available, and photographs of the child at different ages.  These photos should be a sampling that represents the child's growth from infancy to current age.
  • Evidence of parent's (s') U.S. citizenship.  The U.S. citizen parent(s) must present his/her current and expired U.S. passports and a photocopy of each.  A notarized copy of the current U.S. passport and its pages is acceptable in lieu of the original.  If the U.S. citizen parent was naturalized, he/she must bring the original Certificate of Naturalization and one photocopy.
  • Original Passport/Identification document for non-U.S. citizen parent, with one photocopy of the same.  A non-U.S. citizen parent must bring his/her passport.  In the absence of a passport, two other forms of photo identification, such as postal ID, Senior Citizen's ID, Voter's ID, or digitized government-issued IDs like SSS, PRC, BIR, or driver's license, are acceptable.
  • Parents' marriage certificate, if applicable.  Please bring the original Marriage Certificate and one photocopy.  For marriages conducted in the Philippines, only a marriage certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO) is acceptable.  A marriage certificate issued by the LCR is not acceptable.
  • If the parents were not married at the time of the birth of the applicant, a completed Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence and Support (Form DS-5507) is required for an applicant born to an unmarried U.S. citizen father.  Do not sign the document if the father will be present at the interview.  If the father will not be present, the form must by signed by the father (signature is required on page 3 and page 4) and notarized by a U.S. commissioned notary.  If the father is deceased, an original Death Certificate and one photocopy must be submitted. Click here to download Form DS-5507.
  • Any original divorce decree and annulment decrees/death certificates, if applicable, and one photocopy of same.   The mother and/or father will need to show termination of all prior marriages.  If the U.S. citizen parent is deceased, please provide an original death certificate.  If the death occurred in the Philippines, please provide the NSO issued death certificate.  Please bring certified translations if the decrees or certificates are not in English.
  • Documentary Evidence (original and one photocopy) of U.S. citizen parent'(s') physical presence in the U.S.  The law requires the U.S. citizen parent(s) to bring proof of having physically resided in the United States for a defined period of time.  Regularly available documents that may establish physical presence in the U.S. before the child's birth include: Transcripts from High School and/or College, Income Tax Returns and W2s, old passports, and a DD-214 Separation Statement (Military Members only).  There are many other documents that may be submitted to demonstrate previous physical presence in the U.S., and the Consular Officer will evaluate any of these.  Please bring one photocopy of each document to be presented.  See the Transmission Requirement for Citizenship to know the applicable time period required. 
  • Prenatal records and/or other evidence of the mother's pregnancy.
  • Evidence of the couple's relationship prior to the conception of the applicant.  The burden of proving a claim to U.S. citizenship, including blood relationship, is on the person making such claim.  Photos prior to the time of conception, letters, and other correspondence may help establish the couple's relationship prior to the conception of the applicant.  When no substantive form of credible evidence is available in conjunction with a CRBA or Passport application, a parent may find genetic testing to be a useful tool for confirming a stated biological relationship.  Note: Do not initiate a DNA test unless it was recommended by the Embassy for your pending CRBA or Passport application.  A DNA Test that was done independently and not according to Department of State procedures will not be accepted to support a CRBA or Passport application.  For more information, read the DNA Testing Procedures.  Click here for English version.  Click here for Filipino version.
  • Non-Refundable Application Fee for CRBA.  The fee for a CRBA is $100.  Payment will be made at the Consular Section's Cashier on the day of the appointment, in cash (either dollors or pesos) and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club).
  • Courier Delivery Fee.  Upon approval, the CRBA will be delivered  by the courier.  The courier fee, which may vary depending on the delivery address, will be paid on the day of the appointment at the Embassy. 

Upon approval of the CRBA, many parents wish to apply at once for the child's first passport.  Parents interested in taking advantage of this convenient opportunity should come prepared with the following additional forms and expectations:

  • Unsigned, completed Application for a U.S. passport (Form DS-11).  Click here for Form DS-11 PDF format.  Click here for Form DS-11 wizard (if completing form electronically or online).  Complete but do not sign this form until you are before the Consular Officer.  For children under the age of 16, both parents/legal guardians are required to come to the Embassy in person to accompany the child.  Please click here for the Two Parent Consent Requirement for Passport Issuance to Minors under the Age of 16.   
  • Passport Fee.  The passport fee for a child under 16 is $105; for those 16 and over, the fee is $135. 
  • If one of the parents of the child under the age of 16 cannot come to the Embassy, an original Statement of Consent Form (Form DS-3053) signed by the absent parent must be presented.  The form must be notarized by a U.S. commissioned notary.  (The Statement of Consent document is valid in the passport application process for 90 days after the date of notarization.)
  • If both parents of the child under the age of 16 will not be present and only a guardian will be signing on the passport application of the child, submit guardianship affidavit or special power of attorney signed and executed by both parents along with signed and notarized Statement of Consent form (Form DS-3053) from each parent.  The form must be notarized by a U.S. commissioned notary. (The Statement of Consent document is valid in the passport application process for 90 days after the date of notarization.)

Book An Appointment

U.S. Embassy Manila is implementing an online appointment-only system for applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and Claims to U.S. citizenship.  After gathering all required documentation, you may schedule an appointment for an in-person interview. 

  • The child must be present a the interview.  Both parents are strongly encouraged to accompany the child. 
  • On the day of your appointment, please arrive at the Embassy at least 30 minutes before your appointment time.  When you arrive at the American Citizens Services area, wait for your quematic number to flash on the screen and be ready with your appointment confirmation printout, the CRBA checklist, and supporting documents. 
  • Please be aware that you must have a separate appointment slot for each of your children for whom you are applying.  The children may be scheduled on the same date as long as each child has his/her own slot and individual appointment confirmations.   As there are many people seeking appointments, we ask you to please cancel your appointment if you will be unable to come to the Embassy.
  • Please make only one appointment for each child - the Embassy will cancel all but one appointment for people who reserve multiple appointments for the same child and will cancel all subsequent appointments if you do not show up for an appointment.
  • Use a valid e-mail address and contact number and print your appointment confirmation.
  • Select the service "Report the birth abroad of a child of a U.S. citizen" (3rd button) on the appointment system.
  • The American Citizen Services section does not work on requests for children's social security numbers.  Although there is a reference to obtaining a social security number on the appointment system, Embassy Manila has a separate Social Security Administration office. Click here to view the Social Security Administration website.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT by clicking here.

 

CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT by clicking here.