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U.S. Citizenship
By
25 MINUTE READ
May 16, 2023
CRBA
Eligibility Requirements
How to Apply
Need Help?
Other Important Information
Renounce U.S. Citizenship

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)!

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  United States non-citizen nationals are also eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad using the non-citizen option. 

CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. We recommend that parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth. 

Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

In order for a child/applicant to be documented as a U.S. citizen, all three of the essential requirements must be fulfilled.

See Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

To apply, your child must have been born in the Philippines and you must travel to U.S. Embassy in Manila or U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu for the in-person interview. 

To be eligible to apply for a CRBA online, you MUST answer all the following criteria with YES.  If you answer “no” to one or more of these questions, but believe you or your child may be a U.S. citizen, please write to ACSInfoManila@state.gov for further instructions. 

  1. Was the child born in the Philippines? 
  2. Is the child under the age of 18? 
  3. Was at least one parent a U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national when the child was born? 
  4. Can you use an internationally accepted credit/debit card to pay online for your Consular Report of Birth Abroad application? 
  5. Are you a biological parent of a child born abroad who is applying for that child? 

How to Apply

 

1.) To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov account or sign-in to your existing account. MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal that you can use to start an eCRBA application or access an existing eCRBA application.  

2.) Once you sign in or create a MyTravelGov account you can access eCRBA and submit your application online. The easy-to-use online process provides applicants with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. You may review the necessary documents for the CRBA application in advance by reviewing this checklist. 

3.) Appointment Details

For Manila Appointment:

After completing the online application and payment, please email ManilaCRBAappt@state.gov with your proof of payment attached.  We will reply with the details of your interview appointment. Be sure to email your request for appointment schedule at least 72 hours after submitting payment to allow time for processing.

For Cebu Appointment:

To request an appointment at the U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu, please use our online Appointment Scheduling System.  Be sure to schedule your appointment for at least 72 hours after submitting payment to allow time for processing.

Please note that we no longer accept mailed-in applications due to high demand and processing delays.

4.) Attend your scheduled in-person interview with your child, original documents, and their photocopies (single-sided). Original documents will be returned to you after reviewing your application. You must provide English translations for all foreign language documents. The child must be present at the time of application. Generally, both parents also attend the interview.  If you wish may bring someone else with you to your appointment (a private attorney, interpreter or other third party to assist), please send us an email in advance.  Please note that all regulations related to a CRBA application continue to apply.

Need Help?

We are here to help!

Other Important Information

Embassy Manila processes CRBA applications through the eCRBA system.  If you are over 18 and applying for U.S. citizenship, please complete the DS-11 form and pay the passport application fee at Pay.gov.  After printing the completed application and making payment, send an email with attached proof of payment to ManilaCRBAappt@state.gov.  We will respond with an appointment time and additional instructions for your interview at the Embassy.

In order for a child/applicant to be documented as a U.S. citizen, all three of the essential requirements must be fulfilled: physical presence, and legitimation, blood relationship. For more information, please click here.

Social Security Card applications must be completed and submitted separately. Please note that an application for a Social Security Number can only be submitted after receiving the original Consular Report of Birth Abroad and Passport. To obtain a Social Security Number for your child, see further details.

Renounce U.S. Citizenship

If you intend to renounce your U.S. citizenship, please let us know of your intent by emailing ACSInfoManila@state.gov. We will then email you with your next steps, to first set up a phone interview, and later, an in-person appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

The fee for renunciation of U.S. Citizenship is $2,350.00 USD and it is non-refundable. Please prepare to pay your fee during your in-person appointment, either in cash (U.S. dollars or Philippine pesos) or by major credit card.

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U.S. Citizen Services