I have a freind who is convinced he may be a US citizen, but i think he is wrong

[Ridcully41 1]

Not sure if i have this in the right forum if i havn't please feel free to move it

ok long story short, there is this guy i know, not really a freind more of a work colleauge and just recently his mother passed away. when he was doing the paperwork for her death certificate he came across his mothers birth certificate.

As it turns out his mother was born in Miami Fl,(he had no clue) apperently his grandparents were there for a while working in the hotel trade back in the 50's as far as i know both grandparents were UK citizens and never naturalized and must have moved back here not long after this guys mum was born,from what i know his mother never travelled much so never needed a passport of any kind .

ok thats the backround now the question. ever since he found this birth certificate he seems to think that all he has to do is fill in some paperwork and he is automatically a US citizen, but as i told him it's not that simple and not how it works (i have been waiting nearly a year for my IR-1),another thing he is way over 21 . i have tried to tell him he is most likely wrong, but he is not having any of it, can anyone shed some light on this?.

if anyone could post a link to the relevant peice of information that would be even better because no matter what i tell him he won't belive me unless i can show him something in writing

thanks for your help

Ridcully

[lost_at_sea 995]

Edit: http://americansabroad.org/issues/citizenship/citizenship-requirements-faqs/ Substitute Spanish for British.

Q: I was born abroad. My American mother is married to my Spanish father. Am I a US citizen? A: Yes, if your mother was physically present in the US at least five years prior to your birth, two of which were after age 14. Honorable US military service, employment with the US Government or intergovernmental international organization or as the dependent unmarried daughter and member of the household of a parent in such service or employment, may be included.

So, if she didn't live there and was only born there, he can't claim citizenship.

Edited June 18, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Darnell 8,478]

If yer friend thinks he just fills out some paperwork, then you should 'let' your friend go forth.

[Ridcully41 1]

Thetford

[lost_at_sea 995]

If yer friend thinks he just fills out some paperwork, then you should 'let' your friend go forth.

Haha! I thought that too, but I was curious to know. If only it were that simple, eh?

Thetford

Sorry. I edited my post with a probable answer. Re-check!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Oh, and here's the department of state version: http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html

[Ridcully41 1]

Oh, and here's the department of state version: http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html

Thanks for that i will show that to him , i also meant to add in my first post that i'm not doing this to be mean but to save himself from himself. just in case at any point in his futre he decides he ever wants to visit the USA as i know a false claim to citizenship is a huge no no.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Thanks for that i will show that to him , i also meant to add in my first post that i'm not doing this to be mean but to save himself from himself. just in case at any point in his futre he decides he ever wants to visit the USA as i know a false claim to citizenship is a huge no no.

To be honest, even if his mum did live there for long enough and up until the age 16, since he didn't even know they were ever there, I expect he'd have a hard time getting the evidence together to show she qualified to pass on her citizenship.

[Ridcully41 1]

If yer friend thinks he just fills out some paperwork, then you should 'let' your friend go forth.

i know, i wish it was that simple

[Ridcully41 1]

To be honest, even if his mum did live there for long enough and up until the age 16, since he didn't even know they were ever there, I expect he'd have a hard time getting the evidence together to show she qualified to pass on her citizenship.

he knew his granparents were there in the 50's but not that his mum was born in Miami (not sure why that was ever kept from him)i would guess he was under the impression that they moved back so his mum was born here

i guess some families just love secrets

Edited June 18, 2013 by Ridcully41