Stage 1B: CRBA: Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Stage 1B: CRBA. Your child was born in the UK to a US citizen parent and may already be a US citizen. If so, they need a CRBA and a US passport, not an immigrant visa, handled entirely separately from the I-130 process. Most cases succeed or fail on the physical presence evidence. Do this first: check the US citizen parent can prove 5 years in the US before the birth, including 2 years after age 14.
Action list
- Petitioner: US citizen parent: gather evidence of at least 5 years of physical presence in the US before the child’s birth, including at least 2 years after age 14.
- Either: Complete the eCRBA via MyTravelGov, plus the DS-11 (left unsigned) and the optional SS-5, then upload documents and pay the $100 CRBA fee.
- Either: Email the London CRBA unit with the child’s name, date of birth and CRBA case number to book the appointment.
- Either: Buy the prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery return envelope. It is mandatory.
- Beneficiary: Non-US parent: if you cannot attend, get a DS-3053 parental consent form notarized within 3 months of the appointment.
If a child is born in the UK to a US citizen parent, they may already be a US citizen at birth. If so, they do not need an immigrant visa. They need a CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad) to prove that citizenship, plus a US passport to travel. This is handled entirely separately from the I-130 process.
If a child is a US citizen at birth, filing an I-130 (IR2) is the wrong route. Assess CRBA eligibility first. It is faster, cleaner, and bypasses the entire visa process. The operative question is whether the US citizen parent meets the physical presence requirement.
If the child is not a US citizen at birth, proceed with I-130 as an IR2.
- Official proof of US citizenship at birth for a child born abroad to a US citizen parent
- Must be applied for before age 18, ideally soon after birth
- Strongly recommended before the child travels to the US, as US citizens must enter on a US passport
- A single appointment covers the CRBA, first US passport, and optional SSN application
- Child born in UK → apply at US Embassy London
- Child born elsewhere but living in UK → apply in London, but the case is forwarded to the embassy in the country of birth → longer processing
- Child already in the US → cannot apply for CRBA; citizenship is adjudicated via first US passport application instead
The US citizen parent must prove they lived in the US for at least 5 years before the child's birth, including at least 2 years after age 14. This is where most cases succeed or fail: weak evidence here causes delays or refusal. [travel.state.gov: Birth Abroad]
Physical presence does not need to be continuous: visits of any length count. However, any time outside the US must be excluded, including holidays and short trips. It does not matter whether you were in the US legally or illegally, or whether you held US citizenship during that time.
- Time actually within US borders (non-continuous periods add up)
- Honorable US military service overseas, or as a dependent of someone serving: requires official military records
- Employment with the US government or certain international organizations overseas, or as a dependent: requires official records
Accepted evidence includes:
- Official school transcripts from primary, secondary, or university
- W-2 forms with a letter from the employer's HR department
- Passports showing both US entries and exits (different passports may make travel dates hard to establish)
- Military records (Statement of Service or DD-214)
- Bank or credit card statements showing activity at specific US locations (e.g. ATM withdrawals, US restaurant charges)
- US medical records, but only for the exact dates of treatment
- CBP entry/exit records via FOIA request at cbp.gov
Not accepted as evidence of physical presence:
- US driver's license (does not show when or for how long you were present)
- Diploma without transcripts (credits may have been earned abroad)
- Lease or mortgage (many people maintain property in multiple countries)
- Cell phone records
- Bank statements that don't show a US location
- Social media posts mentioning being in the US
- Income tax forms without pay stubs or W-2s (taxes can be filed from anywhere)
Sources: US Embassy CRBA: Proving Physical Presence (PDF) · US Embassy London, Oct 2025 Notice
- Long-form UK birth certificate (with both parents listed)
- Passport photo
- Child's other nationality passport (if applicable, you do not have to surrender it)
- Proof of US citizenship (US passport or naturalization certificate)
- Evidence of 5 years physical presence in the US before child's birth, including 2 years after age 14
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce or death certificates (if prior marriages)
- Passport or national ID
- DS-3053 notarized parental consent (if not attending in person)
- Prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery return envelope: this is mandatory and must be brought to the appointment. Without it the CRBA and passport cannot be returned to you.
- The DS-11 must be left unsigned until you are at the appointment. Do not sign it in advance.
- Not eligible for CRBA: if the physical presence requirement is not met, the child may need the Child Citizenship Act route or an I-130 immigrant visa instead
- Multiple children: separate appointments required per child, though they can be coordinated to run consecutively
- Lost CRBA: replacements must be requested from the US Department of State, not the London embassy
- Born outside UK: case is forwarded to the country of birth embassy; processing takes longer
Before you move on
- Petitioner: The US citizen parent’s evidence covers 5 years of physical presence, including 2 after age 14, with all time outside the US excluded.
- Either: The eCRBA is complete and the $100 fee is paid, and the DS-11 is still unsigned.
- Either: I have the long-form UK birth certificate with both parents listed, and a passport photo.
- Either: I have the prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope ready for the appointment.
- Either: The child and the US citizen parent will attend, and the non-US parent will too or has a notarized DS-3053.