Dual Citizenship: Issue facing Philippine-born citizens with one American Parent

Are you a child of one Filipino parent who is married to an American citizen or any other foreign person? Are you aware that you are overstaying in the Philippines if you received foreign citizenship while a child by virtue of acquiring a foreign passport?

[brchannel]

I really enjoy the topics you cover. Topics most of the other expat vloggers never touch. Always very well researched. I appreciate the time you put into these videos.

[balikbayans-simplelivingn]

Great information. I'm in the same situation, but grew up in the U.S. Was told via email by the Los Angeles Consulate to file for dual citizenship. Will find out soon if the "Citizenship of Recognition" will apply to me or not as I was born before 1973 in the Philippines. Thank you for the post.

[yootoober]

In my case, after I reported my child's birth abroad on FS-240, I also applied for her passport immediately or soon after I was notified I could or should get her a passport. She received her US passport at 18 months old.

Yes, she was also a Filipino citizen by virtue of her mother being a Filipino citizen at the time of her birth. She grew up in the States but when we came back here for my retirement, she was told/offered dual citizenship because her birth certificate proved she was born of a Filipina mother and it didn't matter that she never held or applied for a Philippine passport.

I chose to have her keep just her American citizenship, just in case the Philippine government gets froggy and draft all dual citizens in their military. She is now in the US Navy.

[yootoober]

As U.S. citizen parent(s), you should report your child’s birth abroad as soon as possible to the U.S. Consulate to establish an official record of the child’s claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record will be the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Form FS-240 which is a basic United States citizenship document.

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)
A Consular Report of Birth (CRBA) is evidence of United States citizenship, issued to a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday, and we recommend that the parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth. For applicants older than age 18 who have never been issued a CRBA, please refer to Possible Derivative Claim to U.S. Citizenship. Anyone who has a claim to U.S. citizenship must be in posession of a valid U.S passport to enter and exit the United States, even if they have citizenship of another country, as well.

PreviousFirst-Time Report of Birth Abroad
NextEligibility for a CRBA

[renegonza]

As long as one parent has a filipino blood no problem with filipino people culture for that man to stay in the country

[arthlopez]

She received her US citizenship Through Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA) application, born outside US -- That doesn't renounce her Filipino citizen or being Naturalized. This is not Naturalization. It is a transfer of US parent citizenship to a child. Plus, she is born in the PH and grew up with PSA Birth Certificate and a filipino parent. She is technically Filipino citizenship by birth. She didn't need to apply Filipino recognition. Who ever in BI told her was wrong. All she have to do was apply PH Passport showing her BC plus other documents requirements which cost much less 950-1200.00 pesos. And that is it. Recognition as Filipino Citizenship is for applicants who were born in OUTSIDE PH and wants to apply filipino citizenship due to filipino parent recognition.



I feel bad for the lady. She went through all the wrong avenues and spend more which she shouldn't have. I wish I read your post earlier. I could have helped.

I know this because this is what I have done to my children who were born in PH and living in PH with a filipino mother and US citizen (Naturalized). We applied both PH and US passport after receiving their CRBA to prevent such issue just like this young lady.





1987 Philippine Constitution. Article IV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states:


Sec. 1(3) states that “those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines” are Filipino citizens.



Applying Recognition as Filipino citizenship.
This applies to foreigners born abroad ( meaning born in the US or foreign country except PH) whose parent/s is/are former Filipino citizens at the time of the birth of the applicant and was/were eventually naturalized as citizens of another country. This is like CRBA to US citizenship, Recognition as Filipino Citizenship to Filipino citizenship.

[jjdf]

My two kids were born in the Philippines. To be safe, I got them both Philippine and US passport. I heard too many horror stories about kids cannot leave PI and being charged for overstaying in the Philippines. Glad that you have this vlog to enlighten many people in the same situation.

[michaelhaidee]

That's a great story and info. No hearsay. Real experience.

[jasonjames]

Great video! Important information that affects many people. Thanks for taking the time to research and make this!!!

[forrest]

Thank you soo much for the information sir, you and the person who sent you her detailed experience really helped me a lot since we were in the exact same situation. God Bless to both of you!

[MJBInThePB]

I’m not married but it’s certainly helping me with info since my kid is not born until February and I have no intentions to stay here in US and just stay sa pilipinas

[gilacosta]

She is a Filipino citizen by blood (Jus Sanguinis). Just apply for dual citizenship. The other consular officers she first asked are just asking for money or lagay. Yun lang un.

[CHRISs]

Here I thought I had to apply for dual citizenship but this video made me realize I had to obtain this certificate. Kind of a bummer though because I currently live in the us and it sounds like I'd have to stay in the phillippines 4 months.

[Fantiximo]

She got her US citizenship at birth. Her American parent applied for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad at the US Embassy which made her an American citizen at birth. When was the lady born? Before or after January 17, 1973? The birth date makes a difference on whether she can apply for a dual citizenship or not. If she was born before 1/17/73 she must choose Filipino citizenship at the age of majority (18) to be considered a natural born citizen. If not she loses her Filipino citizenship and is considered an over staying visitor from 18 years old and so forth. If she was born on or after 1/17/73 the she is considered a natural born Filipino but she must register herself as one or will be treated as a foreign national after 18.

[stecar]

I'm glad that she was able to get everything needed to get her Filipino passport. Seems like a huge hassle to go through when you have all the documents to prove that you are a Filipino citizen but what has to be done to get the passport is needed to leave and go to the US.

[diogenesfortin]

Hello sir. Me too I was born in the Philippines with filipino citizen mother and philippine born father who became a US citizen when he served in the USAFFE /Philippine scout during WW II. I became a US citizen through my father (they call this derived from parent vice naturalization) before I reached my 18th birthday. Did not remember having a passport when I left the philippines, but may have been given somekind of travel authrization as I flew to the US through the US air force at Clark AFB. I do have a passport now, did not have a problem getting it. I don"t remember getting a Certificate of Citizenship at all, but have a letter from the US embassy in the Philippines stating approval of US citizenship to include my other siblings. I was in the US military, got out in 1970. I have tried applying for a dual citizenship starting the beginning of this month through the Philippine Consulate, and at first I was told I did not qualify. I have provided them with my Registration of birth, Baptismal certificate, that letter from the embassy I mentioned above, and copy of my passport. Now they are asking me for my Certificate of citizenship plus my fathers naturalization certificate. Getting my fathers naturalization certificate is something I am not gonna be able to meet, so that will further disqualify me getting a dual citizenship. That is really tough. I think they are more interested in your US citizenship than being natural born filipino. Anyway looks like I should go the "Recognition" route. How can I get your comment on this?

[Camar]

Sir, I want to make sure I understand the info you've shared. If one of my parents has true Filipino blood (born in the Philippines), does that make me a dual citizen even if I'm born in the US?

My dad is Filipino and my mom is an American. He passed away years ago and we have properties in the Philippines, but we were told in order to own property in the Philippines, we have to be Filipino citizen.

What are my options to obtain citizenship so I can have control of the properties I've inherited?

Thank you,

Rob

[miloddino]

Good morning Danny, great content. I believe she could have spared herself with all the aggravation, time and money by researching first instead of jumping the gun as with her case. Since she was a naturally born Filipino, she can apply for a Philippine passport without a hiccup by securing a copy of her birth certificate with the PSA (Phil Statistics Authority formerly NSO). Get another type of identification like a drivers license or barangay clearance to prove residency. She can avail for Philippine passport right away (she doesn't even need to bring out her American citizenship issue on the table). All she needs to say is she's applying for a Philippine passport for the first time.

[trevbermi]

Not sure if father informed US about me but as of 2010-12 ish. He executed a sworn affidavit of declaration w/c was notarized in tx.

[JohnSmith-ysod]

We're almost have the same story I was born in the Philippines live there for over 30 yrs got my us passport only way back 19 93 December speak tagalong my mom's language Bicol and Pampanga where I grew up, why I can't have nor get my Philippines passport