What Counts As Proof of Citizenship?
The United States government asserts that if you were born in the U.S., you are not required to prove your citizenship since your birth certificate is sufficient proof that you were born here. If you were born abroad and one of your parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of your birth, you may still be able to claim American citizenship.
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Birth Certificate
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A birth certificate that was issued by one of the American states or by the U.S. Department of State for individuals born abroad to U.S. citizens who had the child's birth and U.S. citizenship registered with a United States consulate or embassy will be sufficient to prove citizenship. Individual states, too, recognize birth certificates as proof of citizenship. For example, Indiana recognizes birth certificates from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Swain's Island. Additionally, the state recognizes the certificate of birth abroad, a consular report of a birth abroad of a U.S. citizen and a certificate of report of birth. Tennessee recognizes the same except for Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010.
Puerto Rican Certificate
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Problems of fraud and corruption regarding Puerto Rican-issued birth certificates used to obtain Social Security benefits, American passports and other services prompted the Puerto Rican government in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to pass a law in 2009 invalidating all Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010. New birth certificates for Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. can be requested through a mail-in process.
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United States Passport
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A valid U.S. passport issued by the U.S. State Department is considered sufficient proof of citizenship. States, too, recognize passports as proof of citizenship, although the specific requirement may vary from state-to-state. For example, while Tennessee requires a valid, current passport, Indiana will accept a passport even if it has expired.
Certificate of Citizenship
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A certificate of citizenship provided to an individual born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen also is accepted by the U.S. government as proof of citizenship. In circumstances where someone is working abroad or married to a citizen of another country or other situations and has a child, the U.S. parent can register the child's birth at a U.S. embassy or consulate and receive a Certificate of Citizenship for that child. If you need a copy of your Certificate of Citizenship, contact the U.S. Department of State (see Resources).
Naturalization Certificate
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A Naturalization Certificate, given to an individual who goes through the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen, also is proof of citizenship. All states recognize naturalization documentation.
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