DUAL NATIONALITY FOR CHILDREN
Many children, born in the United States or born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, are citizens of both the United States and another country. A child may acquire the citizenship of a foreign country, for example, through the child's birth abroad, or through a parent. Many countries do not require the consent of all parents in order to acquire nationality and/or a passport. Therefore, even though U.S. law may prevent one parent from obtaining a U.S. passport for a child in the absence of two-parent consent, a parent may still be able to obtain a foreign passport for a dual national child from the embassy or government of the other country. Under U.S. law, a U.S. citizen child is required to enter and depart the United States on his or her U.S. passport. However, please be advised that U.S. citizen children may still be able to depart the United States undetected on foreign passports.
U.S. laws and regulations concerning the issuance of U.S. passports do not apply to foreign governments issuing passports to people (including children) considered citizens of that country, whether or not the foreign passport is issued in the United States and/or to a person the United States considers to be a U.S. citizen. If you think there is a possibility that your child may have another nationality, you are encouraged to contact the relevant country's embassy or consulate directly to inquire about the rules governing the issuance of that country's passport to your child, including the possible availability of mechanisms to prevent the issuance to your child of that country's passport without your consent. The address and telephone numbers for the embassies and consulates of foreign countries within the United States can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web page at travel.state.gov.
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
AUTHORITY: The information solicited on this form is requested pursuant to provisions in Titles 8 and 22 of the U.S. Code, as well as the corresponding federal regulations, including specifically 22 U.S.C. § 211a and Public Law 106-113, Div. B, §1000(a)(7) [Div. A., Title II, §236] of the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 and Executive Order 11295 (Aug. 5, 1966), and the regulations contained in 22 C.F.R. § 51.28.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for soliciting the information is to enable the U.S. Department of State to notify you of any pending U.S. passport applications for the child identified on the form and of any U.S. passport held by the child that is still valid for travel. The child's social security number is requested because that number is a unique identifier used to establish the identity of the passport holder.
ROUTINE USES: The information solicited on this form may be made available as a routine use to other government agencies, to assist the U.S. Department of State in adjudicating passport applications and requests for related services, and for law enforcement and administrative purposes. It may also be disclosed pursuant to court order. The information may be made available to foreign government agencies to fulfill passport control and immigration duties. The information may also be provided to foreign government agencies, international organizations and, in limited cases, private persons and organizations to investigate, prosecute, or otherwise address potential violations of law or to further the Secretary's responsibility for the protection of U.S. nationals abroad. This would include, among other entities and agencies, disclosure to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Central Authorities of countries party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ("the Convention"), attorneys of record and legal aid services to assist in facilitating operations under the Convention; local police in connection with notification of next-of-kin and child custody disputes; social services agencies; and parents involved in cases brought under the Convention. The information may also be made available to private U.S. citizen 'wardens' designated by U.S. embassies and consulates. For a more detailed listing of the routine uses to which this information may be put, see the Prefatory Statement of Routine Uses and the listing of routine user set forth in the System of Records Notice (SORN) for Overseas Citizens Services Records (State-05)., found at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/ips/c25533.htm
DISCLOSURE: Filing a request through the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program and providing the information requested on this form, including the child's social security number, is voluntary. Failure to complete the form may result in a passport being issued to your child without your knowledge.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including time required for searching existing data sources, gathering the necessary documentation, providing the information and/or documents required, and reviewing the final collection. You do not have to supply this information unless this collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. If you have comments on the accuracy of this burden estimate and/or recommendations for reducing it, please send them to: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, CA/OCS/L, 10th Floor, WASHINGTON, DC 20522-1707.
