Reply #85: Yes [View All]

[jberryhill]

What some folks don't seem to get is that, yes, any child born here (except in certain situations involving parents here on a diplomatic mission) is considered a US citizen by the US, and will remain as such until at least age 18. After age 18, the person can renounce their US citizenship to a US consular official in a foreign country.

France may also consider the child to be a French citizen.

It's not an either-or situation, since every country gets to make its own rules as to whom it will consider a citizen. But - and here's the point the freepers don't get - just because some other country considers you to be a citizen, it does not affect your US citizenship if you were born here. Not one bit.

If you have friends of Irish ancestry, ask around... you may be surprised to find out how many Irish Americans who have never set foot outside of the US went ahead and perfected their Irish citizenship. Ireland is particularly liberal in recognizing citizenship status. Anyone with an Irish grandparent born in Ireland can apply for Irish citizenship, and many do. You can use an Irish passport to get in through the shorter line if you visit Ireland, but when you return to the US, you have to enter with your US passport.