Citizenship

Establishing Citizenship

An applicant establishes citizenship through:

Birth in the U.S. or U.S. territories
Presentation of a certificate of citizenship or naturalization provided by the USCIS, or
Presentation of other valid USCIS documents.

Birth in the United States

All persons born in the U.S. are, with rare exceptions, citizens. Citizenship through native birth is established by the applicant's statement on the application for General Assistance.

Birth in U.S. Territories

Persons born in the following U.S. territories are citizens or American Nationals entitled to enter the U.S. for permanent residence at any time without going through immigration procedures:

Puerto Rico
American Samoa
Guam
Swain Island
Virgin Islands
Northern Mariana Islands.

Citizenship through U.S. territorial birth is established by an applicant's statement on the application for General Assistance.

Certificate of Citizenship

Certain persons born abroad, of U.S. citizen parent(s) can acquire citizenship. There is a special provision of law under which a “Certificate of Citizenship” (N-560) may be issued by USCIS to a person who becomes a citizen of the U.S. through his/her parent(s) either at birth or later. Presentation of this certificate is acceptable verification of citizenship. This must be documented prior to issuance of aid. The N-560 is issued by USCIS to individuals who derived citizenship through parental naturalization; acquired citizenship at birth abroad through a United States parent or parents; acquired citizenship through application by United States citizen adoptive parents; and who, pursuant to section 341 of the Act, have applied for a certificate of citizenship. The N-561 is a replacement certificate issued when the N-560 has been lost or mutilated or the individual’s name has been changed.

Certificate of Naturalization

Citizenship may also be acquired by naturalization through court proceedings. Any noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence (including the spouse of a U.S. citizen), may become a naturalized citizen, provided that he or she is at least 18 years of age. USCIS issues a “Certificate of Naturalization” (N-550 or N-570) in these instances. Presentation of this certificate is acceptable verification of citizenship. This must be documented prior to issuance of aid. The N-550 or N-570 is issued by the USCIS through a Federal or State court, or through administrative naturalization after December 1990 to individuals who are individually naturalized: the N-570 is a replacement certificate issued when the N-550 has been lost or mutilated or the individual’s name has been changed.

Form I-197

Persons who have become U.S. citizens other than by birth should have a “United States Citizen Identification Card” (Form I-197 issued by the USCIS until April 7, 1983; previously Form I-179 last issued in February 1974) from USCIS. This identification card establishes U.S. citizenship and must be documented prior to issuance of aid.

Note: If the applicant is unable to present the above document, he or she may obtain a letter from the Clerk of the U.S. District Court where citizenship was obtained to verify naturalization. The applicant may be charged a fee.

Foreign Birth

A foreign birth certificate that has been registered with the American Consulate in the foreign country indicates U.S. citizenship if the document has ALL of the following:

A written statement to this effect.
The official stamp of the consulate, and
The signature of an officer of the Consulate.

Persons holding these registered birth certificates are usually issued a U.S. passport.

Foreign Born Children

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which became effective February 27, 2001, allows foreign born children living in the United States (U.S.) to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship when certain requirements are met. [Refer to "Citizenship Eligibility Requirements" in the CalWORKs HB for additional information regarding foreign born children living in the U.S.]

Northern Mariana Islands

Citizens of the NMI were declared citizens of the United States under Public Laws 94-241 and 99-239, if certain conditions were met. Persons who met those conditions were issued either:

A United States Passport, or
A Northern Mariana Identification Card from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

GA applicants or recipients who do not provide either of the above documents are to be considered noncitizens and must meet all noncitizen documentation requirements.