United States Citizenship Guide

CCA 2000 automatic derivation — LPR child in U.S. (INA 320)

Automatic derivation: USC parent + child under 18 + LPR residing in US in USC-parent legal/physical custody. No application required (N-600 evidence only). Effective 2001-02-27; pre-CCA aged-out cohort excluded. US-NAT-03 merged here.

CCA 2000 foreign-adopted / foreign-residing derivation (INA 322)

Application-based path for children outside US with USC parent. USC parent 5-year physical-presence (2 after age 14) OR USC grandparent substitution. Form N-600K. Covers IR-4 pre-adoption + foreign-resident children.

14th Amendment jus soli (signature route)

Signature route — full 3-tier TRC mandatory. EO 14160 neutrality discipline applies: document state of law as is (EO 14160 currently enjoined; SCOTUS Trump v. Barbara 25-365 argued 2026-04-01, decision pending).

Statutory territorial jus soli (PR, Guam, USVI, CNMI)

Statutory jus soli for the four incorporated-statutory territories. PR >=1899-04-11; Guam >=1950-08-01; USVI >=1927-02-25; CNMI >=1986-11-04 + 1978-1986 Sabangan cohort.

American Samoa non-citizen national

Only U.S. population holding non-citizen-national status. Insular Cases framework + 8 U.S.C. 1408(1). Fitisemanu 10th Cir. 2021 + Tuaua D.C. Cir. 2015; cert denied in both.

Acquisition at birth abroad — one USC parent (INA 301(g))

Acquisition at birth for child born abroad to one USC + one alien parent. Three cohort splits: pre-1986-11-14 (10-year/5-after-14); 1986-11-14 through 2017-06-11 (5-year/2-after-14); post-2017-06-12 Morales-Santana equalized.

Out-of-wedlock acquisition at birth abroad (INA 309)

Out-of-wedlock transmission. Pre-Morales-Santana 2017-06-12 differential equalized prospectively to LONGER 5-year test for post-decision births; pre-decision maternal 1-year rule preserved.

Acquisition at birth — two USC parents (INA 301(c))

Both parents USC. Reduced physical-presence vs INA 301(g): at least one parent with prior US or outlying-possession residence. Distinct from INA 301(g) + INA 309.

Historical / pre-INA descent cohort (pre-1952 framework)

Retrospective N-600 / CRBA adjudication for pre-1952 framework. Pre-1941-01-13 patchwork; 1941-01-13 through 1952-12-23 Nationality Act 1940; Cable Act 1922 pre-1940 married-women cohort. 8 FAM 301.6.

Indian Citizenship Act 1924 (Snyder Act) — Native American

Collective statutory grant to ~125,000 non-citizen Native Americans born within US territorial limits. Preserves tribal citizenship. Separate from Jay Treaty 1794 Article III. Dual tribal-US citizenship.

Jay Treaty Native American border-crossing framework (8 USC 1359)

General naturalization (INA 316 — 5-year LPR, signature)

Signature route. INA 316: 5-year LPR + 30-month physical presence + 3-month state + GMC + Constitution attachment + English + civics + oath. Dual-track 2025 Civics Test (pre/post 2025-10-20). INA 312(b) exemptions. 2024 Fee Rule N-400 $760/$710/$380. DOJ Shumate Memo 2025-06-11 denaturalization context.

Spouse-of-USC naturalization (INA 319(a) 3-year path)

3-year accelerated path. 3-year LPR + 3-year marriage + USC spouse USC throughout + marital union + 18-month physical presence + 3-month state + GMC + English/civics/oath. US-MAR-01 merged.

Military naturalization umbrella (INA 328/329/329A — signature)

Signature route + umbrella. Three sub-variants: INA 328 peacetime (1-year honorable + waived residency); INA 329 wartime (any honorable during EO 13269 GWOT 2001-09-11 onward + no residency); INA 329A posthumous (N-644). Filing N-400 Mil + N-426. Fee $0. US-MIL-01/02/03 consolidated. NDAA FY2004 Pub. L. 108-136 reduced 328 threshold.

Voluntary loss restoration (Afroyim/INA 349)

Restoration framework. INA 349 seven-act enumeration with voluntary-intent requirement (Afroyim). DOS presumption of non-relinquishment per 7 FAM 1210/1220. Vance v. Terrazas preponderance burden.

Denaturalization reversal (Maslenjak/INA 340)

Denaturalization reversal under Maslenjak materiality 2017. Civil INA 340 + criminal 18 U.S.C. 1425 parallel tracks. DOJ Shumate Memo 2025-06-11 priority elevation.

Refugee / asylee LPR to naturalization

Refugee/asylee adjusted LPR via INA 209 then naturalization via INA 316. Retroactive 1-year LPR date for refugees (INA 209(a)(2)); 1-year-before-approval for asylees (209(b)).

Cuban Adjustment Act 1-year LPR path

1-year LPR path for Cuban-origin via CAA 1966 (Pub. L. 89-732). 2017-01-12 Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot repeal was administrative, did not repeal CAA statutory framework.

NACARA 1997 Central American pathway

Section 202 (Nicaraguans/Cubans direct LPR) vs Section 203 (Salvadorans/Guatemalans/former-Soviet-bloc pre-IIRIRA suspension). ABC v. Thornburgh 1991 settlement underlying.

Registry INA 249 (pre-1972 continuous residence LPR pathway)