What is the legal status of the adopted child upon return to the United States?
Any child adopted legally by a U.S. citizen, and who lives permanently in the United States, automatically becomes a full (not just naturalized) U.S. citizen. Therefore, the child need not be re-adopted once the family returns to the United States. Though citizenship is automatic, the family still must file the appropriate form with the U.S. Immigration in order to get proof of citizenship. Then, to get an official U.S. birth certificate for the child, the family must complete and file a simple form with the probate court in the jurisdiction where the family lives.
Related Questions
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