I was born in the U.S., but my family moved back to India when I was still a baby. I am now 21, and I have not been back to the U.S. since. Do I have any options of getting my U.S. citizenship back? Or some form of U.S. residency?

Answer

Unless you voluntarily renounced your U.S. citizenship (which typically involves a formal process at a U.S. consulate or embassy), you very probably are still a U.S. citizen. A parent cannot renounce U.S. citizenship on behalf of a child; and, “children under 16 are presumed not to have the requisite maturity and knowing intent” required to voluntarily renounce. If you have a birth certificate showing you were born in the U.S., you likely can just apply for a U.S. passport, which then can be used to enter the U.S. (and serves as proof of U.S. citizenship. (19.Sep.2019)

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