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Birth
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43 MINUTE READ

CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (CRBA)

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  United States non-citizen nationals are also eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad using the non-citizen option.

CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. We recommend that parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.

 

HOW TO APPLY ELECTRONICALLY FOR A CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (E-CRBA)

NOTE:  

Before you begin the online CRBA application, please read through the eligibility requirements below and e-CRBA Checklist carefully to ensure you meet the requirement and have all the required documentation ready to upload. Failure to include all necessary documents and information may delay the application process. We cannot pre-adjudicate CRBA applications, pre-screen documents or answer specific questions via phone/email until we receive the application electronically.  

1. Create a MyTravelGov account or sign-in to your existing account. MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal that you can use to start an eCRBA application or access an existing eCRBA application. 

2. Once you sign in or create a MyTravelGov account, you can access eCRBA and submit your application online. Upload required documents as you go. 

NOTE:  

  • If you have multiple children applying for a CRBA at the same time, please make sure you add them to the current eCRBA application by clicking on the button “Add Another Child.”  Failure to do so will cause the sibling cases to be separated and create delays to the processing of your children’s cases. 

3. Pay the eCRBA fee ($100) online. After completion of the application and submission of payment, please email ACSPhnompenh@state.gov and attach the “Summary Report” to request for an interview date.  

After payment submission, please allow at least 72 hours before requesting for an appointment. This provides time for your payment to be processed prior to your CRBA interview.

DO NOT make another (or duplicate) payment for a CRBA ($100) at the Embassy.  

4.  Attend your scheduled in-person interview with your child, original documents, and their photocopies (single-sided). Original documents will be returned to you after reviewing your application. You must provide English translations for all foreign language documents. The child must be present at the time of application. Generally, both parents also attend the interview. 

If you are not eligible to submit your CRBA application electronically, please send an email to ACSPhnompenh@state.gov. 

NEED HELP? 

eCRBA Application How-To Guide  or Step-By-Step(video)

Eligibility Requirements 

 Documentary Requirements: 

  • A completed DS-5507: Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence, and Support. Only applicable if the U.S. citizen parent can’t attend the interview: 
  • Part III on page 4 must be notarized by a notary public in the U.S. 
  • If the parents were not legally married at the time of the child’s birth, Part II on page 3 must also be notarized by a notary public in the U.S. 
  • A completed DS – 11: The Application for a U.S. Passport (submit only if applying for a child’s passport at the same time of CRBA application). 
  • A completed DS – 3053: The Parental Consent form (submit only if one parent is not present during the submission of the passport application for the minor). 
  • A completed DS – 5525: The Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances form (submit only if one parent is unwilling or cannot provide consent). 
  • One passport photograph 2in x 2in (5cm x 5cm) set against a white background, taken in the last six months. No eyeglasses allowed in passport photos. See link for specific requirements, photos that do not meet the requirements will be rejected. 
  • One COPY of each required original document according to the CRBA checklist. 
  • (Optional) ONE copy of all medical records and letter from attending physician if the child was conceived via Assisted Reproductive Technology (See detailed information below) 

Evidence of Physical Presence in the United States: 

  • In the event the child has one U.S. citizen parent and one foreign national parent, proof of the U.S. citizen parent’s physical presence (i.e. the number of days the U.S. citizen parent was demonstrably in the United States) is required. In such cases, the U.S. citizen parent will need to show five years of cumulative physical presence in the U.S., two of which must have been after the age of 14. Examples of items that show physical presence are entry/exit stamps in current and previous passports, school/college transcripts, income tax returns with W-2’s, social security earnings history, pay stubs, military/government orders, etc. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much evidence as possible. If the provided evidence is deemed insufficient you will receive email notification and a timeline to submit further evidence/documentation before an appointment can be scheduled. 
  • If the U.S. citizen parent cannot clearly demonstrate the required 5 years of physical presence, then the application cannot be approved and any associated passport application will be denied. In such cases, the applicants are not eligible for a refund. Applicants are strongly urged to review their own history of physical presence in the United States before applying. 
  • Evidence of physical presence is not required if BOTH parents were U.S. citizens before the birth of the child. However, evidence of current or prior residence in the United States is required for one of the two parents. 
  • If the U.S. citizen parent does not meet the transmission requirements and the child is less than 18 years old, the child may be eligible for expeditious naturalization under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. 

 Child conceived via Assisted Reproduction Technology (IVF or Surrogacy): 

  • Submit ONE copy of all medical records that show the child is genetically related to the U.S. citizen parent with your mail-in application packet. You are required to submit the originals at the CRBA interview appointment. 
  • Submit ONE copy of a letter from the attending physician(s) attesting that the genetic material used for conception belonged to the U.S. citizen parent with your mail-in application packet. You are required to submit the original at the CRBA interview appointment. 
  • Please note: When evidence is not sufficient to conclusively determine a biological relationship between the U.S. citizen parent and the child, the Consular Officer may require DNA testing to most effectively establish a biological relationship. DO NOT conduct independent DNA exams. Only DNA test results from the Department of State approved laboratories and coordinated through the Embassy can be used to determine a genetic relationship for citizenship purposes. If you are required to obtain a DNA exam, the information will be provided to you at your appointment. All fees for DNA testing will be paid by the applicant. 

Please be aware, commercial surrogacy in Cambodia is banned. U.S. citizens are subject to Cambodian law and are advised not to engage in commercial surrogacy arrangements. Those with surrogacy cases already in progress should consult a lawyer and contact the U.S. Embassy at ACSPhnomPenh@state.gov if you have any questions. 

Fees: CRBA fee of $100 USD must be paid online. Passport Application fee is to be collected at the Embassy on the appointment date (US dollars in cash ONLY). These fees are not refundable. 

–  $135 USD for Minor Passport Book
–  $165 USD for Passport Book of applicants over the age of 16. For additional information on passport fees, please see travel.state.gov. 

What to Expect Next: 

  • ONLY the applicant child and both parents should be present at the interview. The applicant child MUST appear, NO EXCEPTIONS. Minor siblings may accompany the family, however, this is not recommended as appointments can last 1-2 hours and the waiting area is small. 
  • Please arrive at the Consular Section 15 minutes prior to the appointment. The appointment time is not the same as the interview time. Interview times depend on the number of applicants and the length of the interviews. 
  • Bring your appointment confirmation email and valid government issued photo identification for both parents. 
  • To enter the Consular Section, all applicants will pass through a metal detector and will undergo an extensive security screening. Cameras, mobile phones, smart watches, laptops and other small electronic devices with features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, audio and video recording, or global positioning system (GPS) are not allowed inside the Embassy. Luggage is also not allowed. Strollers, diaper bags, baby foods and formulas will be screened. 
  • Bring ALL original documents of which copies were made and mailed with the CRBA application. 

Additional Information: 

  • All appointments must be scheduled within 90 days of the issuance date on the bank draft. If no action is taken within the 90 days window, the case will be considered abandoned and subsequently closed. 
  • If an appointment needs to be rescheduled, the parents must notify the American Citizen Services Unit by responding to the appointment confirmation email. 
  • Applicants who fail to appear and/or notify the American Citizen Services Unit will need to restart the application process from the beginning and the pending case will be closed. All fees are non-refundable. 
  • Please be PREPARED! If your application is incomplete on the day of your appointment, you may be asked to schedule a new appointment or start the process over from the beginning. 

Retrieval of the CRBA and U.S. passport: You will receive an email notification when your Consular Report of Birth Abroad and new passport is ready to be picked up. 

Applicants should plan to spend at least 2 hours at the Embassy on the day of their appointment. Please note that receiving and appearing at an appointment does not necessarily mean the application(s) will be approved. 

U.S. Citizen Services