How do children of immigrants attain citizenship?

The father was adopted by an American citizen at the age of four and moved to Panama (part considered US Territory). Mother from Panama both gained citizenship later on in life. Do their kids have to gain citizenship as well? Should his dad have gained it once he was adopted?

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Answered By: LAW OFFICES OF ALAN R. DIAMATNE APLC

He can still do the process. If he is a minor. He can apply for residency and will immediately be considered a United States citizen

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 12/19/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Wildes & Weinberg, P.C.

This requires much research into the adoption, whether the adoptive parents sponsored the father for US residence, citizenship, etc. Most likely, the children are not US citizens.

Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 12/15/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Offices of Grinberg and Segal

I would need additional information to answer this question. A minor child can often derive U.S. citizenship from his or her parent(s).

Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 12/15/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Morinaka Law Office LLC

A person may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth through their parents. However, this area of immigration law is very date specific. It depends on the statuses of the parents on the birthdates of the children.

Answer Applies to: Oregon
Replied: 12/15/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Feldman Feldman & Associates, PC

Facts such as where parents and children are, whether they became permanent residents, were they born after parents became citizens are needed to be considered for this issue.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 12/14/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Theresa E. Tilton, Attorney at Law

Adoption does not, by itself, give US citizenship to the adopted child. The adopting parents should have applied for the adopted child's citizenship, but sometimes, they did not. If your mother is a US citizen, she can apply for citizenship for her children, if they are still under age sixteen. If the children are older, she can assist them to become legal residents. Exactly how to do that depends on the age of the children.

Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 12/14/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Eric M. Mark, Attorney at Law

If mother and father are both U.S. citizens, the children (if they are minors) are citizens. The dates and ages can make all the difference. Speak with a lawyer.

Answer Applies to: New Jersey
Replied: 12/14/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.