Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Acquisition of citizenship means that if you were born outside of the United States, you can still become a U.S. citizen if at least one of your parents is a U.S. citizen. However, there are certain rules you have to follow depending on when you were born. If you were born after November 13, 1986, both of your parents must be U.S. citizens and one of them must have lived in the U.S. before you were born. If only one of your parents is a U.S. citizen, they must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, two of which must be after they turned 14. If your parents were not married when you were born and your U.S. parent is your father, he must prove that he is your biological father and that he supported you before you turned 18. Before November 1986, the rules were different depending on when you were born.
Acquisition of citizenship is when someone who was born outside of the United States can become a U.S. citizen because at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. This means that if a child meets certain requirements, they can "acquire" citizenship through their parent even if they were born in another country.
The rules for acquiring citizenship have changed over time, so it's important to look at the laws that were in place when the child was born. For example, if someone was born after November 13, 1986, they can acquire citizenship if both of their parents are U.S. citizens and one of them lived in the U.S. before the child was born. If only one parent is a U.S. citizen, they must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, two of which must have been after they turned 14.
Here are some examples:
These examples show how someone can acquire U.S. citizenship through a parent, depending on when they were born and whether their parent meets certain requirements. It's important to follow the rules carefully and provide all necessary documentation to prove eligibility for citizenship.