See this table.
http://www.grasmick.com/citizen.htm#CITIZENSHIP%20FROM
| Your Date Of Birth | Citizen Parent | Residence Required Of Your Parent | Residence Required Of You |
| Before 05-24-34 | Both | 1 parent resided in U.S. | None |
| Only 1 | USC parent resided in U.S. prior to your birth for one or more periods of time totaling at least 1 year | None | |
| On/after 05-24-34 and before 01-13-41 | Both | 1 parent resided in U.S. | None |
| Only 1 | USC parent resided in U.S. | 2 yrs physical U.S. presence between ages 14-28** --or-- 5 yrs U.S. residence between ages 13-21** |
|
| On/after 01-13-41 and before 12-24-52 | Both | 1 parent resided in U.S. | None |
| Only 1 | USC parent resided in U.S. 10 yrs, at least 5 after parent's age 16. | 2 yrs physical U.S. presence between ages 14-28, except if born 10/10/52 or after ** --or-- 5 yrs U.S. residence between 13-21 yrs.** |
|
| On/after 12-24-52 and before 11-14-86 | Both | 1 parent resided in U.S. | None |
| Only 1 | USC parent with 10 yrs physical presence in U.S. prior to your birth, at least 5 yrs. after parent's age 14 | None | |
| On/after 11-14-86 | Both | 1 parent resided in U.S. | None |
| Only 1 | USC parent physically present in U.S. 5 yrs, at least 2 yrs. after parent's age 14 | None | |
| Children under age 18 may qualify for automatic or expedited naturalization if they have at least 1 USC parent. This can eliminate green card residency and physical presence requirements. It may eliminate the green card requirement itself. Automatic: Child has a green card. Expedited: Child has USC parent or grandparent who has been physically present in the U.S. for 5 years, 2 which were after parent's or grandparent's age 14. ** Residence of the child is no longer required. If a child lost citizenship by not meeting the residency requirement, the child can reinstate citizenship. However, children who reinstate citizenship cannot pass citizenship on to their children born after citizenship was lost. *Data obtained from C. Gordon and S. Mailman, Immigration Law and Practice [Appendix A, A.1 (a)] and U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual, Vol.8, Exhibit 214.1, 1967, and updated by Joseph Grasmick, Esq. |
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If Congress giveth by law, then Congress can taketh away by law.
b