Important Notice to U.S. Citizens Seeking to Register the Birth of a Child Born in Ukraine

U.S. citizens seeking to register the birth of a child who was born in Ukraine and is still in Ukraine should contact KyivACS@state.gov for assistance.  If you need information regarding a surrogacy case coming out of Ukraine, contact KyivACS@state.gov.

Information For Applicants for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen and the biological parent of a child born outside of the United States, you will need to apply to determine and document your child’s U.S. citizenship with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). This document is used in the United States like a certified copy of a birth certificate, and it is acceptable evidence of citizenship for obtaining a passport and entering school. 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

You can now apply for a CRBA electronically at U.S. Embassy Warsaw or U.S. Consulate General Krakow.  This new online feature allows U.S. citizen parents to complete a CRBA application online, upload all required documents, and submit payment prior to the in-person interview.

 

• To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov account. MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal. Watch this video to learn more about creating your account.
• Once you have created a MyTravelGov account, you can access the eCRBA site and submit your application online. The easy-to-use online process provides applicants with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. Be sure to answer all the questions accurately.  Enter N/A if not applicable. You may review the necessary documents for the CRBA application in advance by reviewing the checklist of documents below.
• Once you complete the online application, upload required documents (please upload documents in pdf format), and submit payment, you will then follow the instructions below to request an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw or U.S. Consulate General in Krakow.

For Warsaw, email ACSWarsaw@state.gov following the instructions below:

For Krakow, email KrakowACS@state.gov following the instructions below:

• USE THIS SUBJECT LINE: CR31 – YOUR CHILD’S FULL NAME 
• In the body of the email, include your full name; and
• Indicate that you have completed the instructions for the eCRBA, including completing the application online, attaching required documents as noted below, and submitting the payment on pay.gov.

Once we have confirmed that you successfully completed the online application and uploaded the documents, we will inform you of your appointment date and time.  Please Note: Do NOT make another (or duplicate) payment for a CRBA ($100) at the Embassy.

• Attend your scheduled in-person interview with your original documents. All documents will be returned to you after we review your application and compare them with the documents you uploaded. You must provide English translations for all foreign language documents, unless they are in Polish. At least one parent and the child must be present at the Embassy or the Consulate General for the interview. If the passport application is also submitted, both parents must be present.

Required Documents for the Interview and Further Instructions

• Please visit the Transmitting Citizenship section of this page to learn more about eligibility requirements to transmit U.S. citizenship to your child.
• eCRBA form and payment submitted online per instructions above, along with uploaded documents below
• If the U.S. citizen parent cannot attend the appointment, that parent must complete the Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence and Support (form DS-5507) and have it notarized.
• Child’s Birth Certificate (original, full version – odpis zupełny aktu urodzenia). Please note that for CRBA and first-time passport applications, the name of the applicant should match their birth document. Material changes to the applicant’s name must be supported by an amended document or other name change evidence. An affidavit from the parents is not sufficient to establish a material name change.
• Parents’ marriage certificate if applicable (original).
• Evidence of termination of any previous marriages for both parents, if applicable (original).
• U.S. citizen parent(s)’ evidence of U.S. citizenship (U.S. passport or naturalization certificate, original).
• Valid government-issued identity document of both parents (original)
• U.S. citizen parent’s documentary evidence of physical presence in the United States prior to the child’s birth. When listing periods of physical presence in the United States, please note that any periods during which you left the United States, even for short vacations, do not count as physical presence and those times outside the United States should not be listed on the eCRBA application. Examples of documentary evidence that may demonstrate physical presence requirements include (but are not limited to):
  • Academic transcripts (Full transcripts – not diplomas)
  • W-2 wage/tax forms (tax forms alone are not sufficient evidence of physical presence)
  • Employment records (showing monthly presence in the United States)
  • Records of honorable U.S. military service or employment with the U.S. Government; or as a dependent, unmarried child or member of the household of such a member.
  • Rental receipts (rental receipts alone are not sufficient evidence of physical presence)
  • U.S. passport stamps. Drivers’ licenses do not constitute evidence of physical presence.
• Please see the “CRBA – Information and Requirements” link at the right of the page for more guidance on documentation.

Need Help?

Here You can access eCRBA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here You can view an application how-to-guide 

Social Security Number Application 

In order to obtain a Social Security Number for your child you can file the application (form SS-5 available at: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf) with the Federal Benefits Unit. You may submit a completed form SS-5 at the time of your interview. You can find Federal Benefits Unit contact information in the following link: https://pl.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security/contacts/.

Transmission of U.S. citizenship depends on:

1. At least one parent having the nationality of the United States at the time of the child’s birth;
2. The existence of a blood relationship between the child and U.S. citizen parent(s). Learn more about transmitting citizenship and DNA testing;
3. Documentary evidence demonstrating the U.S. citizen parent(s)’ presence in the United States prior to the child’s birth, as specified in the Transmission Requirements Table.

 Examples of Documentation

Some examples of documentary evidence which may be considered to demonstrate that physical presence requirements have been met may include (but are not limited to):

• Academic transcripts (Full transcripts – not diplomas)
• W-2 wage/tax forms (tax forms alone are not sufficient evidence of physical presence)
• Employment records (showing monthly presence in the United States)
• Records of honorable U.S. military service or employment with the U.S. Government; or as a dependent, unmarried child or member of the household of such a member.
• Rental receipts
• U.S. passport stamps. Drivers’ licenses do not constitute evidence of physical presence.

Please also read important information about Supporting Documents above.