IF you are a United States (US) citizen living in Jamaica and have recently welcomed a child, or are expecting one soon, make sure you are informed about an essential document for your child: the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, pronounced “crib-uh”). This valuable document affirms your child’s US citizenship from birth.

What is a CRBA?

A CRBA (officially Form FS-240) is a formal document that certifies a child born outside the United States is a natural-born US citizen by virtue of their US citizen parent or parents. While naturalised US citizens gain citizenship later in life, natural-born US citizens are considered citizens from the moment they are born.

It’s important to remember that while a CRBA documents US citizenship, it is not proof of legal custody or legal parentage, and it isn’t a replacement for the birth certificate from Jamaica’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Its sole purpose is to establish that your child is a US citizen from birth.

Who qualifies for a CRBA?

There are two key criteria to pass on US citizenship to your child. First, the US citizen parent must have been a citizen before the child’s birth. A parent that naturalised after the child’s birth — even if only days or weeks after — cannot pass on their citizenship at the child’s birth. In that case, the US citizen parent may file for an immigrant visa for their child. To prove citizenship before the child’s birth, provide a US birth certificate, naturalisation certificate, certificate of citizenship, or US passport issued before the child’s birth.

The other essential criterion is that the US citizen parent must have spent at least five years physically present in the United States before the child’s birth, with at least two of those years after the parent turned 14. This time can be before the parent was a US citizen — time spent on tourist, work, or student visas, as a Legal Permanent Resident, or as a citizen all count towards the five years. Remember, this time must have been before the child was born!

To prove this time, provide documents showing you were living, working, or going to school in the United States — school records or diplomas, Social Security Administration statements, tax transcripts, pay stubs or W2/1099 wage statements, military service records, or old passports with entry and exit stamps are all helpful evidence. Consular officers will consider any evidence you can provide to tell a full story of your time in the United States.

How to apply

We strongly encourage parents to apply as soon as possible after their child’s birth. The availability and reliability of necessary evidence can become harder to find over time. Applications must be submitted before the child’s 18th birthday; once the child turns 18, they no longer qualify for a CRBA.

Families must apply online through the eCRBA system at travel.state.gov using the MyTravelGov portal, where they will input their information and pay US$100. Once the application is initiated, fee is paid, and supporting evidence is uploaded, the US Embassy will schedule an interview appointment with a consular officer at the embassy. The consular officer will review your family’s documentation and verify the information provided. Bring supporting documents including proof of the parent’s US citizenship, evidence of their physical presence in the United States, and the child’s Jamaican birth certificate.

Alternatively, families may schedule an initial document acceptance appointment at the US Consular Agency in Montego Bay; however, consular officers at the embassy in Kingston will make the final determination.

A gift that lasts a lifetime

Obtaining a CRBA for your child is one of the most important steps families can take to secure their future opportunities. US citizenship opens doors to education, employment, and benefits in the United States while allowing your child to maintain their connection to Jamaica. Remember, US citizen children have no obligation to live or complete their schooling in the United States.

For more information, to schedule an appointment, or to access the online eCRBA system, please visit our website or contact the Consular Section at the US Embassy in Kingston. For questions specific to the CRBA process, email KingstonCRBA@state.gov. Don’t delay — give your child the gift of documented US citizenship today.