Adoption and Citizenship

[Patrick & Li]

Hey everyone,
If I adopt my son, Can he get his citizenship faster?

Here's my reasoning...... I don't have the money to send my son to a Top notch school, and he cannot get a scholarship to one without being a citizen. So I am thinking about going the adoption route so he can get scholarship offers from these schools. He is 15 now and from what I understand, He cannot get his cizenship till he is 18 or his mother gets her citizenship and pulls him along. BUT, she wont qualify in time, and also not sure if she wants to give up her China citizenship.
Any information will be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Patrick_A

[dnoblett]

YES,

Does my child qualify for automatic citizenship under the CCA?

 

Under the CCA, your child will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship on the date that all of the following requirements are satisfied:

• At least one parent is a U.S. citizen,
   
  
• The child is under 18 years of age,
   
  
• If the child is adopted, a full and final adoption of the child, and
   
  
• The child is admitted to the United States as an immigrant.
  

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

[C4Racer]

yes, but the adoption must take place before he reaches age 16.

Also, he must live with you two years to get USC. I am pretty sure the time he has already lived with you counts.

 

Here is some information:

 

http://www.hooyou.com/adoption/citizenship.html

 

http://www.fonglegal.com/citizenship.html

 

Also, ask Lee Fisher, he just went through this.

I understand the rules difer just a little with children being adopted in the US as opposed to adoption taking place outside of th US.

Edited July 26, 2008 by C4Racer (see edit history)