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tevashy · Aug 12, 2014, 05:14 AM

How do I find out if I am. Us citizen? I was born in Tahiti and shortly moved with my mother to the States. She passed away while I was a teen. I attended high school and graduated in The us. My care taker (Grandmother) is now to old to help me. I have no papers on me other than my birth certificate from tahiti and I don't understand it cause it is in French. My Brothers and sisters all have the US papers and I don't being that I'm the only one born in Tahiti. Please help me I despratly need it.

newacct · Aug 12, 2014, 10:36 AM

You need to provide (or find out if you don't know) some information. What year were you born? Were either of your parents a U.S. citizen when you were born? Did you ever have a U.S. passport? (What passport did you use to come to the U.S. ) In what immigration status did you come to the U.S. Did you change statuses after that? Did your mother become a U.S. citizen while you were under 18?

You said you "have no papers"; does that mean you don't have any information or records at all? Couldn't you try to look in your mom's old stuff to see if there's anything (e.g. passports)? How can they just disappear? Can your grandmother or siblings tell you anything about the circumstances of you and your mother coming to the U.S. Or provide you with any other information?

AK lawyer · Aug 12, 2014, 10:44 AM

Assuming neither of your parents were US citizens at the time you entered the US, you are not a "natural born" citizen and would have to been naturalized. If you have no recollection of being naturalized, it is likely that you are still a French citizen and need to apply for naturalization.

tevashy · Aug 12, 2014, 10:48 AM

All I was able to find through my mothers stuff was my birth certificate from tahiti, its all in french. I don't understad. My brothes and sis

Aren't close and my grandmother is having memory loss. Im so screwed.

newacct · Aug 12, 2014, 10:54 AM

What kind of IDs do you have? And how did you get those IDs? Do you have anything proving your status?

So, for all you know you could be illegally here? I mean, haven't you ever wondered? Did you just assume you were a U.S. citizen or something?

AK lawyer · Aug 12, 2014, 10:56 AM

Reading a BC in French is not difficult. Be thankful it's not in Mongolian. :)

All you need to know from the BC is
1. that it is indeed a Tahitian BC;
2. that it is indeed your BC (you should be able to read your name); and
3. the date of birth (again, you should be able to make that out).

You didn't say whether your parents were American citizens. Again, assuming not, you need to find an immigration attorney.