Hi,

I’ve looked and have not found this on the EF...

Thinking and planning for the future –

With having a Swiss husband, we both realize it’s not difficult for our American born child to receive a Swiss citizenship. But I was wondering if there are any Americans who recently had a child born in CH, have applied for their new born to receive an American citizenship. How difficult or how easy was the process?

With having both citizenship's, our child is able to (later when he’s an adult) have the opportunity to live in either country. I would like to have this be the same for our future child.

Thank you

Been there, done that.

I wouldn't do it again.

Anyway, it's easy. However, the US parent must have lived there a number of years. Exact numbers on the US gov website.

"A child born on or after November 14, 1986 to one U.S. citizen parent and one foreign national parent. Prior to the child's birth, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen."

Tom

And it does not have to be consecutive years. It must add up to 2 years after the age of 14.
So.... think of your grandkiddies and make sure that your little ones living abroad today get their passports stamped proving their visits to the US and keep any transcripts, proof of education in the US etc.

Be aware of what else you are also giving them--the right to be taxed by two countries as well.

Yes, this thought has been nagging at me as well. Is a US/Swiss double citizenship a gift or a curse? The jury's out on that one.

Oh. Ok. Good to know.

This is helpful.
Thank you

Thank you. I will hold onto the website you directed me too. This helps.

Just a note, we did it for our little girl and it was a breeze. I have been out of the US for quite awhile but as long as a gave my school transcript (which was a call to my local school department) and made sure that the other transcript included 2 years after the age of 14.

Be careful with faxing - you can't have a faxed copy of the school transcript, it needs to be stamped or something that shows authenticity before they'll accept it. I think the first one was just a printed copy of the original transcript and they called us (very nicely and efficiently) to let us know we needed to get the original and it needed a stamp that certified it was from the school board.

After papers were submitted, and they called for an interview, it was just a quick whip through American embassy and in less than an hour we were done, just waiting for the passport to be mailed to us.

Well, at least you get to choose which country to do military service in!

Tom

This makes me question now whether I'd really be doing my child a favor by getting him both Swiss and US citizenship(?)

Does anyone know if it's possible for the child to obtain US citizenship when they're older and can make such a decision for themselves? (e.g. Child is born here in CH but decides at the age of 18 that he/she would also like US citizenship).

Check this link for obtaining US citizenship for a child

At the age of 18, a US child with dual citizenship can give up the US one and has 6 months to change their mind.

After that, you can still give it up anytime you like.

BTW, mine are actually triple-nationals!

Tom