How long for my kids’ citizenship?

Today, I got a letter from Lhey.  Lhey had some questions concerning her children.

Here is Lhey’s note:

Mabuhay! 2 of my kids are naturalized US citizen by birth. I am still a Filipino Citizen when I gave birth to them so I know that they are qualified to apply for their dual citizenship.

We are planning on moving back home for good for a lot of GREAT reasons.

My question would be, how long would the process take if I apply for their citizenship right away? I am planning on filing it here in the US.

Thank you very much, your website is very helpful. Keep up the good work, and salamat muli.

Lhey and her kids

Hi Lhey,

Thank you very much for your kind words.  I am glad that you have found my website to be helpful.

Firstly, I’d like to clear up a couple of things in your note.  I am not trying to criticize you in any way, just want to offer you this information so that you will know.

1. You said that your kids are “naturalized US citizens by birth.”  That is really a contradiction of statements.  You can either be a citizen by birth or you can be a citizen by naturalization.  If you are born a citizen, no need to be naturalized, in fact you cannot be naturalized if you became a citizen because of your birth.
2. Your kids really are not eligible to apply for dual citizenship.  They do not need to apply for Philippine citizenship at all.  They are already Philippine Citizens (also by birth) because you are their mother and you are a Philippine Citizen.  The only thing you need to do is to file a report of birth abroad with the Philippine Consulate nearest to where you live.

So, in short, your kids are already dual citizens.  They are citizens of the USA due to their birth in the USA.  They are citizens of the Philippines due to the fact that they have a Philippine Citizen mother.  All you have to do now is make it official by filing papers with the Philippine Government.

Unfortunately, I am sorry, but I cannot tell you how long it will take for your report of birth abroad to be fully processed.  It just depends on the workload at the Embassy or Consulate where you file the papers.  If they do not have many pending cases, it might take a few days.  If there is a long line of reports ahead of you, I suppose it might take a few months or so.  There is just no way of knowing without talking to the people at the Embassy or Consulate where you must apply.

Good luck to you and your family with your pending move back to the Philippines!