Today Cheryll wrote in with a desire to help her cousin.
Here is Cheryll’s inquiry:
Dear Bob,
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise in this matter. I can tell a lot of people need advise on immigration laws of the Philippines including myself. My question is how can a minor receive dual citizenship if the parent failed to file at the Philippine Embassy in the U.S. when the kid was born and she is now 16 years old? My cousin is a U.S. citizen living in the Philippines with her parents. She asked me if she can come stay with me in the states. I paid for her U.S. passport and one way plane ticket to FL. Once at the airport they told her that she had to pay taxes because she had been living in the Philippines since 1995 and owed $5000. One lady told her that she can apply for dual citizenship if she cannot pay the taxes. But when she tried to get a Philippine passport they asked her for a birth certificate which she does not have. Now they have an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines but I don’t know if they can help her at all since her parents had to register when she was born. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Best,
Cheryll
Cousins
And, Bob’s reply:
Hi Cheryll – A 16 year old is still a minor. The age at which that changes is 18. Just go file the papers at the Philippine Embassy and everything will be good.
Cheryll responded with this:
Thanks Bob. Follow up question: do you mean apply at the Philippine Embassy in which she was born? Because they cannot go back to Saipan where she was born because the parent’s visa are expired and cannot travel outside the Philippines unless they file for another work visa for Saipan which they cannot do. If you meant apply at the BI in the Philippines, the forms I found online are Citizenship Retention and Re-Aquisition Forms and seems only for those born in the Philippines and moved to another country. Could this be correct? If you know of where I can get the correct forms or another website that can help me, it would mean the world. Big thanks!
To which Bob said:
Hi Cheryll – If they are in the Philippines, I believe that they should check with the DFA, although I am not an expert on this.
Later, Jacon Gonzalez chimed in with this information:
Hi Cheryll :
Your cousin would have to file a Petition for Recognition with the BI. You can access the form at the BI website.
Good luck, Cheryll, and to your cousin too!