I am a German citizen living in the US on a work visa and would like to find out if I there is a chance that I might have gained US citizenship through either my born US citizen Father or my naturalized Mother.
I was born 1969 to a US born Citizen Father stationed with the armed forces in Germany and to a Stateless mother. (Displaced person after WWII). I was born out of wedlock and not legitimated by the father since he was deployed to Vietnam just before I was born. He could not be added to the birth certificate at the time due to absence in order to satisfy German legitimation law. The relationship later broke between the parents. I remained stateless until age 25.
In 1975 (age 5) I moved to the US with my mother where I went to school, and we were both living as LPR. In 1981(age 11) my mother sent me to attend school in Germany where I stayed with my uncle. This was only a temporary solution to get an education since the US Father could not provide sufficient child support.
My mother naturalized in 1982 a good year after I left for school overseas. She still lives here to date. I could not come back until 1988 at age 19 when completing my studies.
On reentry to the US the CBP officer seized my Green Card however let me enter the country as tourist. They filled out a form 407 (have a copy) which was never signed by me as required nor was I offered a hearing to explain my case. Ever since I have been living in Germany with my Parents being US Citizens. At the moment I am only here on a 5 year work Visa
I am currently evaluating if I am not a US Citizen already through:
I was born 1969 to a US born Citizen Father stationed with the armed forces in Germany and to a Stateless mother. (Displaced person after WWII). I was born out of wedlock and not legitimated by the father since he was deployed to Vietnam just before I was born. He could not be added to the birth certificate at the time due to absence in order to satisfy German legitimation law. The relationship later broke between the parents. I remained stateless until age 25.
In 1975 (age 5) I moved to the US with my mother where I went to school, and we were both living as LPR. In 1981(age 11) my mother sent me to attend school in Germany where I stayed with my uncle. This was only a temporary solution to get an education since the US Father could not provide sufficient child support.
My mother naturalized in 1982 a good year after I left for school overseas. She still lives here to date. I could not come back until 1988 at age 19 when completing my studies.
On reentry to the US the CBP officer seized my Green Card however let me enter the country as tourist. They filled out a form 407 (have a copy) which was never signed by me as required nor was I offered a hearing to explain my case. Ever since I have been living in Germany with my Parents being US Citizens. At the moment I am only here on a 5 year work Visa
I am currently evaluating if I am not a US Citizen already through:
- My mother. I was born out of wedlock and not legitimized. I had begun to live as LPR (for more than 5 years) before the age of 18. Despite the fact that the green card was revoked at age 19 I was still considered an LPR at the time my mother naturalized. I had been overseas to visit school with every intent to return. I understand that it does not matter in which sequence the events had taken place as long as I had been an LPR at any point in time before age 18.
- Or my father. He is a born US Citizen and fulfills the 10 year presence requirement. Legitimation was missing because he was sent to Vietnam. I understand alternative methods for legitimation can be used due to my birthdate. I do have an offer from the US Army Advocate in which my Father states to provide a small amount of child support. I also have dozens of mail correspondence where the father clearly states to marry my mother and clearly acknowledges me as his son. Further correspondence acknowledging paternity is also available from his parents.