"Assert Your Citizenship: Why Your Claims Matter"

To claim U.S. citizenship, adults must submit specific documents to the American Citizens Services section of the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate via the provided link. Keep in mind that this process equates to your first-time U.S. passport application, and if successful, you will receive a passport upon its completion.

Please follow this checklist:

- Fill out the Form DS-11 but do not sign it.

- Present your official long-form provincial birth record, displaying parents' complete information and the filing date.

- Bring your valid identification (driver's license, student I.D., or Canadian passport).

- If applicable, provide proof of a name change (e.g., marriage, divorce, adoption papers, or court-ordered name change). Women who have changed their last name due to marriage must present this information.

- Show evidence of your U.S. parent's citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or U.S. birth certificate with an official vital records seal and filing date. If you lack a certified copy of your parents' birth records, reach out to the vital records office in the county, state, or municipality where your parents were born. If you're unsure where to look, try to obtain secondary evidence like a census record that reveals date and location of birth. Submit all correspondence with your application.

- Note: If you were born before May 24, 1934, you only need evidence of your mother's or father's citizenship. If you were born after that date with two U.S. parents, submit documents for each parent.

- Provide a certified copy of your parents' marriage certificate.

- Submit termination of previous marriages of either parent (e.g., divorce decree, death certificate, etc.) if applicable.

- If you were born between Jan. 13, 1941, and before Dec. 24, 1952, present evidence of your U.S. citizen parent's residence in the United States. If you were born on or after Dec. 24, 1952, provide evidence of your U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the United States. If both your parents were foreign-born U.S. citizens, then one of them needs to have lived in the U.S. before your birth.

- Note: Physical presence differs from residency. For instance, time spent abroad on vacation or for schooling means that you were not physically present in the U.S. Submit your parent's Canadian Immigration Record, along with other documents like school, military, or employment records to supplement your application.

- If your U.S. citizen parent is alive and you were born after Jan. 13, 1941, they must fill out and sign the Affidavit of Parentage before a U.S. Consular Officer or Notary Public. Submit the death certificate and other records if your parent is deceased.

Photography Rules

A Snapshot of What to Know - It is essential to adhere to the photo guidelines provided by the State Department. Visit this website to get all the details you need on photo requirements.

Passport Fees

Wallet Wise Ways - You can find information about passport costs at this website. Payments can be made in the form of cash or money order, in US dollars or Canadian dollars and paid in US funds only. Credit cards are also accepted, but kindly note that personal checks or debit cards are not.

Please Note:

Ahoy There Mate! - All documents submitted must be originals, with the issuing authority's official seal on them. Regrettably, copies of certified documents will not be accepted, and this includes notary certificates.

Booking a Passport Appointment

Like a Boss - After successfully assembling all the required documents, you can now schedule a passport appointment at the American Citizens Services section of the nearest US embassy or consulate to your residence.