Q.912 Indian citizenship and

passport for new born baby in USA

Dear Mr Chand We had a new born baby girl in USA - Michigan on 2nd June 2016. Me and My wife both are Indian citizens by birth holding only Indian passports, and holding valid L1B-VISA We would like to have our baby get Indian citizenship too because we are moving back to India since my assignment is going to be completed. So far I have only received baby's birth certificate NOT applied for US passport. I would appreciate if you could answer few of my question.1. Can the new US born baby gets the Indian Citizenship by Descent Section 4 of Acquisition of Indian Citizenship, If I register her birth at Chicago consulate and apply for Indian passport ? 2. Will her new Indian passport mention her "Nationality" as "Indian" ? and she will be entitled for all benefits as an Indian citizen ? 3. Can she travel back to India only on "Indian passport" with no issue either at US immigration or Indian immigration ? 4. Can baby re-enter USA as my dependent on L2 VISA if I have to come back later on other assignment from my company ? Thanks a lot in advance. Zahid Akhtar Answer: If you have not applied for a US passport you can get India passport for your USA new born child as long as birth is registered at an Indian Consulate within one year from the date of birth. When Indian passport is issued for your child, she would be an India citizen until she reaches age 18. When she reaches the age of majority she would have to renounce her US citizenship to retain her Indian citizenship. For more information on this please see answer to question number 896. Your question as to entitlement of all benefits perhaps refers to schooling in India. She would indeed for such purposes be an Indian citizen. On reaching the age of majority she can choose to either keep her Indian citizenship or apply for a US passport using her US birth certificate to prove her US citizenship. As far as US laws are considered any person born in the United States always is considered to be a US citizen until they formally renounce their US citizenship. US embassy will not issue a US visa to some one who they consider to be a US citizen. To return to the United States you would have to contact the US embassy and seek an entry/exit permit type of document for your US born daughter if she chooses to travel on her India passport. The other option would be to apply for a US passport which would result in loss of Indian citizenship