Streamline the process for Citizenship for International Adoptees

We are pleased with the passage of the Child Citizenship Act Of 2000. The Acts Purpose:
On February 27, 2001, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 became effective. The aim of this law, which, among other things, amends Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), is to facilitate the automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship for both biological and adopted children of U.S. citizens who are born abroad and who do not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. U.S. citizenship will be conferred automatically upon thousands of children currently in the United States.

Requirements---Who Qualifies

The following are the Act's requirements:

At least one parent of the child is a U.S. citizen, either by birth or naturalization.
The child is under the age of 18.
The child must be residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent after having been lawfully admitted into this country as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence.
If the child has been adopted, the adoption must be final.

However, now almost two years after its passage, adoptive families are still not able to obtain certificates of citizenship for their adopted children who qualify under the laws provisions, without a 1-3 year wait in most states! Many passport offices are unaware of how the law works and getting passports have proven difficult for many. Also, many adoptive families report that foreign countries and schools in the U.S. are not recognizing the passport as proof of citizenship. In addition, it is still almost impossible to get a Social Security Card using the passport and the Social Security offices in the U.S. do not seem to recognize the act in many cases. Because of this many adoptive families, fail to see the benefits of this law to their children and families.

InterNational Adoption Alliance, a national adoption support and advocacy organization, in addition to those who have signed are will sign this petition, ask that members of congress and those in Washington, the INS, The State Department and The Social Security Administration, to streamline the process so that Children who qualify under the act receive a document showing proof of citizenship immediately upon their qualification. Further, that the Social Security Administration recognize these citizens and streamline the process for issuing them U.S. citizenship status social security cards.
We ask that this new system be implemented by January 1, 2003.

Please sign below to show your agreement with this petition.