In January of 2024 I had a newborn son in Vietnam. I must say that there is a lot to consider when you decide to have a baby abroad – from local naming laws, hospitals, citizenship registrations in both countries and without a Vietnam spouse or friend it’s extremely difficult to navigate the first part. In my case, I have to register 3 citizenships.
In my scenario, I’m married to a Vietnamese woman and I’m from the United States. We reside in Ho Chi Minh while we await for our CR1 Visa. This process applies anywhere, just be aware of your local countries laws outside of this CRBA process.
The entire process from local registration to CRBA.
- Obtain your babies local birth certificate. Vietnam only:Register your baby at the local People’s Committee in the area you reside. You will need the hospital birth record.
- You will need a copy of your US passport and your wife or partners citizenship card. In Vietnam, The People’s Committee offices will translate English passports, but you can save yourself time and get this done ahead of time and certified. No, they do not copy documents for you.
- Vietnam only:If you are unmarried, your baby will have your Vietnamese partners last name. If you’re married, your baby will have the husbands last name even if foreign. The exception to this rule is if your Vietnamese child was born abroad such as in Korea.
Registering at The United States Embassy or Consulate.
- Fill out the CRBA application online through the Department of State portal. You can do a paper copy if that suites you but it takes longer to process.
- 5 years of proof that you resided in the United States. Assuming you file online, you can upload these documents but be prepared to also take physical copies and originals.
- The most difficult portion is filling out the dates you went outside of the US, even if you left for 1 day or 1 minute and 30 seconds. You will then upload proof documents in-between those dates that you were in the US. Tax returns with W2s, college transcripts, bank statements, mortgage statements and old passport stamps can be used as evidence. Again, being physical copies too.
- Prove that you were with your partner during conception of the baby. This can also be proven with flight itineraries and passport stamps.
- Prove conception or gestation date and bring ultrasound documents and other medical records of the pregnancy. Organize it nicely.
- If unmarried you will fill out an affidavit of support.
- The consular officer may require a DNA test depending on your proof of credibility that the baby is yours. Do not do this ahead of time, it must be performed at the embassy or consulate and through specific providers. They will mail it from the US to Vietnam.
- Copy of marriage certificate and a certified English translation if applicable.
- Copy of child’s Vietnamese birth certificate with certified translation. This can usually be done at the People’s Committee.
- Copy of your passport and Vietnamese wife, husband or partners passport or citizenship card.
- Passport Application for the baby and photo. You can obtain current application form from the Department of State website. This form can change, so I won’t provide it here.
- A statement declaring under the laws of perjury that your child never applied for a social security number. This will be used for the babies passport.
- All official documents such as birth certificates, passports and such must be shown in original form. Yes you must still bring photocopies.
- On the day you arrive, expect to wait for your appointment time. It’s not first come first serve. They’ll be a room full of mostly women registering their babies.
- CRBA won’t be issued the same day. It can take up to a month to receive with or without passport and up to 2 months with optional passport card.
You will be issued an American flag at the embassy or consulate if everything goes well!
After you receive your CRBA, it’s time for your child’s social security card. If you’re in SE Asia you will mail these documents to the US embassy Federal Benefits Unit office in Manila, Philippines. They will process it.
Follow these steps:
- Social Security Application form SS-5
- Make an appointment at the US embassy or consulate.
- Bring a photocopy of your babies CRBA and original. The photocopy will be notarized for free at the embassy.
- Bring a copy of the US citizen parents passport or birth certificate. Also bring the originals. The photocopies will be notarized.
- Bring a copy of your babies new US issued passport and the original. The photocopy will be notarized.
- Mail all 3 notarized documents and Social Security card application (SS-5) to the US Embassy Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila, Philippines at: Social Security Administration U.S. Embassy 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila, Philippines 0930
- After processing the card it will be mailed from the US in about 6 weeks. I recommend having it mailed to family or a friend in the US. Have them mail it to you by UPS or FedEx. Vietnam postal service won’t deliver without a phone number. The envelope they mail social security cards in don’t have a phone number, or get a PO Box here if you want.