Birth Abroad US Citizenship

Hello,

I would like to know who can help me with my situation as follows:

I was born in Chinon, France in 1957 and was brought to USA by my US Military Father short after.

When I tried to get a copy of my Social Security card, the Social Security office couldn't issue me one due to no record of citizenship.

I requested a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) from the U.S. Department of State Passport Services, Vital Records Section, but still no record of me. I was advised to contact the US Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration, I personally went there twice, but they were not so helpful.

I have a certified copy of my Birth Certificate from Chinon, France (in French).

I was also advised to get all the records of myself that I can get, like school records, medical records, residence records, especially the first 5 years of my life. And also records of my US citizen Father military and personal history before my birth.

I have been trying to get this resolved for about 3 years now. I lived in the US all my life, as far as I could remember. I served in the US Army from
1976 - 1979. I have been employed with the US Postal Service since 1981. I am married with 4 children and 3 grandchildren. I just can't believe I am getting the run around from these US Government Offices.

I requested for my military records from NPRC.Vetrecs@nara.gov, but all they sent me was a copy of my DD214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty), which I already have.

Besides trying to get my Social Security card for security purposes,
I am also want to get my US Passport so I can go back to France and
look for my biological Mother and siblings that I have never met or not
have any contact at all.

Both my Father and adoptive Mother passed away, that's why it is kind of hard to point out some dates and events of my childhood or any information on where to get access of my proof of citizenship.

Thank you,

No Man's Land

I feel your pain. I was born in Chinon 1960 son of a U.S. Army soldier and mother is an American citizen. I served in the Army 78 through 81. My entire life I have fought through govt red tape. I cannot get a passport right now due to documents that no one seems to be able to help me acquire.

World Law's lawyers could also probably intervene and help resolve this if need be. You may email them on the home page.

I was born in Chateauroux France in 1959 of US parents (dad was overseas in the USAF) - it was a nightmare getting my US passport. Now to make it more complicated I am currently living in Canada. The US embassy in Ottawa Ontario Canada did a GREAT job at helping me obtain my US passport without all the difficulties I had while living in the US. Seems the US embassies outside the US have more pull for getting services for US citizens than our own government officials in the US.

Now to find out how to get a long copy of my actual France birth certificate!

Being born a US citizen overseas has some real problems - so if you are American and having a child - go back to the US to have the child on US soil and to save your child years and years of struggling just to prove who they are.

my daughter was born at Chinon, france in 1957.
We returned to the US in 1958I remember we had to take papers to Paris to get signed and probably notorized and our baby was on my passport with me.
We were given papers to mail to DC for her birth,
I think thats where you well have to get information.
I can`t remember what office or who to write to,
its been many years ago,
But if you traveled from over there to the states you had to have had some papers,
And I bet if you got records of your dads there would be something in his file,

[Precious]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello,

I would like to know who can help me with my situation as follows:

I was born in Chinon, France in 1957 and was brought to USA by my US Military Father short after.

When I tried to get a copy of my Social Security card, the Social Security office couldn't issue me one due to no record of citizenship.


I requested a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) from the U.S. Department of State Passport Services, Vital Records Section, but still no record of me. I was advised to contact the US Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration, I personally went there twice, but they were not so helpful.

I have a certified copy of my Birth Certificate from Chinon, France (in French).

I was also advised to get all the records of myself that I can get, like school records, medical records, residence records, especially the first 5 years of my life. And also records of my US citizen Father military and personal history before my birth.

I have been trying to get this resolved for about 3 years now. I lived in the US all my life, as far as I could remember. I served in the US Army from
1976 - 1979. I have been employed with the US Postal Service since 1981. I am married with 4 children and 3 grandchildren. I just can't believe I am getting the run around from these US Government Offices.

I requested for my military records from NPRC.Vetrecs@nara.gov, but all they sent me was a copy of my DD214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty), which I already have.

Besides trying to get my Social Security card for security purposes,
I am also want to get my US Passport so I can go back to France and
look for my biological Mother and siblings that I have never met or not
have any contact at all.

Both my Father and adoptive Mother passed away, that's why it is kind of hard to point out some dates and events of my childhood or any information on where to get access of my proof of citizenship.

Thank you,

No Man's Land

OMG!
Your query simply blew me away! I was also born in Chinon France in 1960 to a military parent and thought that I was the only one to suffer the red tape and the frustration of where to turn for information regarding my birth certificate.

Although both of my parents, now deceased, were US citizens, the fact that I have no record of being born in a United States hospital creates severe handicaps in attempts to obtain a copy of my birth certificate. When I applied for my social security number in the 70's, the first request was denied because it was thought that I was an alien. However, my younger sister received hers with no problems. After waiting anxiously and fearing deportation to a land and people that I knew nothing about, I finally received my SSN.

Besides being a "brat", I married Army and traveled to live in Germany twice as well as touring Europe while there. My daughter was also born abroad and will probably come face-to-face with many of the same blank red-taped walls that you and I have.

One would think that your having served in the military would preempt any such silliness regarding passports: Yet people such as ourselves know that silly and the lack of information sharing abounds in matters like ours.
I have spent time searching various search engines that lead to everywhere but where I need to go to obtain "real" information. Attempts to access the US Consulate or Military branch is the height of teeth grinding. There is also the real fear of having any information being pirated by unsavory people.
The only thing that I think may help you is to establish a pen-pal relationship with someone in Chinon or anywhere else in France; you might try a reporter.

If you have any information as to where I can go to obtain my birth certificate, please let me know.
Wishing you the best of luck and success.
Precious

[annjd]

You might also try asking your congressperson to intervene and assist at the fed gov level -- many have very good staffs that can help cut through the red tape.

Your situation sounds the same as mine, but I was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1965 in a civilian hospital to a military father and Japanese mother. He brought us to the U.S. when I was 3. My sister was born at the base so she was automatically a citizen. My mother got a green card and I had a passport to reside in the U.S. They told them that I wouldn't need a green card because I was born abroad to an American Citizen. I got a social security card just fine, went to school from Kindergarten, graduated highschool, some college, worked, voted, lived, got married and had a child all as an American Citizen. In 2003 when I was renewing my driver's license, they wouldn't let me because my social had my maiden name. I had tried to change it when I was married in 1986, but I didn't have any proof of citizenship. My passport was lost during a year where I moved 5 times. I wrote to the State Dept. to find the Consular Birth Abroad, but they had no record. I contacted the Japanese Embassy, I spoke to INS and they said I was a citizen by all accounts and I should get a Certificate of Citizenship. Catch 22, in order to get that I need proof of citizenship. I had paid for my license renewal, so even tho my physical license showed expired, at dmv it was still renewed. Now it really has expired and I just received a letter from my auto insurance company saying they are cancelling my insurance if I don't send them an unexpired license copy. I'm at the end of my rope and I have no idea where to turn. I can't get a new job with an expired license and maiden name on social security, I can't get a passport. It doesn't seem fair that people can falsify documents and live fraudulently, but honest, hardworking people get punished for trying to do the right thing and handle things legally. I'd like to know if anyone has rectified their situation and how they've gone about it. I life in California and would appreciate any help.

Thank you,

Dawn-A woman without a country

I too lived in Azay and Chinon from 1960-1963, I was born in Austria so the good news was that I was able to obtain a birth certificate to get the issues resolved. However, in my search what I found out was that my last name was just changed to my fathers last name without legal adoption (they were married after my birth) and he being in the Army, when they issued my ID card it was in his name. I would suggest that if you know your biological mothers maiden name that you start your search in that manner. You could start with the French Consulates office located nearest to you.

Now getting to the reason I am posting, I plan on going to Azay and Chinon within the next year, just to visit a place that I remember fondly as a child and to see if I can locate were I went to school, lived etc., so if anyone knows the name of the French catholic school in the town of Azay please send me an email at reel1n@carolina.rr.com. I also went to school in Chinon, and I don't remember much as this was the first time that I actually went to an American school, as that is when I was immersed into the English language, so I am thinking this was a military base related school in Chinon.

I guess I have a lot of digging to do. However, if anyone needs me to do some research for them while I am on travel feel free to contact me. Now my greatest wish would be if I could find my childhood friend from Chinon named Otto. Thanks and the best to each of you.

Hi,

We are both in the same situation...

But I went to the States as a citizen at the age of 10 only to unvoluntary lose my citizenship 10 year later (due to a "change of Policy").

Question: have you been able to resolve your plight ?

On my side, if you contact me and if I make progress on my case, I'll keep you informed. This type of case is so complex and rare, that I feel like I've found a brother!

Hang on in there in keep fighting.

And God Bless America!

Austin

Hfm_a@yahoo.com