Q: Can I get American citizenship just because my grandfather was American?
My mother's parents weren't married. Her father died before she was born. Her mother lied to her about her father. In 2017, my mother took a DNA test and found her half-sister and a few cousins, through that she found out that her father was American. I am wondering if I can obtain American citizenship because my grandfather was American.
A: If you were born in the US, you're a US citizen. If you were born in another country, are under 18, are unmarried, and your mother is a US citizen, then you might be eligible. See https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
A: It's possible. You will need to determine if he passed citizenship on to your mother first, and then it must be determined if she, in turn, passed it on to you. An immigration attorney could help with the analysis.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
