Success Story: Approval of x2 CRBA and First Passport Applications for Children Residing in the Netherlands

Success Story: Approval of x2 CRBA and First Passport Applications for Children Residing in the Netherlands

Our clients, a family of four residing in the Netherlands, reached out to Blue Lake Law to assist them in obtaining a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and First Passports for their two children. The parents of the children were unmarried, but since at least one of them were U.S. citizens, their children were also U.S. citizens by birth right.

The children’s parents were separated during this application process. Our firm had to prove that the U.S. citizen parent had the required physical presence in the U.S., to be eligible to get a CRBA for their children in the Netherlands. When parents are separated, obtaining a CRBA becomes harder because both parents may need to consent to or appear for the application, yet one parent may be uncooperative, unreachable, or unwilling to participate in the process. Additionally, proving the child’s eligibility for citizenship can be more complicated since documentation of the transmitting parent’s physical presence in the US, custody arrangements, and the child’s legitimacy or acknowledgment may require extra legal paperwork that intact families typically don’t need to navigate.

Luckily in this case both parents were cooperative. After filing for the CRBA, our firm directly followed with applying for the children’s First Passport. The entire process took 3 weeks from the date of the consular interview to receiving the children’s U.S. passport. Blue Lake Law would like to extend a huge congrats for our clients and their children, who are now officially recognized as U.S. citizens!

At Blue Lake Law, we understand that every family’s situation is unique, and navigating the CRBA and passport process can feel overwhelming, especially when family circumstances add an extra layer of complexity. Whether your family is together or separated, married or unmarried, our experienced team is here to guide you through every step of the process with efficiency and care. If you have a child born abroad who may be entitled to U.S. citizenship, contact Blue Lake Law today to find out how we can help your family achieve the same success.