Derivation

Derivation (or acquisition) of U.S. citizenship occurs when a person born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents can establish a claim of U.S. citizenship depending on the year they were born, their legal status at the time the claim is made, their parentsโ€™ previous residency in the United States, and other requirements.

Sometimes a person will be a U.S. citizen and not even know it. Being able to derive citizenship depends on a number of factors, such as which parent was a U.S. citizen, where the parent lived, and whether or not the child was born in or out of wedlock.