Child Citizenship Act [CCA] Law and Legal Definition
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 is the U.S. Federal law that allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted children of the U.S. to acquire the U.S. citizenship automatically.
The CCA allows only lawful permanent residents (LPR) to acquire the U.S. citizenship. The CCA governs how a child may automatically derive US citizenship from the naturalization of a parent or from adoption by a United States citizen parent. Children who qualify under the law "automatically" become citizens without having to apply for a certificate of citizenship or a passport, although they may get such documents in order to have proof of their status.
To become a citizen, the child must meet the following requirements:
a. Have at least one American citizen parent by birth or naturalization;
b. Be under 18 years of age;
c. Live in the legal and physical custody of the American citizen parent; and
d. Be a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S.
In case of adoption, the adoption must be full and final.