According to U.S. law, a baby born in the United States will acquire U.S. citizenship. However, will registering the child in China affect their U.S. citizenship? Can a baby born in the U.S. also hold a Chinese household registration and U.S. citizenship? These are common questions that mothers considering giving birth in the U.S. often ask.
Can a baby born in the U.S. return to China and obtain a Chinese household registration?
If both parents have not obtained a green card and are not U.S. citizens, the child will still be regarded as a Chinese citizen by the Chinese authorities. In this case, a baby born in the U.S. can go to the Chinese embassy or consulate in the U.S. to apply for a "Travel Document." The child can enter China with the "Travel Document" and can register for a household registration (excluding those who fall outside the domestic birth quota).
Can a baby born in the U.S. hold both U.S. citizenship and a Chinese household registration?
For a baby born in the U.S., if both parents have not obtained a green card (or at least when applying for the Travel Document, the child's parents have not yet received the green card from USCIS) and are not U.S. citizens, if the child meets the conditions for applying for a Chinese "Travel Document" and obtains it, the child can enter China with the "Travel Document" and then obtain a Chinese household registration.
Will a baby born in the U.S. be required to renounce U.S. citizenship after obtaining a household registration?
In principle, if both parents have not obtained foreign nationality or permanent residency, and the Chinese authorities recognize the child as a Chinese citizen, the household registration can be processed normally. However, if one parent has foreign nationality or permanent residency, the child will need to renounce U.S. citizenship to obtain a household registration. Furthermore, parents cannot decide the child's U.S. citizenship status on behalf of the child; the child must decide for themselves whether to renounce U.S. citizenship when they turn 18.
Therefore, a baby born in the U.S. who stays in China before turning 18 can enjoy all domestic benefits. Additionally, if the child is the firstborn and can obtain a domestic birth permit, they can go to the U.S. to obtain a U.S. passport after turning 18, thus holding dual nationality.
Is a baby born in the U.S. with a Chinese household registration considered a Chinese citizen or an American citizen?
If a baby born in the U.S. only registers for a household registration in China without obtaining a Chinese passport, it will have no impact on the child's U.S. citizenship.
Regarding the issue of dual nationality
We all know that China does not recognize dual nationality, but the U.S. government acknowledges the existence of dual nationality, neither discouraging nor encouraging it, while requiring U.S. citizens to use their U.S. passport when entering and exiting the United States.