- Eligibility for a CRBA
Children born abroad to U.S. citizen parents may be eligible for U.S. citizenship. All American citizens born overseas should apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). This document is issued to serve as a U.S. birth certificate.
For a child born outside the U.S., you may apply for a CRBA at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but the application will be forwarded to the appropriate Embassy/Consulate in the birth country for processing.
The appointment is for one child only.
Please come 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time for Embassy security processing.
We reserve the right to reschedule your appointment if you are late or come unprepared.
How do I know that my child meets the requirements?
A child born outside of the United States acquires U.S. citizenship at birth only when certain requirements are met. Click on the link below that best describes your situation to see if your child meets the requirements.
Both Parents are U.S. Citizens
Only one parent is a U.S. Citizen
Please note: Parents may only apply for a CRBA for a child under 18 years of age.
Please note: Important Information for U.S. Citizens Considering the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Abroad
How Do I Schedule an Appointment?
- Print and fill out the application forms.
- Get required documents ready.
- Print and complete the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) Checklist (PDF 160 KB).
- Review information on physical presence (PDF 307 KB).
- Once you have gathered all of the required documents, contact us at acs_sofia@state.govto schedule an appointment. Please provide the child and both parents’ full names, dates of birth, parents’ country of citizenship, and phone number. Please write your appointment request in English.
- Both parents and the child must be present for the appointment.
What are the fees?
The CRBA fee is $100. There is an additional $105 fee for the passport application. The SSN application is a no-fee service. You may pay cash (U.S. dollars or Bulgarian leva) or by credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diners. Personal checks are not accepted.
How long does it take?
The appointment for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad normally takes 45 min. to an hour. The appointment may be shorter if all documentation is completed correctly. The CRBA applications are processed in about 10 working days, if there are no further supporting documents requested. The passports are ready approximately 7 to 10 days after the CRBA is received at the Embassy. The Social Security Number will be issued approximately 5-6 months after the passport is issued.
How do I receive my child’s documents?
You may request either personal pickup or delivery by DHL for your child’s CRBA and passport.
DHL delivery costs approximately 10 leva, which you pay to DHL when the documents are delivered.
If you request personal pick up, all document pick-ups are done Monday through Thursday on regular business days between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Does my child really have to come in to see you?
Yes. Your child, even a newborn, must appear in person at our office at the time you file the application. Both parents (even non-US citizens) must be present to execute the passport application.
Questions?
Please send an e-mail to acs_sofia@state.gov.
