How to Apply for Your Newborn’s Passport For U.S Citizens Pursuing Surrogacy in Georgia.
Surrogacy in Georgia is a good option for many U.S. citizens seeking to start a family. Aurora-Georgia, a notable surrogacy agency in Georgia, offers extensive services to help intended parents navigate the surrogacy process. For U.S. citizens, one of the key milestones in this journey is securing U.S. citizenship and a passport for your newborn. We will walk you through the process with this step-by-step guide on applying for your newborn’s passport for U.S. citizens pursuing surrogacy in Georgia. Thus ensuring that your child can travel home with you smoothly.
Georgia is well-known for its supportive surrogacy laws. This is just one of the reasons it is a top destination for intended parents worldwide, including U.S. citizens. However, there are some legal steps and procedures required to ensure your child receives U.S. citizenship and their first passport.
Key Benefits of Surrogacy in Georgia
- Legal Framework: Georgia surrogacy law is favorable to intended parents. It recognizes them as the legal parents from the moment of birth.
Learn more about the Legal Frameworks Governing Surrogacy in Georgia here.
- Affordability: The cost of surrogacy in Georgia is significantly lower compared to the U.S. and many other countries.
- Established Agencies: Agencies like Aurora-Georgia provide comprehensive support throughout the surrogacy process. They help intended parents from matching with a surrogate to assisting with legal documentation.
Understanding U.S. Citizenship for a Child Born Abroad
A child born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship, provided certain conditions are met. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the child must be genetically or gestationally related to a U.S. citizen parent. It’s either that or to a non-U.S. citizen parent who is married to a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
How to Obtain U.S. Citizenship and a Passport for Your Newborn
To establish U.S. citizenship for your child, you’ll need to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and a U.S. passport. This process typically takes 3 to 6 weeks.
Required Documents for CRBA and Passport Application:
- Marriage Certificate: Must be apostilled.
- Passport Copies: Both parents’ passports must be apostilled.
- Surrogacy Contract: Original, signed, and notarized.
- IVF Procedure Documentation: Original and notarized translation.
- Hospital Birth Report: Original and notarized translation.
- Local Birth Certificate: Original and notarized translation.
- Proof of U.S. Parent’s Physical Presence: Utility bills, credit card statements, tax filings, etc. There should also be evidence showing residence in the U.S. for five years prior to the child’s birth.
The surrogacy contract, IVF procedure documentation, hospital report of birth and local birth certificate must be uploaded online before applying for an appointment at the U.S. embassy. Once your documents are in order, the application process for the CRBA and passport can begin.
Step-by-Step Process for Applying for a CRBA and Passport
Step 1: Gather All Required Documents
Work closely with your surrogacy agency. Aurora-Georgia helps to ensure you have all necessary documents, including those related to the assisted reproductive technology (ART) process. You’ll need to provide original documents and notarized translations.
Step 2: Schedule an Appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia
You’ll need to appear in person at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi to submit the CRBA and passport application. At least one parent must be present with the child. If both parents are applying for the passport, both must be present, or a notarized DS-3053 form and a copy of the non-appearing parent’s passport must be provided.
Step 3: Attend the Appointment and Submit Applications
On the day of your appointment, bring all original documents, clear copies, and fees for the passport application. If there are any missing or incomplete documents, your appointment will be rescheduled, which can cause delays. DNA testing may be requested to confirm the relationship between the parents and the child, though it is not a standard requirement.
You should take the following documents to the interview:
- Passports
- Proof of address
- Utility Bills
- Driving License or State ID
- Credit Card statements – to show presence in the USA for 5 years
- Last 2 years of Income Tax filings
- Homeownership or Lease Agreement for Residence
- Social Security Card
- Social Security Statement
- Bank Statements
Step 4: Processing and Timelines
The CRBA and passport application process typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. The documents are processed in the U.S. and then sent to the U.S. Embassy in Georgia via DHL.
In urgent cases, parents can apply for a temporary, limited-validity passport for the baby if they need to travel to the U.S. before the CRBA is finalized. However, the full process must be completed.
Why Work with Aurora-Georgia?
Aurora-Georgia is a trusted surrogacy agency with a strong reputation for guiding intended parents through the surrogacy process in Georgia. We help intended parents with a wide range of services, including
- legal support,
- surrogate matching, and
- assistance with all necessary documentation.
Here are Top 10 Things Intended Parents Should Know
By choosing Aurora-Georgia, you ensure a smooth and legally sound process from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The process usually takes 3 to 6 weeks, but it can take longer if there are complications. It’s essential to gather all required documents and schedule your appointment at the U.S. Embassy in advance.
No, Georgia’s laws do not allow same-sex couples to enter into surrogacy agreements. Attempting to bypass this law with an illegal contract could lead to serious legal issues, including disputes over custody.
In urgent cases, you can request a temporary, limited-validity passport for your newborn. The CRBA can then be forwarded to your home in the U.S. once it is processed.
You’ll need to bring original copies of your marriage certificate, passports, surrogacy contract, birth report, and proof of your physical presence in the U.S., among others. All documents must be notarized and translated into English.
Takeaway
Securing U.S. citizenship and a passport for your child born through surrogacy in Georgia can seem like a difficult process. However, with the right guidance and preparation, it can be straightforward. By working with a reputable agency like Aurora-Georgia, you’ll have expert support throughout every step of the journey. From surrogate matching to ensuring all legal documents are in order for your child’s CRBA and passport application, Aurora-Georgia will guide you.
Start your surrogacy journey in Georgia with confidence, knowing that your child’s future and U.S. citizenship are in good hands.