Section 322 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) provides for facilitated naturalization of non-citizen minor children of (some) Americans living abroad. Travel to the U.S. with your child will still be necessary in order to complete the naturalization procedure.

Who is eligible?
A child living abroad is eligible to become a U.S. citizen under Section 322 if s/he

1. is under the age of 18;
2. is the natural born or adopted child of a US citizen parent; and
3. has an American parent OR grandparent who has spent five years in the US, at least two of which were after the parent/grandparent was 14 years of age, but before the date of the application.

The parent's/grandparent's fulfillment of this physical presence requirement can have taken place before or after the birth of the child. If the child is adopted: he or she must have been adopted before age 16; the adoption must be completed; and the child must have been in legal physical custody of the adoptive parent(s) for at least two years before applying under Section 322.

In most cases, the oath will be administered and the Certificate of Citizenship will be issued during the pre-scheduled appointment at the designated District Office. Once the Certificate is in hand, the child should obtain a US passport (going through a local U.S. Passport Office) before leaving the U.S. Or a passport can be subsequently obtained at a U.S. consulate in the child's normal country of residence. It is also advisable to obtain a Social Security number for the child as soon as possible. This can be done at a U.S. consulate in your normal country of residence.

For travel to the U.S. your child will need a visa waiver (ESTA), or visitor visa (B2). A visitor visa should be applied for at a U.S. consulate in your present country of residence explaining that travel to the USA is for the specific purpose of naturalization under Section 322.