All applicants must fully complete the CRBA application (Form DS-2029: Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad) prior to the interview. If the child was born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father or the parents are not able to present a marriage certificate, the applicants should also complete and bring Form DS–5507: Affidavit of Physical Presence or Residence, Parentage and Support.

All CRBA applications must be fully completed prior to the interview. Do not leave any items blank. For any question that does not apply, mark “N/A” (not applicable).

Do not sign the application. If both parents will attend the CRBA appointment, which we recommend, you sign the application at the interview in front of a Consular Officer.

If the U.S. Citizen Parent will not be present at the interview, please see below: “Information for Applications Where U.S. Citizen Parent Is Not Present for Interview.” In Step 7

All applicants for a child’s passport must complete Form DS-11: Passport Application prior to the interview.

Do not leave any items blank. For any question that does not apply, mark “N/A” (not applicable).

We encourage you to apply for a CRBA and passport at the same time. Because all fees are non-refundable, we recommend that you initially pay only for the CRBA application at our office cashier. Once the CRBA is approved, you will have the option of returning to the cashier to pay for the passport application.

Do not sign the passport application. The application must be signed in the presence of a Consular Officer.

If either parent is not able to attend the appointment, the applicant should also bring Form DS- 3053: Statement of Consent or Special Circumstances: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16. The DS-3053 must be signed in front of a notary public and the original must be presented at the interview. We do not accept scanned or faxed copies. We also do not accept notaries from outside of the United States. If the parent who is not at the interview is not in the United States, the DS-3053 can be notarized at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The applicant much also complete an affidavit for no social security number for the child which is available at the consular section.

On the day of your appointment, you must present original records for each of the following items (photocopies or scanned or faxed copies will not be accepted):

• The child’s birth certificate (hospital birth notifications are not acceptable).
• Original marriage certificate for the parents (if they are married).
• Original divorce certificate or death certificate (if either parent was previously married).
• Passport photos for the child (measuring 2” x 2” and meeting the requirements listed on the back of the passport application).
• Proof of parent’s U.S. citizenship (original or certified copies of the U.S. citizen parent’s passport and Naturalization Certificate, if applicable).
• Proof of parent’s identity (originals of non-U.S. citizen parent’s passport or national identification card).

On the day of your appointment, you must present sufficient evidence to demonstrate that at least one parent was physically present in the U.S. for a sufficient amount of time to transmit citizenship. In most cases where only one parent is a U.S. citizen, the U.S. citizen parent must show that he or she was physically present in the U.S. for a total of five (5) years before the birth of the child. If both parents are U.S. citizens and are married at the time of the child’s birth, then the applicants must show that one of the parents had a residence in the United States prior to the child’s birth. There are exceptions and additional standards.

A Consular Officer may request additional information or documentation when you apply, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. Evidence that may be presented includes, but is not limited to:

• School transcripts,
• Elementary and middle school report cards,
• W-2s from employment held while in the United States,
• Pay stubs,
• Employment records,
• Military discharge papers, and
• Rental or lease agreements.

Please note that bank records and tax documents are not sufficient to prove physical presence.

On the day of your appointment, you must present sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the applicant is the biological child of the U.S. Citizen parent(s). Examples of the types of evidence that can demonstrate the blood relationship between the child and the U.S. Citizen parent(s) may include:

• Pregnancy and birth records, such as dated ultrasounds containing the name of mother, laboratory test results, doctor/ultrasound/hospital receipts, pictures of the mother pregnant, pictures of mother and baby immediately following the birth and during the hospital stay, the baby’s and mother’s hospital identification bracelets, crib card, discharge orders, or paid hospital bills.
• Proof of relationship between parents, such as time-stamped photos of the couple together before, during, and after the pregnancy, photos of the U.S. Citizen parent with the newborn baby, Western Union money transfer receipts, email correspondence.
• Lease agreements, bank statements, home utility bills, or IRS tax declaration documents showing a shared address.
• Proof the couple was together at time of conception, such as original or certified copies of passport pages showing entry and exit stamps.

The American Citizen Services (ACS) section in Bujumbura, Burundi accepts applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad by appointment only. To submit the application, request an appointment at the Department of State Website. Be aware that each child will require his/her own appointment.

On the day of the initial appointment, the applicant(s) should come to interview with all required forms and supporting documentation.

The presence of the child at the interview is required.

All applicants must first pay the CRBA application fee of $100 or the local equivalent in Burundi Francs. The fee is not refundable. Please note that if you arrive at your CRBA appointment and are unable to pay the fee, your appointment will be cancelled and you will need to schedule a new appointment.

After paying the fee, the applicant(s) will meet with an ACS intake specialist who will review the application and supporting documentation. If additional forms or documentation are needed, the intake specialist will inform the applicant of what additional materials are needed and will provide instructions on how to make a follow up appointment. If the application is substantially complete, the intake specialist will transfer your case to the adjudicating officer who will proceed with the interview. Most CRBA applicants can expect to have at least two appointments to complete the application process.

Tips for your appointment:

• It is the responsibility of the parents, not the Embassy, to prove (1) the biological relationship between the child and the U.S. Citizen parent(s) and (2) that the U.S. Citizen parent(s) were physically present in the United States long enough to transmit citizenship to the child.
• Never assume that, because you successfully applied for another child’s U.S. citizenship, you do not need to bring any evidence to interviews for subsequent children. You must bring all supporting documents with you for each application.
• You must bring hard-copy printouts of all documents, photos, ultrasounds, etc. No digital media will be accepted. We are not able to access the internet on your behalf to view evidence and documents associated with your application, and you are prohibited from bringing computers, tablets, or smart phones to the interview.
• In some instances, it may not be possible for the adjudicating officer to conclusively determine from the available evidence that the child is the biological child of a U.S. citizen. In these cases, the Consular Officer may recommend DNA evidence to establish parentage. The test will consist of saliva samples from the child and the parents (taken under supervision) and the subsequent testing of the samples in an approved laboratory located in the United States.
• If the adjudicating officer recommends DNA, the applicants will be provided with instructions on how to have it performed. Please do not conduct independent DNA exams, as only results from Embassy ordered tests can be used to determine a genetic relationship for citizenship purposes. If you have any questions on DNA testing, please email: bujumburac@state.gov.
• If the CRBA is approved, the consular officer will give you the option to return to the cashier and pay for the passport application. The fee for a child’s U.S. passport is $115. All fees are payable in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in Burundi Francs
• The Embassy has Kirundi and Kiswahili translators available.

Information for Applications Where U.S. Citizen Parent Is Not Present for Interview

We highly recommend that the parent who is transmitting U.S. citizenship to the child attend that CRBA interview. If the U.S. citizen parent is unable to attend the CRBA interview, however, then he or she must:

1. Complete Form DS-2029: Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad, sign it in front of a notary public, and send the original to the parent who will attend the interview;
2. Complete Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent or Special Circumstances: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, sign it in front of a notary public, and send the original to the parent who will attend the interview, along with a certified copy of the identification that the notary public used to confirm the parent’s identity; and
3. If the child was born out of wedlock, complete Form DS–5507: Affidavit of Physical Presence or Residence, Parentage and Support, sign it in front of a notary public, and send the original to the parent who will attend the interview.
4. The parent attending the interview must then bring the original signed and notarized DS-2029, DS-3053, and, if applicable, DS-5507 to the interview, along with the documents and evidence outlined above in Steps Three, Four and Five. Photocopies or scanned or faxed copies of the forms will not be accepted.

We also do not accept notaries from outside of the United States. If the parent who is not at the interview is not in the United States, the DS-3053 can be notarized at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.