{"id":14172,"date":"2026-07-06T06:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T06:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/?page_id=14172"},"modified":"2026-07-22T08:52:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T08:52:25","slug":"german-citizenship-for-americans","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"German citizenship by descent for Americans"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"14172\" class=\"elementor elementor-14172\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3f23f5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a3f23f5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1edb23c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1edb23c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"254\" height=\"52\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9861\" alt=\"logo\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cba231 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ekit-nav-menu\" data-id=\"3cba231\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ekit-nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"ekit-wid-con ekit_menu_responsive_tablet\"\n\t\t\tdata-hamburger-icon=\"\"\n\t\t\tdata-hamburger-icon-type=\"icon\"\n\t\t\tdata-responsive-breakpoint=\"1024\"\n\t\t\tdata-close-on-anchor=\"no\">\n\t\t\t            <button class=\"elementskit-menu-hamburger elementskit-menu-toggler\"  type=\"button\" aria-label=\"hamburger-icon\">\n                                    <span class=\"elementskit-menu-hamburger-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"elementskit-menu-hamburger-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"elementskit-menu-hamburger-icon\"><\/span>\n                            <\/button>\n            <div id=\"ekit-megamenu-header-menu\" class=\"elementskit-menu-container elementskit-menu-offcanvas-elements elementskit-navbar-nav-default ekit-nav-menu-one-page-no ekit-nav-dropdown-hover\"><ul id=\"menu-header-menu\" class=\"elementskit-navbar-nav elementskit-menu-po-left submenu-click-on-icon\"><li id=\"menu-item-10737\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-10737 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/\" class=\"ekit-menu-nav-link\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2123\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2123 nav-item elementskit-dropdown-has relative_position elementskit-dropdown-menu-default_width elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/team-2\/\" class=\"ekit-menu-nav-link ekit-menu-dropdown-toggle\">Profil<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"icon icon-down-arrow1 elementskit-submenu-indicator\"><\/i><\/a>\n<ul class=\"elementskit-dropdown elementskit-submenu-panel\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2128\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2128 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/team-2\/attorney-at-law-tieben\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-5575\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5575 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/team-2\/we-are-looking-for-you\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Wir suchen Sie<\/a><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2117\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2117 nav-item elementskit-dropdown-has relative_position elementskit-dropdown-menu-default_width elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/\" class=\"ekit-menu-nav-link ekit-menu-dropdown-toggle\">Leistungen<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"icon icon-down-arrow1 elementskit-submenu-indicator\"><\/i><\/a>\n<ul class=\"elementskit-dropdown elementskit-submenu-panel\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2118\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2118 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/employment-and-labour-law\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Arbeitsrecht<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-2121\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2121 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/tenancy-law\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Mietrecht<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-2119\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2119 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/immigration-law\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Ausl\u00e4nderrecht<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-2120\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2120 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/cyber-law\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Internetrecht<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-8713\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8713 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/services\/residency-by-founding-a-business-or-a-company-in-germany\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Unternehmensgr\u00fcndung in Deutschland<\/a><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2113\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2113 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/blog\/\" class=\"ekit-menu-nav-link\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2114\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2114 nav-item elementskit-dropdown-has relative_position elementskit-dropdown-menu-default_width elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"ekit-menu-nav-link ekit-menu-dropdown-toggle\">Kontakt<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"icon icon-down-arrow1 elementskit-submenu-indicator\"><\/i><\/a>\n<ul class=\"elementskit-dropdown elementskit-submenu-panel\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2124\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2124 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/contact\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Kontakt<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-13911\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13911 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/contact\/book-an-appointment\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Termin buchen<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-3174\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3174 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/contact\/imprint\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Impressum<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-2115\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2115 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/contact\/approach\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Anfahrt<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-10738\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10738 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/downloads\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Downloads<\/a>\t<li id=\"menu-item-4568\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4568 nav-item elementskit-mobile-builder-content\" data-vertical-menu=750px><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/co-operations\/\" class=\" dropdown-item\">Kooperationen<\/a><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"elementskit-nav-identity-panel\"><button class=\"elementskit-menu-close elementskit-menu-toggler\" type=\"button\">X<\/button><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementskit-menu-overlay elementskit-menu-offcanvas-elements elementskit-menu-toggler ekit-nav-menu--overlay\"><\/div>        <\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87b7dfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"87b7dfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-us-hero\">\n  <div class=\"mth-us-hero__inner\">\n    <div class=\"mth-us-hero__content\">\n\n      <div class=\"mth-us-hero__line\"><\/div>\n\n      <h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"German_Citizenship_by_Descent_for_Americans\"><\/span>German Citizenship by Descent for Americans<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n      <p class=\"mth-us-hero__text\">\n        <strong>You may already be a German citizen without knowing it.<\/strong>\n        If your great-grandparents left the Rhineland for Pennsylvania in the 1880s,\n        if your grandmother married a US serviceman in occupied Frankfurt, or if your\n        family fled the Nazis in 1938 and rebuilt their lives in New York, German law\n        may recognize you as a citizen today \u2014 with no residence requirement, no\n        language test, and, since June 2024, no obligation to give up your US passport.\n      <\/p>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-us-hero__actions\">\n        <a \n          href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\" \n          class=\"mth-us-hero__btn mth-us-hero__btn--primary\">\n          Check Your Eligibility \u2192\n        <\/a>\n\n<a href=\"#\" class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm openBookingModalBtn\">\n  <span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Book a Consultation<\/span>\n  <\/span>\n<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <p class=\"mth-us-hero__meta\">\n        Advising Americans since 2005 \u00b7 Cologne, Germany \u00b7 English-speaking counsel\n      <\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97f78cd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"97f78cd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a74479 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4a74479\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-us-stats-bar\">\n  <div class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__item\">\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__value\">Since 2005<\/p>\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__label\">Cologne Bar Association<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__item\">\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__value\">10 Minutes<\/p>\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__label\">From the BVA in Cologne<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__item\">\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__value\">All 50 States<\/p>\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__label\">Clients Across the US<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__item\">\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__value\">Dual Citizenship<\/p>\n      <p class=\"mth-us-stats-bar__label\">Since the June 2024 Reform<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8dcaf0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e8dcaf0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a710860 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a710860\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-us-intro\">\n  <div class=\"mth-us-intro__inner\">\n\n    <p>\n      This page explains the three legal pathways most relevant to Americans, the specific\n      problems US applicants encounter, and how the process works when you apply from\n      Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, or anywhere else in the United States.\n    <\/p>\n\n    <p>\n      <strong>Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben<\/strong> has advised clients across the United States\n      on German citizenship by descent since 2005. Our office in Cologne sits ten minutes from\n      the <em>Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA)<\/em> \u2014 the federal authority in Cologne that decides\n      most citizenship applications filed from abroad.\n    <\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-us-intro__box\">\n      <p>\n        <strong>Not sure whether you qualify?<\/strong> Start with our free preliminary eligibility test:\n      <\/p>\n\n      <a \n        href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\"\n        class=\"mth-us-intro__btn\">\n        Check your German citizenship eligibility from the USA \u2192\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c313f76 mth-naturalization-checker e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c313f76\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"us-naturalization-checker\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cf3da8 .mth-naturalization-checker elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"5cf3da8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n.mth-naturalization-checker {\n    --mth-dark: #18324a;\n    --mth-accent: #b89b63;\n    --mth-light: #f5f3ee;\n    --mth-border: #ded8cc;\n\n    background: var(--mth-light);\n    border: 1px solid var(--mth-border);\n    border-left: 5px solid var(--mth-accent);\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    padding: 48px;\n    margin: 0 0;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .mth-tool-label {\n    display: block;\n    margin-bottom: 12px;\n    color: var(--mth-accent);\n    font-size: 13px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n    letter-spacing: 1.4px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker h2 {\n    color: var(--mth-dark);\n    font-size: clamp(28px, 3vw, 40px);\n    line-height: 1.18;\n    margin: 0 0 18px;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .mth-tool-intro {\n    max-width: 850px;\n    margin: 0 0 24px;\n    color: #3f4850;\n    font-size: 17px;\n    line-height: 1.7;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .mth-document-list {\n    display: flex;\n    flex-wrap: wrap;\n    gap: 10px;\n    margin: 0 0 28px;\n    padding: 0;\n    list-style: none;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .mth-document-list li {\n    background: #ffffff;\n    border: 1px solid var(--mth-border);\n    border-radius: 30px;\n    color: var(--mth-dark);\n    font-size: 14px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    padding: 8px 15px;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .mth-tool-note {\n    margin: 28px 0 0;\n    padding-top: 20px;\n    border-top: 1px solid var(--mth-border);\n    color: #626970;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    line-height: 1.6;\n}\n\n\/* Fluent Forms styling *\/\n.mth-naturalization-checker .fluentform {\n    background: #ffffff;\n    border-radius: 5px;\n    padding: 30px;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .ff-el-form-label label {\n    color: var(--mth-dark);\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .ff-el-form-control {\n    min-height: 48px;\n    border: 1px solid #cfcfcf;\n    border-radius: 3px;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .ff-btn-submit {\n    background: var(--mth-dark) !important;\n    border: 1px solid var(--mth-dark) !important;\n    border-radius: 3px !important;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    font-weight: 700 !important;\n    padding: 14px 26px !important;\n    transition: all 0.2s ease;\n}\n\n.mth-naturalization-checker .ff-btn-submit:hover {\n    background: var(--mth-accent) !important;\n    border-color: var(--mth-accent) !important;\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 767px) {\n    .mth-naturalization-checker {\n        padding: 28px 20px;\n        margin: 30px 0;\n    }\n\n    .mth-naturalization-checker .fluentform {\n        padding: 22px 16px;\n    }\n\n    .mth-naturalization-checker h2 {\n        font-size: 28px;\n    }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"mth-tool-heading\">\n    <span class=\"mth-tool-label\">Supporting document checker<\/span>\n\n    <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_Your_Ancestors_US_Naturalization_Record_Prove\"><\/span>What Does Your Ancestor\u2019s US Naturalization Record Prove?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n    <p class=\"mth-tool-intro\">\n        A Declaration of Intention, Petition for Naturalization, Certificate of\n        Naturalization and census entry do not establish the same facts. Use this\n        checker to identify the document you have and understand whether it may\n        show that US naturalization occurred before or after the birth of the next\n        generation.\n    <\/p>\n\n    <ul class=\"mth-document-list\" aria-label=\"Documents covered by the checker\">\n        <li>Declaration of Intention<\/li>\n        <li>Naturalization Petition<\/li>\n        <li>Naturalization Certificate<\/li>\n        <li>Census Record<\/li>\n        <li>No Record Found<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bf365 fluent-form-widget-step-header-yes fluent-form-widget-step-progressbar-yes fluentform-widget-submit-button-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-fluent-form-widget\" data-id=\"93bf365\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"fluent-form-widget.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n            <div class=\"fluentform-widget-wrapper fluentform-widget-align-default\">\n\n            \n            <div class='fluentform ff-default fluentform_wrapper_39 ffs_default_wrap'><form data-form_id=\"39\" id=\"fluentform_39\" class=\"frm-fluent-form fluent_form_39 ff-el-form-top ff_form_instance_39_1 ff-form-loading ff-form-has-steps ffs_default\" data-form_instance=\"ff_form_instance_39_1\" method=\"POST\" ><fieldset  style=\"border: none!important;margin: 0!important;padding: 0!important;background-color: transparent!important;box-shadow: none!important;outline: none!important; min-inline-size: 100%;\">\n                    <legend class=\"ff_screen_reader_title\" style=\"display: block; margin: 0!important;padding: 0!important;height: 0!important;text-indent: -999999px;width: 0!important;overflow:hidden;\">US Naturalization Document Checker \u2013 Stage 2 Fixed<\/legend><p style=\"display: none !important;\" class=\"akismet-fields-container\" data-prefix=\"ak_\"><label>&#916;<textarea name=\"ak_hp_textarea\" cols=\"45\" rows=\"8\" maxlength=\"100\"><\/textarea><\/label><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"ak_js_1\" name=\"ak_js\" value=\"250\"\/><script>\ndocument.getElementById( \"ak_js_1\" ).setAttribute( \"value\", ( new Date() ).getTime() );\n<\/script>\n<\/p><input type='hidden' name='__fluent_form_embded_post_id' value='14172' \/><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"_fluentform_39_fluentformnonce\" name=\"_fluentform_39_fluentformnonce\" value=\"42ba146c66\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14172\" \/><div class='ff-step-container' data-name=\"step_start-39_13\" data-disable_auto_focus=\"no\" data-enable_auto_slider=\"no\" data-enable_step_data_persistency=\"yes\" data-enable_step_page_resume=\"yes\" data-animation_type=\"slide\" data-progress_layout=\"top\" data-progress_indicator=\"progress-bar\" ><div class='ff-step-header ff-step-header--progress'><div class='ff-step-progress-wrap'><div class='ff-el-progress-status' aria-live='polite'><\/div><div class='ff-el-progress'><div role='progressbar' class='ff-el-progress-bar'><span><\/span><\/div><\/div><ul style='display: none' class='ff-el-progress-title'><li>Your evidence<\/li><li>The dates<\/li><li>Anything unusual<\/li><li>Result<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><span class='ff_step_start'><\/span><div class='ff-step-body'><div class=\"fluentform-step active\" data-name=\"step_start-39_13\" data-disable_auto_focus=\"no\" data-enable_auto_slider=\"no\" data-enable_step_data_persistency=\"yes\" data-enable_step_page_resume=\"yes\" data-animation_type=\"slide\" data-progress_layout=\"top\" data-progress_indicator=\"progress-bar\" ><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html mth-intro' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_1\" ><div class=\"mth-intro\">\n  <p>Let's work out what you have. Pick the item that best matches your document or record. If you have more than one, choose the strongest \u2014 usually a certificate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group mth-evidence-grid'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"What do you have about this U.S. naturalization?\">What do you have about this U.S. naturalization?<\/label><div class=\"ff-el-tooltip\" data-content=\"Pick the item that best matches your document or record. If you have more than one, choose the strongest \u2014 usually a certificate.\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 25\"><path d=\"m329 393l0-46c0-2-1-4-2-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-27 0 0-146c0-3-1-5-3-7-2-1-4-2-7-2l-91 0c-3 0-5 1-7 2-1 2-2 4-2 7l0 46c0 2 1 5 2 6 2 2 4 3 7 3l27 0 0 91-27 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-1 2-2 4-2 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 2 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l128 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 1-2 2-4 2-7z m-36-256l0-46c0-2-1-4-3-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-54 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-2 2-3 4-3 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 3 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l54 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 2-2 3-4 3-7z m182 119c0 40-9 77-29 110-20 34-46 60-80 80-33 20-70 29-110 29-40 0-77-9-110-29-34-20-60-46-80-80-20-33-29-70-29-110 0-40 9-77 29-110 20-34 46-60 80-80 33-20 70-29 110-29 40 0 77 9 110 29 34 20 60 46 80 80 20 33 29 70 29 110z\" transform=\"scale(0.046875 0.046875)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_80b819a8838c7b1f6680ca22aaf88263'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"cert_of_nat\"  id='evidence_type_80b819a8838c7b1f6680ca22aaf88263' aria-label='Certificate of Naturalization' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Certificate of Naturalization<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_20c5f45f20aaef25d56fee5668ec119f'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"cert_of_citizenship\"  id='evidence_type_20c5f45f20aaef25d56fee5668ec119f' aria-label='Certificate of Citizenship' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Certificate of Citizenship<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_2c97123f2c8d4ae6a97f7b1415ac5cd2'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"petition_granted\"  id='evidence_type_2c97123f2c8d4ae6a97f7b1415ac5cd2' aria-label='Petition for Naturalization \u2014 marked granted \/ admitted' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Petition for Naturalization \u2014 marked granted \/ admitted<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_3176e9d5e6b9d571a8c942d757328d59'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"petition_no_decision\"  id='evidence_type_3176e9d5e6b9d571a8c942d757328d59' aria-label='Petition for Naturalization \u2014 no final decision visible' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Petition for Naturalization \u2014 no final decision visible<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_fd1d03b0a5c29bca20c6ab9db6b5ca16'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"declaration_of_intention\"  id='evidence_type_fd1d03b0a5c29bca20c6ab9db6b5ca16' aria-label='Declaration of Intention (&quot;First Papers&quot;)' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Declaration of Intention (\"First Papers\")<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_4b500ebf49cb80501083246a935d0da4'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"nat_index\"  id='evidence_type_4b500ebf49cb80501083246a935d0da4' aria-label='Naturalization or court index entry' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Naturalization or court index entry<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_155b751e008c62187b91b17fd22b3e2f'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"census_naturalized\"  id='evidence_type_155b751e008c62187b91b17fd22b3e2f' aria-label='Census entry saying &quot;naturalized&quot;' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Census entry saying \"naturalized\"<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_dcc70df7295210647f4a136f8aaf888a'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"us_passport\"  id='evidence_type_dcc70df7295210647f4a136f8aaf888a' aria-label='U.S. passport' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>U.S. passport<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_74926bf5e2a7af847b0d827987b6abf0'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"family_info\"  id='evidence_type_74926bf5e2a7af847b0d827987b6abf0' aria-label='Family information only' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Family information only<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_db8f97267dcaddc990604164c515ede5'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"nara_negative\"  id='evidence_type_db8f97267dcaddc990604164c515ede5' aria-label='NARA search returned nothing' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>NARA search returned nothing<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_4a97dcddd1c873664ed305c9b274cc47'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"uscis_non_existence\"  id='evidence_type_4a97dcddd1c873664ed305c9b274cc47' aria-label='USCIS Certificate of Non-Existence' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>USCIS Certificate of Non-Existence<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_6cc2ba01f153d30fe038d8c5bca15521'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"no_record_found\"  id='evidence_type_6cc2ba01f153d30fe038d8c5bca15521' aria-label='I searched and found nothing' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I searched and found nothing<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='evidence_type_b357456647512e06cf4e76fc62b6dd84'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"evidence_type\" data-name=\"evidence_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"unknown_document\"  id='evidence_type_b357456647512e06cf4e76fc62b6dd84' aria-label='I don&#039;t know \/ other document' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I don't know \/ other document<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-explainer' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_2\" ><div class=\"mth-explainer\">\n      <p>Some U.S. citizenship documents show that a person became a U.S. citizen through a parent, not by naturalizing themselves. This affects how the case should be analyzed.<\/p>\n    <\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"Does the document mention that citizenship was acquired through a parent?\">Does the document mention that citizenship was acquired through a parent?<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='derivative_status_6ee351ba2f651857b1c667ef997801a7'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"derivative_status\" data-name=\"derivative_status\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"direct\"  id='derivative_status_6ee351ba2f651857b1c667ef997801a7' aria-label='No, it looks like the person naturalized themselves' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>No, it looks like the person naturalized themselves<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='derivative_status_ff42ef5c57ee28d421cf96e4bf590c37'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"derivative_status\" data-name=\"derivative_status\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"derivative\"  id='derivative_status_ff42ef5c57ee28d421cf96e4bf590c37' aria-label='Yes, it mentions a parent&#039;s naturalization or citizenship' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Yes, it mentions a parent's naturalization or citizenship<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='derivative_status_4f472458966e6ef42b4c8fc8fea5eb3a'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"derivative_status\" data-name=\"derivative_status\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"unclear\"  id='derivative_status_4f472458966e6ef42b4c8fc8fea5eb3a' aria-label='I cannot tell from the document' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I cannot tell from the document<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='step-nav ff_step_nav_last'><button style='float: left;'  type='button' data-action='prev' class='ff-btn ff-btn-prev ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Previous'>Previous<\/button><button style='float: right;'  type='button' data-action='next' class='ff-float-right ff-btn ff-btn-next ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Continue'>Continue<\/button><\/div><\/div><div style='display: none;' class=\" fluentform-step\" data-name=\"form_step-39_3\" ><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-explainer' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_4\" ><div class=\"mth-explainer mth-no-date-comparison\">\n  <p><strong>No date comparison is needed at this stage.<\/strong> The evidence selected does not by itself prove a completed naturalization event. You can continue to identify any unusual circumstances, and the result will explain which record may be needed next.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"What date is on the document?\">What date is on the document?<\/label><div class=\"ff-el-tooltip\" data-content=\"If the date is not fully readable, choose the closest option. Do not guess \u2014 &apos;year only&apos; or &apos;approximate&apos; are fine.\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 25\"><path d=\"m329 393l0-46c0-2-1-4-2-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-27 0 0-146c0-3-1-5-3-7-2-1-4-2-7-2l-91 0c-3 0-5 1-7 2-1 2-2 4-2 7l0 46c0 2 1 5 2 6 2 2 4 3 7 3l27 0 0 91-27 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-1 2-2 4-2 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 2 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l128 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 1-2 2-4 2-7z m-36-256l0-46c0-2-1-4-3-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-54 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-2 2-3 4-3 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 3 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l54 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 2-2 3-4 3-7z m182 119c0 40-9 77-29 110-20 34-46 60-80 80-33 20-70 29-110 29-40 0-77-9-110-29-34-20-60-46-80-80-20-33-29-70-29-110 0-40 9-77 29-110 20-34 46-60 80-80 33-20 70-29 110-29 40 0 77 9 110 29 34 20 60 46 80 80 20 33 29 70 29 110z\" transform=\"scale(0.046875 0.046875)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_1d4328c8b01a8279bf23a23332afbfcc'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"exact\"  id='nat_precision_1d4328c8b01a8279bf23a23332afbfcc' aria-label='Exact date (day\/month\/year)' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Exact date (day\/month\/year)<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_890ca79b061a5c7280f2a686fd71bb33'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"month_year\"  id='nat_precision_890ca79b061a5c7280f2a686fd71bb33' aria-label='Month and year only' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Month and year only<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_d9be759d9ba03fa56b2b0ca18a288fe5'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"year_only\"  id='nat_precision_d9be759d9ba03fa56b2b0ca18a288fe5' aria-label='Year only' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Year only<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_ff76d2d666e3df9c36ffd9b4174746d1'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"approx_before\"  id='nat_precision_ff76d2d666e3df9c36ffd9b4174746d1' aria-label='Approximate \u2014 before a certain year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Approximate \u2014 before a certain year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_9804ab69d0ef82a3734d7b41d10fd05b'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"approx_after\"  id='nat_precision_9804ab69d0ef82a3734d7b41d10fd05b' aria-label='Approximate \u2014 after a certain year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Approximate \u2014 after a certain year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_precision_f0a765c6afdde5f03446194ccbb9165a'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_precision\" data-name=\"nat_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"unknown_date\"  id='nat_precision_f0a765c6afdde5f03446194ccbb9165a' aria-label='I don&#039;t know the date' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I don't know the date<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_nat_date_exact' id='label_ff_39_nat_date_exact' aria-label=\"Naturalization date\">Naturalization date<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input  aria-label='Naturalization date Use arrow keys to navigate dates. Press enter to select a date.'  aria-haspopup='dialog' data-type-datepicker data-format='Y-m-d' type=\"text\" name=\"nat_date_exact\" id=\"ff_39_nat_date_exact\" class=\"ff-el-form-control ff-el-datepicker\" placeholder=\"YYYY-MM-DD\" data-name=\"nat_date_exact\"  aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions mth-inline-half'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_nat_month' id='label_ff_39_nat_month' aria-label=\"Naturalization month (1\u201312)\">Naturalization month (1\u201312)<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"nat_month\" id=\"ff_39_nat_month\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1\" max=\"12\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"nat_month\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1\" aria-valuemax=\"12\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions mth-inline-half'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_nat_year_my' id='label_ff_39_nat_year_my' aria-label=\"Naturalization year\">Naturalization year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"nat_year_my\" id=\"ff_39_nat_year_my\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"nat_year_my\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_nat_year_only' id='label_ff_39_nat_year_only' aria-label=\"Naturalization year\">Naturalization year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"nat_year_only\" id=\"ff_39_nat_year_only\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"nat_year_only\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_nat_year_approx' id='label_ff_39_nat_year_approx' aria-label=\"Approximate year\">Approximate year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"nat_year_approx\" id=\"ff_39_nat_year_approx\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"nat_year_approx\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"Is this the certificate&#039;s issue date, or the date of admission written on it?\">Is this the certificate's issue date, or the date of admission written on it?<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_cert_date_type_af8a3e59ec243cf1b941194da0197dfe'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" data-name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"admission\"  id='nat_cert_date_type_af8a3e59ec243cf1b941194da0197dfe' aria-label='Date of admission written on the certificate' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Date of admission written on the certificate<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_cert_date_type_a5653f8d7627d8ecff6d9918261d7374'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" data-name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"issue\"  id='nat_cert_date_type_a5653f8d7627d8ecff6d9918261d7374' aria-label='Date the certificate itself was issued' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Date the certificate itself was issued<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='nat_cert_date_type_77e29d58e246d44cb6885b39fe877704'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" data-name=\"nat_cert_date_type\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"unclear\"  id='nat_cert_date_type_77e29d58e246d44cb6885b39fe877704' aria-label='I cannot tell' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I cannot tell<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"When was the next person in the direct family line born?\">When was the next person in the direct family line born?<\/label><div class=\"ff-el-tooltip\" data-content=\"This is the ancestor&apos;s child in the line that leads to you \u2014 the next generation after the person who naturalized.\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 25\"><path d=\"m329 393l0-46c0-2-1-4-2-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-27 0 0-146c0-3-1-5-3-7-2-1-4-2-7-2l-91 0c-3 0-5 1-7 2-1 2-2 4-2 7l0 46c0 2 1 5 2 6 2 2 4 3 7 3l27 0 0 91-27 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-1 2-2 4-2 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 2 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l128 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 1-2 2-4 2-7z m-36-256l0-46c0-2-1-4-3-6-2-2-4-3-7-3l-54 0c-3 0-5 1-7 3-2 2-3 4-3 6l0 46c0 3 1 5 3 7 2 1 4 2 7 2l54 0c3 0 5-1 7-2 2-2 3-4 3-7z m182 119c0 40-9 77-29 110-20 34-46 60-80 80-33 20-70 29-110 29-40 0-77-9-110-29-34-20-60-46-80-80-20-33-29-70-29-110 0-40 9-77 29-110 20-34 46-60 80-80 33-20 70-29 110-29 40 0 77 9 110 29 34 20 60 46 80 80 20 33 29 70 29 110z\" transform=\"scale(0.046875 0.046875)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_99abbaadc76245d0723adb7a029fc25c'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"exact\"  id='birth_precision_99abbaadc76245d0723adb7a029fc25c' aria-label='Exact date (day\/month\/year)' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Exact date (day\/month\/year)<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_b3f26d62188169855a03ab30ca08687c'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"month_year\"  id='birth_precision_b3f26d62188169855a03ab30ca08687c' aria-label='Month and year only' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Month and year only<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_6c78f55fb9892811a9f7a9549b504cbb'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"year_only\"  id='birth_precision_6c78f55fb9892811a9f7a9549b504cbb' aria-label='Year only' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Year only<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_eea1979c9ab4f942469648c81303ee01'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"approx_before\"  id='birth_precision_eea1979c9ab4f942469648c81303ee01' aria-label='Approximate \u2014 before a certain year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Approximate \u2014 before a certain year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_cb27a85e73adee153b6ac03b6c61796d'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"approx_after\"  id='birth_precision_cb27a85e73adee153b6ac03b6c61796d' aria-label='Approximate \u2014 after a certain year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>Approximate \u2014 after a certain year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='birth_precision_98297011feb3083e3a0e498069525de2'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"birth_precision\" data-name=\"birth_precision\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"unknown_date\"  id='birth_precision_98297011feb3083e3a0e498069525de2' aria-label='I don&#039;t know the date' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true> <span>I don't know the date<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_birth_date_exact' id='label_ff_39_birth_date_exact' aria-label=\"Birth date\">Birth date<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input  aria-label='Birth date Use arrow keys to navigate dates. Press enter to select a date.'  aria-haspopup='dialog' data-type-datepicker data-format='Y-m-d' type=\"text\" name=\"birth_date_exact\" id=\"ff_39_birth_date_exact\" class=\"ff-el-form-control ff-el-datepicker\" placeholder=\"YYYY-MM-DD\" data-name=\"birth_date_exact\"  aria-invalid='false' aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions mth-inline-half'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_birth_month' id='label_ff_39_birth_month' aria-label=\"Birth month (1\u201312)\">Birth month (1\u201312)<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"birth_month\" id=\"ff_39_birth_month\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1\" max=\"12\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"birth_month\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1\" aria-valuemax=\"12\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions mth-inline-half'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_birth_year_my' id='label_ff_39_birth_year_my' aria-label=\"Birth year\">Birth year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"birth_year_my\" id=\"ff_39_birth_year_my\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"birth_year_my\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_birth_year_only' id='label_ff_39_birth_year_only' aria-label=\"Birth year\">Birth year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"birth_year_only\" id=\"ff_39_birth_year_only\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"birth_year_only\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group has-conditions'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label ff-el-is-required asterisk-right\"><label for='ff_39_birth_year_approx' id='label_ff_39_birth_year_approx' aria-label=\"Approximate year\">Approximate year<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><input type=\"number\" name=\"birth_year_approx\" id=\"ff_39_birth_year_approx\" class=\"ff-el-form-control\" min=\"1700\" max=\"2030\" step=\"1\" data-name=\"birth_year_approx\" inputmode=\"numeric\" aria-valuemin=\"1700\" aria-valuemax=\"2030\"  aria-invalid=\"false\" aria-required=true><\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group mth-same-year-question'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"Both events happened in the same year. Do you know which came first?\">Both events happened in the same year. Do you know which came first?<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='same_year_order_20b0c3080a8179d4406c574c154d4e5f'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"same_year_order\" data-name=\"same_year_order\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"nat_first\"  id='same_year_order_20b0c3080a8179d4406c574c154d4e5f' aria-label='Naturalization was earlier in the year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>Naturalization was earlier in the year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='same_year_order_6b55da5da4a68fa788dba77df32a0f76'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"same_year_order\" data-name=\"same_year_order\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"birth_first\"  id='same_year_order_6b55da5da4a68fa788dba77df32a0f76' aria-label='Birth was earlier in the year' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>Birth was earlier in the year<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='same_year_order_8a2e28986181b885d28a33151b21f5e3'><input  type=\"radio\" name=\"same_year_order\" data-name=\"same_year_order\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-radio\" value=\"dont_know\"  id='same_year_order_8a2e28986181b885d28a33151b21f5e3' aria-label='I don&#039;t know the order' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>I don't know the order<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='step-nav ff_step_nav_last'><button style='float: left;'  type='button' data-action='prev' class='ff-btn ff-btn-prev ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Previous'>Previous<\/button><button style='float: right;'  type='button' data-action='next' class='ff-float-right ff-btn ff-btn-next ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Continue'>Continue<\/button><\/div><\/div><div style='display: none;' class=\" fluentform-step\" data-name=\"form_step-39_5\" ><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html mth-explainer' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_6\" ><div class=\"mth-explainer\">\n  <p>Almost done. If any of these apply, please tick them \u2014 some situations need a lawyer's direct review.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class='ff-el-group'><div class=\"ff-el-input--label asterisk-right\"><label   aria-label=\"Anything unusual about this case?\">Anything unusual about this case?<\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-input--content'><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='complexity_flags_a64c6a5b1d49b242cb1598ff710dccd9'><input  type=\"checkbox\" name=\"complexity_flags[]\" data-name=\"complexity_flags\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-checkbox\" value=\"pre_1914\"  id='complexity_flags_a64c6a5b1d49b242cb1598ff710dccd9' aria-label='Naturalization happened before 1914' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>Naturalization happened before 1914<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='complexity_flags_ce425a26afd10f58fdb8197b05f9e363'><input  type=\"checkbox\" name=\"complexity_flags[]\" data-name=\"complexity_flags\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-checkbox\" value=\"retention_permission\"  id='complexity_flags_ce425a26afd10f58fdb8197b05f9e363' aria-label='Person was later allowed to keep German citizenship (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung)' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>Person was later allowed to keep German citizenship (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung)<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='complexity_flags_5d6675a8b7d82722865c6bed07238eb6'><input  type=\"checkbox\" name=\"complexity_flags[]\" data-name=\"complexity_flags\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-checkbox\" value=\"contradictory_documents\"  id='complexity_flags_5d6675a8b7d82722865c6bed07238eb6' aria-label='There are contradictory documents' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>There are contradictory documents<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='complexity_flags_88838cd4128d07f39d985df874b88909'><input  type=\"checkbox\" name=\"complexity_flags[]\" data-name=\"complexity_flags\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-checkbox\" value=\"unreadable_language\"  id='complexity_flags_88838cd4128d07f39d985df874b88909' aria-label='The document is in a language I cannot read fully' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>The document is in a language I cannot read fully<\/span><\/label><\/div><div class='ff-el-form-check ff-el-form-check-'><label class='ff-el-form-check-label' for='complexity_flags_6500273969afb7a9e031e755c47e253b'><input  type=\"checkbox\" name=\"complexity_flags[]\" data-name=\"complexity_flags\" class=\"ff-el-form-check-input ff-el-form-check-checkbox\" value=\"none\"  id='complexity_flags_6500273969afb7a9e031e755c47e253b' aria-label='None of the above' aria-invalid='false' aria-required=false> <span>None of the above<\/span><\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='step-nav ff_step_nav_last'><button style='float: left;'  type='button' data-action='prev' class='ff-btn ff-btn-prev ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Previous'>Previous<\/button><button style='float: right;'  type='button' data-action='next' class='ff-float-right ff-btn ff-btn-next ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='See my result'>See my result<\/button><\/div><\/div><div style='display: none;' class=\" fluentform-step\" data-name=\"form_step-39_7\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"result_code\" data-name=\"result_code\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"chronology_result\" data-name=\"chronology_result\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"evidence_strength\" data-name=\"evidence_strength\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"completed_naturalization_status\" data-name=\"completed_naturalization_status\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"acquisition_method\" data-name=\"acquisition_method\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"special_review_required\" data-name=\"special_review_required\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"special_review_reasons\" data-name=\"special_review_reasons\" ><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-result-panel mth-result-code-a' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_8\" ><div class=\"mth-result-block mth-result-neutral\">\n  <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_naturalization_appears_to_have_been_completed_before_the_next_generation_was_born\"><\/span>The naturalization appears to have been completed before the next generation was born.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p>Based on your evidence, the U.S. naturalization was finished before the birth of the next person in your direct family line.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>What this establishes:<\/strong> the order of these two events, as best we can tell from what you entered, and that completed naturalization \u2014 not only an application \u2014 is documented.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"mth-not-establish\">\n    <strong>What this does not establish:<\/strong> whether this affects your German citizenship. That depends on many other factors \u2014 the year, the parent-child relationship, marriage timing, and the German law applicable at the time.\n  <\/div>\n  \n  <p class=\"mth-result-cta\">\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"mth-continue-btn\" data-action=\"continue-main-checker\" role=\"button\">Continue with your eligibility check<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mth-disclaimer\">This tool helps organize evidence about a U.S. naturalization event. It does not provide legal advice and does not assess German citizenship eligibility. Individual cases require review by a qualified lawyer.<\/p><\/div><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-result-panel mth-result-code-b' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_9\" ><div class=\"mth-result-block mth-result-neutral\">\n  <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_naturalization_appears_to_have_been_completed_after_the_next_generation_was_born\"><\/span>The naturalization appears to have been completed after the next generation was born.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p>Based on your evidence, the U.S. naturalization was finished after the birth of the next person in your direct family line.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>What this establishes:<\/strong> the order of these two events and that completed naturalization is documented.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"mth-not-establish\">\n    <strong>What this does not establish:<\/strong> whether the ancestor's German citizenship was preserved, lost later, or affected by other rules such as retention permission (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung), or whether other rules in the citizenship line still apply.\n  <\/div>\n  \n  <p class=\"mth-result-cta\">\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"mth-continue-btn\" data-action=\"continue-main-checker\" role=\"button\">Continue with your eligibility check<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mth-disclaimer\">This tool helps organize evidence about a U.S. naturalization event. It does not provide legal advice and does not assess German citizenship eligibility. Individual cases require review by a qualified lawyer.<\/p><\/div><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-result-panel mth-result-code-c' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_10\" ><div class=\"mth-result-block mth-result-warning\">\n  <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_evidence_you_have_does_not_yet_prove_that_naturalization_was_completed\"><\/span>The evidence you have does not yet prove that naturalization was completed.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p>The document or record you described is either preliminary, indirect, or a negative search result. It does not confirm a completed U.S. naturalization event.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>What this establishes:<\/strong> that further U.S. records may be needed before a chronology can be worked out.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"mth-not-establish\">\n    <strong>What this does not establish:<\/strong> whether naturalization actually happened. A missing record is not the same as no naturalization; a Declaration of Intention or index entry is not the same as completed naturalization.\n  <\/div>\n  <p><strong>Recommended next step:<\/strong> a USCIS Genealogy search (index and record request) and a NARA search for court records are usually the next steps. Our team can guide you through this as part of a consultation.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"mth-result-cta\">\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"mth-continue-btn\" data-action=\"continue-main-checker\" role=\"button\">Continue with your eligibility check<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mth-disclaimer\">This tool helps organize evidence about a U.S. naturalization event. It does not provide legal advice and does not assess German citizenship eligibility. Individual cases require review by a qualified lawyer.<\/p><\/div><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-result-panel mth-result-code-d' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_11\" ><div class=\"mth-result-block mth-result-warning\">\n  <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"There_is_not_enough_date_information_to_determine_the_order_of_events\"><\/span>There is not enough date information to determine the order of events.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p>One or both of the dates you have are approximate or unknown, and they overlap.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>What this establishes:<\/strong> that the case turns on establishing more precise dates.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"mth-not-establish\">\n    <strong>What this does not establish:<\/strong> which event came first. That question is currently open.\n  <\/div>\n  <p><strong>Recommended next step:<\/strong> locating primary records (Certificate of Naturalization, court order, or civil registry birth record) will typically resolve the chronology. Our team can help you obtain them.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"mth-result-cta\">\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"mth-continue-btn\" data-action=\"continue-main-checker\" role=\"button\">Continue with your eligibility check<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mth-disclaimer\">This tool helps organize evidence about a U.S. naturalization event. It does not provide legal advice and does not assess German citizenship eligibility. Individual cases require review by a qualified lawyer.<\/p><\/div><div class='ff-el-group  ff-custom_html has-conditions mth-result-panel mth-result-code-e' tabindex='-1' data-name=\"custom_html-39_12\" ><div class=\"mth-result-block mth-result-warning\">\n  <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_case_needs_a_specialist_review\"><\/span>This case needs a specialist review.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p>The evidence you described points to a situation that a lawyer should look at directly \u2014 for example derivative citizenship through a parent, a pre-1914 event, retention permission, or contradictory records.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>What this establishes:<\/strong> that your specific situation cannot be resolved by a simple document-and-date comparison.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"mth-not-establish\">\n    <strong>What this does not establish:<\/strong> any conclusion about your German citizenship. Cases like these can still succeed, but they need individual legal analysis.\n  <\/div>\n  <p><strong>Recommended next step:<\/strong> continue with the main eligibility check so we can capture the rest of your family line, then contact us for a review of the U.S. naturalization question.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"mth-result-cta\">\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"mth-continue-btn\" data-action=\"continue-main-checker\" role=\"button\">Continue with your eligibility check<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mth-disclaimer\">This tool helps organize evidence about a U.S. naturalization event. It does not provide legal advice and does not assess German citizenship eligibility. Individual cases require review by a qualified lawyer.<\/p><\/div>        <div class=\"ff-step-t-container ff-inner_submit_container ff-column-container ff_columns_total_2\">\n            <div class=\"ff-t-cell ff-t-column-1\"><div class='step-nav ff_step_nav_last'><button style='float: left;'  type='button' data-action='prev' class='ff-btn ff-btn-prev ff-btn-secondary' aria-label='Previous'>Previous<\/button><\/div><\/div>\n            <div class=\"ff-t-cell ff-t-column-2\">\n                <div class='ff-el-group ff-text-center mth-native-submit-hidden ff_submit_btn_wrapper'><button type=\"submit\" class=\"ff-btn ff-btn-submit ff-btn-md ff_btn_style\"  aria-label=\"Finish\">Finish<\/button><\/div>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n        <\/fieldset><\/form><div id='fluentform_39_errors' class='ff-errors-in-stack ff_form_instance_39_1 ff-form-loading_errors ff_form_instance_39_1_errors'><\/div><\/div>            <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n 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                           <\/script>\n                        <\/div>\n\n            \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bc0b46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"9bc0b46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mth-checker-note\">\n    <strong>Important:<\/strong> This checker provides general preliminary\n    information about US naturalization documents. It does not determine\n    complete eligibility for German citizenship and does not constitute\n    legal advice.\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef25c7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ef25c7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30cc5e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"30cc5e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-pathways\">\n  <div class=\"mth-pathways__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-pathways__header\">\n      <p class=\"mth-pathways__eyebrow\">Legal Pathways<\/p>\n      <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_American_Family_Stories_Three_Legal_Pathways\"><\/span>Three American Family Stories, Three Legal Pathways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n      <p class=\"mth-pathways__intro\">\n        Most Americans who reach out to us fit into one of three historical patterns.\n        The pathway that applies to you depends on <em>when<\/em> your family left Germany,\n        <em>why<\/em>, and <em>which<\/em> ancestor carried the German nationality forward.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <article class=\"mth-pathways__story\">\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__number\">01<\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__content\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_19th-Century_Emigrants_Descendant\"><\/span>The 19th-Century Emigrant's Descendant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n        <p>\n          Between 1820 and 1914, more than five million Germans crossed the Atlantic.\n          They came from Bavaria, Baden, W\u00fcrttemberg, Hessen, the Palatinate, Prussia,\n          Mecklenburg, and Silesia. Some were <em>Forty-Eighters<\/em> fleeing the failed\n          1848 revolutions; some were Palatines escaping crop failure; many were young men\n          avoiding conscription in the wars of German unification; others were farmers priced\n          out by the industrial revolution and drawn by the Homestead Act.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          If you descend from these emigrants, three questions decide whether the German\n          nationality traveled with them and reached you:\n        <\/p>\n\n        <ul>\n          <li>\n            <strong>When exactly did the ancestor leave, and did they naturalize as an American citizen?<\/strong>\n            Under the Prussian law of 1842 and the North German Confederation law of 1870\n            which became the <em>Reichs- und Staatsangeh\u00f6rigkeitsgesetz<\/em>, RuStAG, in 1913,\n            a German who stayed abroad continuously for <strong>ten years without registering with a German consulate<\/strong>\n            lost citizenship automatically. This is the notorious \u201cten-year rule\u201d (\u00a7 21 of the 1870 law).\n            Voluntary naturalization as a US citizen also broke the chain.\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li>\n            <strong>Was the chain of descent unbroken through legitimate births \u2014 or through the male line only, until 1975?<\/strong>\n            German nationality law before 1 January 1975 passed citizenship through the father in legitimate\n            births and through the mother only in births out of wedlock. A German great-grandmother who married\n            a non-German man and had children with him before 1975 did <em>not<\/em> pass German citizenship to those\n            children under the old law. This gap is repairable \u2014 see\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 StAG<\/a>\n            below.\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li>\n            <strong>Did any intermediate ancestor commit an act that severed nationality?<\/strong>\n            Serving in a foreign military without permission, accepting foreign citizenship voluntarily before\n            the 2024 reform, or, in older cases, marrying a foreign man before 1953 could all break the chain.\n          <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n\n        <p>\n          If the ancestral chain is intact, the current-day descendant is not \u201cbecoming\u201d German \u2014\n          they already are German by descent under \u00a7 4 StAG, or <em>ius sanguinis<\/em>.\n          What they need is a <em>Staatsangeh\u00f6rigkeitsausweis<\/em>, a certificate of citizenship, from the\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/application-to-the-bva-from-abroad\/\">BVA<\/a>.\n          Read our full guide:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-by-descent\/\">German citizenship by descent \u2014 complete pillar guide<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          If the chain broke, all is not necessarily lost. Two provisions can restore it:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 StAG declaration acquisition<\/a>\n          for gender-discrimination cases, or\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-nationality-after-14-days\/\">\u00a7 14 StAG discretionary naturalization from abroad<\/a>\n          for applicants with a demonstrable connection to Germany.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Related guide:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-nationality-by-descent-through-great-grandparents\/\">German citizenship by descent via great-grandparents<\/a>.\n          Evidence guide:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/why-archives-often-provide-the-crucial-evidence\/\">why archives often provide the crucial evidence<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n\n    <article class=\"mth-pathways__story\">\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__number\">02<\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__content\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_War_Brides_Grandchild\"><\/span>The War Bride's Grandchild<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n        <p>\n          Between 1945 and 1955 roughly 20,000 German women married American servicemen stationed\n          in occupied Germany. They followed their husbands to Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Long Beach,\n          and hundreds of smaller US posts, raising American children who often grew up knowing\n          very little about their Oma's hometown.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          For decades, the children of those marriages were told they had no claim to German citizenship.\n          German law before 1975 did not pass citizenship through the mother to children born in wedlock.\n          A child born in 1952 in Kansas to a US Army sergeant and a Munich-born mother inherited only\n          the father's US citizenship in the eyes of the German state.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          The Federal Constitutional Court eventually held this rule unconstitutional, and the legislature\n          responded with\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 of the Citizenship Act (StAG)<\/a>\n          \u2014 the <em>Erkl\u00e4rungserwerb<\/em>, or acquisition by declaration. In its current form, after the\n          2021 reform, \u00a7 5 StAG allows descendants who were denied citizenship purely because of\n          pre-1975 gender discrimination to <em>declare<\/em> their German nationality and receive it.\n          Their own children benefit derivatively.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"mth-pathways__notice\">\n          <p>\n            \u26a0 <strong>Critical deadline:<\/strong> The \u00a7 5 StAG declaration right expires on\n            <strong>19 August 2031<\/strong>. Applicants must submit before that date. This is not a filing\n            you should postpone.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <p>\n          The \u00a7 5 StAG pathway is the single most common route to German citizenship for third-\n          and fourth-generation Americans. It covers not only the war-bride constellation but also\n          earlier cases \u2014 a German great-grandmother in 1905 who married a Wisconsin farmer, for example,\n          and whose descent line was severed only because German law of the day did not recognize\n          maternal transmission.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Detailed explanation:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">Naturalisation \u00a7 5 StAG \u2014 Acquisition of German citizenship by declaration<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Related case type:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/registration-by-declaration-according-to-5-stag-why-german-law-can-be-a-stumbling-block-when-recognising-paternity-abroad\/\">Naturalisation by declaration under Section 5 StAG<\/a>.\n          Start here:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">free German citizenship eligibility check<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n\n    <article class=\"mth-pathways__story\">\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__number\">03<\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-pathways__content\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Refugees_Descendant_%E2%80%94_Article_1162_of_the_Basic_Law\"><\/span>The Refugee's Descendant \u2014 Article 116(2) of the Basic Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n        <p>\n          Between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi regime stripped German citizenship from Jews, political opponents,\n          Roma and Sinti, and other persecuted groups \u2014 sometimes by individual decree, sometimes by the\n          11th Ordinance to the Reich Citizenship Law of November 1941, which denationalized every Jew who\n          left the Reich. Many of these refugees reached the United States. They settled in New York,\n          Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami; they raised American children; they rebuilt lives that had been erased.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          <strong>Article 116, paragraph 2 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz)<\/strong> gives their descendants\n          a legal right to have that stolen citizenship restored \u2014 not as a favor, not as discretionary\n          naturalization, but as reparation. Since the 2021 amendment\n          (<em>Viertes Gesetz zur \u00c4nderung des Staatsangeh\u00f6rigkeitsgesetzes<\/em>), the scope is broader than ever:\n        <\/p>\n\n        <ul>\n          <li>\n            Direct descendants of persecuted Germans \u2014 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren \u2014 can apply.\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li>\n            Both bloodlines qualify, regardless of gender or whether the persecuted ancestor was the mother,\n            father, grandmother, or grandfather.\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li>\n            Applicants may keep their US citizenship. This is not a discretionary favor \u2014 it is a right rooted\n            in Germany's post-war constitutional order.\n          <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n\n        <p>\n          For applicants whose ancestor fled persecution before the formal denationalization, leaving the ancestor\n          technically still German on paper at the time of emigration, or in other constellations that fall just\n          outside Art. 116(2), the fallback is\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">\u00a7 15 StAG<\/a>\n          \u2014 a broader reparation clause added in 2021 to close the historical gaps. Together, Art. 116(2) GG\n          and \u00a7 15 StAG now cover almost every persecution scenario a German-Jewish, German-Sinti, or\n          German-political-refugee family in the United States might present.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Full details on both provisions:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">German citizenship for Jewish descendants and victims of the Holocaust<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Related filing guidance:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/application-to-the-bva-from-abroad\/\">BVA application from abroad \u2014 avoid common mistakes<\/a>.\n          Preliminary assessment:\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">check German citizenship from abroad<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dfdcd4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1dfdcd4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d95521 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1d95521\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-reform\">\n  <div class=\"mth-reform__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-reform__header\">\n      <p class=\"mth-reform__eyebrow\">The 2024 Reform<\/p>\n      <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Americans_Gain_Dual_Citizenship_Since_June_2024\"><\/span>What Americans Gain: Dual Citizenship Since June 2024<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n      <p>\n        The single most important change in German citizenship law for US applicants in the last generation is the \n        <strong>Act on the Modernization of Citizenship Law (StARModG)<\/strong>, which took effect on \n        <strong>27 June 2024<\/strong>.\n      <\/p>\n\n      <p>\n        Under the old regime, a US citizen who became German was in theory expected to renounce US citizenship, and vice versa. \n        Since 27 June 2024, the position is straightforward: <strong>Germany permits dual citizenship without restriction.<\/strong> \n        An American recognized as German under \u00a7 4 StAG, \u00a7 5 StAG, \u00a7 15 StAG, or Article 116(2) GG keeps their US passport. \n        No renunciation, no formality with the State Department, no oath. See our updated guide: \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/dual-citizenship-in-germany\/\">Dual citizenship in Germany \u2014 the 2024 reform explained<\/a>.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <h3 class=\"mth-reform__subheading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Concrete_Benefits_for_a_US-Based_German_Citizen\"><\/span>Concrete Benefits for a US-Based German Citizen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-reform__grid\">\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Live_work_and_retire_anywhere_in_the_European_Union\"><\/span>Live, work, and retire anywhere in the European Union.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          German citizenship is EU citizenship \u2014 unrestricted freedom of movement across 27 countries,\n          from Portugal to Ireland to Italy. No visa, no work permit, no time limit.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EU-wide_healthcare_and_social_security_coordination\"><\/span>EU-wide healthcare and social security coordination.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          A German passport unlocks statutory access to European health systems and simplifies long-term\n          residence planning within the EU.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Education_at_European_universities_on_the_same_terms_as_domestic_students\"><\/span>Education at European universities on the same terms as domestic students.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          German public universities charge no tuition; French, Dutch, and Scandinavian institutions\n          often offer EU citizens significantly better fee structures.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pass_German_citizenship_to_your_children_automatically\"><\/span>Pass German citizenship to your children automatically.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          Once you are recognized as German, your minor children generally acquire the citizenship\n          by descent through you.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visa-free_travel_to_over_190_countries\"><\/span>Visa-free travel to over 190 countries.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          A German passport is consistently ranked among the strongest in the world and provides broad\n          travel freedom for business, family, and leisure.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Business_and_investment_freedom_across_the_EU_single_market\"><\/span>Business and investment freedom across the EU single market.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          Form a company, open a bank account, buy property, and invest in any EU state\n          without the same third-country administrative barriers.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_reunification_rights_for_non-EU_spouses\"><\/span>Family reunification rights for non-EU spouses.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          German citizenship substantially simplifies bringing a non-EU spouse or close family\n          member into the EU framework.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-reform__card\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"All_of_this_without_giving_up_your_American_citizenship\"><\/span>All of this without giving up your American citizenship.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p>\n          That is the practical effect of the 2024 reform for Americans pursuing \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-by-descent\/\">German citizenship by descent<\/a>,\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 StAG declaration<\/a>,\n          or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">Article 116(2) \/ \u00a7 15 StAG restoration<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-reform__footer\">\n      <p>\n        None of these benefits require you to give up your American life. That is the point of the 2024 reform.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2376cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a2376cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-153189b elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"153189b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-process\">\n  <div class=\"mth-process__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-process__header\">\n      <p class=\"mth-process__eyebrow\">The Process<\/p>\n      <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Apply_From_the_United_States\"><\/span>How to Apply From the United States<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n      <p class=\"mth-process__intro\">\n        Every US applicant we advise goes through variations of the same sequence.\n        Understanding it in advance saves months.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-process__timeline\">\n\n      <article class=\"mth-process__step\">\n        <div class=\"mth-process__number\">1<\/div>\n        <div class=\"mth-process__content\">\n          <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_History_and_Eligibility_Assessment\"><\/span>Family History and Eligibility Assessment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n          <p>\n            Before spending a dollar on document orders, an experienced attorney will map the chain of descent\n            generation by generation and identify which legal pathway \n            (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-by-descent\/\">\u00a7 4 confirmation<\/a>, \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 declaration<\/a>, \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">\u00a7 15 reparation<\/a>, or \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">Art. 116(2) GG restoration<\/a>) \n            actually fits your family. This is where the case is won or lost. Around 40% of first inquiries\n            we receive turn out to be viable under a different pathway than the client first assumed.\n            Start with our \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">free preliminary eligibility test<\/a> \n            to structure your own thinking before the consultation.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\n      <article class=\"mth-process__step\">\n        <div class=\"mth-process__number\">2<\/div>\n        <div class=\"mth-process__content\">\n          <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Document_Collection\"><\/span>Document Collection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n          <p>\n            German authorities are precise. A complete application typically requires:\n          <\/p>\n\n          <ul>\n            <li>\n              <strong>The ancestor's German birth certificate<\/strong> (<em>Geburtsurkunde<\/em>), obtainable from the German civil registry\n              (<em>Standesamt<\/em>) of the town of birth. If the town was in territory now belonging to Poland,\n              the Czech Republic, or Russia, the records are often held in state archives in Berlin, Bayreuth,\n              or the relevant successor country. See also:\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/why-archives-often-provide-the-crucial-evidence\/\">why archives often provide the crucial evidence<\/a>.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Marriage certificates for every generation in the chain<\/strong>, from the German ancestor down to you.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Birth certificates for every intermediate generation<\/strong>, including yours, all bearing an apostille\n              under the Hague Convention.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Naturalization records or Certificate of Non-Existence<\/strong> from USCIS, Form G-1041, showing whether\n              and when the ancestor became a US citizen.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Ship manifests and census records<\/strong>, accessible via NARA, Ancestry, and FamilySearch,\n              establishing continuous US residence beginning at a specific date.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>For Art. 116(2) GG cases:<\/strong> evidence of persecution \u2014 deportation records from Yad Vashem,\n              ITS Arolsen, or town archives; family narratives; earlier restitution files.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Certified translations into German<\/strong> of every English-language document, prepared by a court-sworn\n              translator (<em>vereidigter \u00dcbersetzer<\/em>).\n            <\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\n      <article class=\"mth-process__step\">\n        <div class=\"mth-process__number\">3<\/div>\n        <div class=\"mth-process__content\">\n          <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Filing_With_the_BVA_in_Cologne\"><\/span>Filing With the BVA in Cologne<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n          <p>\n            Most applications from abroad are filed with the \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/application-to-the-bva-from-abroad\/\"><strong>Bundesverwaltungsamt<\/strong> \n            (Federal Office of Administration) in Cologne<\/a>. An application can also be routed through the\n            German consulate nearest to the applicant's US residence \u2014 New York, Chicago, San Francisco,\n            Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and Washington D.C. all accept intake \u2014 but the\n            substantive decision is always made in Cologne.\n          <\/p>\n\n          <p>\n            Filing directly with the BVA, with a Cologne-based attorney representing you locally,\n            typically shortens the process. Our office is a short tram ride from the BVA on Barbarastra\u00dfe,\n            and we submit files directly rather than through the consular chain.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\n      <article class=\"mth-process__step\">\n        <div class=\"mth-process__number\">4<\/div>\n        <div class=\"mth-process__content\">\n          <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Processing_Time_and_Follow-Up\"><\/span>Processing Time and Follow-Up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n          <p>\n            Realistic timelines in 2026:\n          <\/p>\n\n          <ul>\n            <li>\n              <strong>\u00a7 4 StAG confirmation<\/strong> (<em>Staatsangeh\u00f6rigkeitsausweis<\/em>): typically 12 to 30 months.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>\u00a7 5 StAG declaration:<\/strong> typically 18 to 36 months.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>Article 116(2) GG restoration:<\/strong> typically 24 to 42 months. Longer for complex archival cases.\n            <\/li>\n\n            <li>\n              <strong>\u00a7 15 StAG reparation:<\/strong> similar to Art. 116(2).\n            <\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n\n          <p>\n            During processing the BVA will often request additional documents or clarifications.\n            Prompt, precise responses in German shorten the timeline considerably; unanswered or vague\n            responses can add years. This is one of the concrete arguments for local legal representation.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\n      <article class=\"mth-process__step\">\n        <div class=\"mth-process__number\">5<\/div>\n        <div class=\"mth-process__content\">\n          <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Certificate_and_German_Passport\"><\/span>Certificate and German Passport<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n          <p>\n            Once the BVA issues your <em>Staatsangeh\u00f6rigkeitsausweis<\/em>, you may apply for a German passport\n            at any German consulate in the United States. The passport is typically issued within four to eight\n            weeks of the application.\n          <\/p>\n\n          <div class=\"mth-process__note\">\n            <p>\n              Not sure which route fits your family history? Start with the \n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">German citizenship eligibility check from abroad<\/a>.\n            <\/p>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc5423f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fc5423f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7257ae5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"7257ae5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-local-counsel\">\n  <div class=\"mth-local-counsel__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-local-counsel__header\">\n      <p class=\"mth-local-counsel__eyebrow\">Local Counsel<\/p>\n      <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_a_Cologne-Based_Rechtsanwalt_Matters\"><\/span>Why a Cologne-Based Rechtsanwalt Matters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n      <p class=\"mth-local-counsel__intro\">\n        The BVA sits in Cologne. Every application from abroad routes through its <em>Referat<\/em>\n        for citizenship matters. A physical office ten minutes away means we file in person,\n        respond to inquiries in real time, and clarify document questions before they escalate\n        into rejections.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-local-counsel__card\">\n\n      <div class=\"mth-local-counsel__photo\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/download-min-1.png\" \n          alt=\"Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben, Cologne attorney for German citizenship matters\">\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-local-counsel__content\">\n        <h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rechtsanwalt_Helmer_Tieben\"><\/span>Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n        <p class=\"mth-local-counsel__role\">MTH Partner Rechtsanw\u00e4lte, K\u00f6ln<\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          Admitted to the Cologne Bar Association since 2005, Helmer Tieben has represented\n          clients from every US state on citizenship-by-descent matters. His practice spans\n          all four pathways: \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-by-descent\/\">\u00a7 4 confirmation<\/a>, \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 declaration<\/a>, \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">\u00a7 15 reparation<\/a>, and \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">Article 116(2) GG restoration<\/a>.\n          He works directly in English with US clients \u2014 no communication delays, no consulate intermediary.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <p>\n          See also: \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/application-to-the-bva-from-abroad\/\">Application to the BVA from abroad<\/a>, \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/why-archives-often-provide-the-crucial-evidence\/\">why archives often provide the crucial evidence<\/a>, and \n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">the preliminary German citizenship eligibility test<\/a>.\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c0ee5f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1c0ee5f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45536a elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e45536a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-faq\">\n  <div class=\"mth-faq__inner\">\n\n    <div class=\"mth-faq__header\">\n      <p class=\"mth-faq__eyebrow\">FAQ<\/p>\n      <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-faq__accordion\">\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item is-open\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          Do I have to give up my US citizenship to become German?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            No. Since the German citizenship modernization act of 27 June 2024, StARModG,\n            Germany permits dual citizenship without restriction. You keep your US passport,\n            and Germany raises no objection. The United States has permitted dual citizenship\n            for decades. There is no incompatibility.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          My great-grandmother was German, but she married a US citizen in 1898. Am I out of luck?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            Not necessarily. Under the German law of the time, a German woman who married a\n            foreign man before 1953 lost her citizenship automatically \u2014 and her children did\n            not inherit it. This exact scenario is what\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/naturalisation-5-day-acquisition-of-german-citizenship-by-declaration\/\">\u00a7 5 StAG declaration acquisition<\/a>\n            was designed to repair. If the gender-discrimination rules of pre-1975 German law\n            are the only reason the chain broke, you can declare German citizenship yourself\n            and receive it. The deadline is 19 August 2031.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          My grandparents fled Germany in 1938 because they were Jewish. Can I apply?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            Yes, and this is the clearest case in German citizenship law. Article 116(2) of\n            the Basic Law gives you a constitutional right to have that citizenship restored.\n            You do not need to move to Germany. You do not need to speak German. Your children\n            can be included in your application.\n          <\/p>\n          <p>\n            Full details:\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-jewish-descendants-and-victims-of-the-holocaust\/\">German citizenship for Jewish descendants and victims of the Holocaust<\/a>.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          My family emigrated in 1885 and I can prove the whole line. Am I already German?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            Possibly, but the \u201cten-year rule\u201d of the 1870 law is the trap. If your ancestor\n            spent ten consecutive years outside German territory without registering with a\n            German consulate \u2014 the norm for 19th-century emigrants who never intended to return \u2014\n            German citizenship expired automatically. In most such cases, the chain has to be\n            reconstructed under \u00a7 5 or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-nationality-after-14-days\/\">\u00a7 14 StAG<\/a> rather than confirmed under \u00a7 4. A precise\n            legal audit of the case is essential before ordering documents.\n          <\/p>\n          <p>\n            Related guide:\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-by-descent\/\">German citizenship by descent<\/a>.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          Do I need to speak German to apply?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            For citizenship by descent, confirmation under \u00a7 5 StAG, \u00a7 15 StAG, and Article\n            116(2) GG \u2014 <strong>no<\/strong>. No language test is required. No residence in Germany\n            is required. You will need certified German translations of your US documents, but\n            the process itself is administrative and can be run entirely through your attorney.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          How long does the process take?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            Between 12 and 42 months, depending on the pathway and how complete the initial file is.\n            \u00a7 4 confirmation cases are fastest; Article 116(2) GG cases with heavy archival research\n            are slowest. Delays are almost always driven by missing documents rather than by BVA\n            processing itself.\n          <\/p>\n          <p>\n            Filing guidance:\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/application-to-the-bva-from-abroad\/\">Application to the BVA from abroad<\/a>.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          Can my children get German citizenship through me?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            In most cases yes. Once you are formally recognized as German, minor children generally\n            acquire German citizenship by descent through you under \u00a7 4 StAG. Adult children need\n            to apply on their own \u2014 using the same pathway you used, if it still applies to them,\n            or \u00a7 5 StAG for gender-discrimination cases.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          What does the process cost?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            BVA administrative fees are modest \u2014 typically \u20ac51 to \u20ac255 for the citizenship certificate\n            itself. The real costs are document procurement, US vital records, apostilles, archival\n            research in Germany and Eastern Europe, certified translations, and legal fees. We provide\n            a fixed-fee quote after the initial assessment so there are no surprises.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          I only know that \u201cmy grandmother came from somewhere near Berlin.\u201d Is that enough?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            Not yet. You will need her exact town of birth to locate the German birth certificate.\n            Family papers, US census records, which asked for country of birth after 1900, and ship\n            manifests from Ellis Island, Castle Garden, Baltimore, or New Orleans are the usual starting\n            points. We routinely help clients reconstruct the missing pieces.\n          <\/p>\n          <p>\n            Evidence guide:\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/why-archives-often-provide-the-crucial-evidence\/\">Why archives often provide the crucial evidence<\/a>.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"mth-faq__item\">\n        <button class=\"mth-faq__question\" type=\"button\">\n          Where do I start?\n        <\/button>\n        <div class=\"mth-faq__answer\">\n          <p>\n            With the\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\">free preliminary eligibility test<\/a>.\n            It walks you through the key questions \u2014 dates, generations, marriages, naturalizations \u2014\n            and tells you which pathway is most likely to apply. From there, book a consultation and\n            we take it forward.\n          <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function () {\n  const faqItems = document.querySelectorAll(\".mth-faq__item\");\n\n  faqItems.forEach(function (item) {\n    const button = item.querySelector(\".mth-faq__question\");\n\n    button.addEventListener(\"click\", function () {\n      const isOpen = item.classList.contains(\"is-open\");\n\n      faqItems.forEach(function (otherItem) {\n        otherItem.classList.remove(\"is-open\");\n      });\n\n      if (!isOpen) {\n        item.classList.add(\"is-open\");\n      }\n    });\n  });\n});\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32790bd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32790bd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7ddbd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e7ddbd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"mth-final-cta\">\n  <div class=\"mth-final-cta__inner\">\n\n    <h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ready_to_Check_Your_Eligibility\"><\/span>Ready to Check Your Eligibility?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n    <p class=\"mth-final-cta__subtext\">\n      Two ways to begin.\n    <\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"mth-final-cta__buttons\">\n\n      <a \n        href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/check-german-citizenship-from-abroad\/\"\n        class=\"mth-final-cta__btn mth-final-cta__btn--primary\">\n        1. Take the free preliminary eligibility test \u2192\n      <\/a>\n\n   <a href=\"#\" class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm openBookingModalBtn\">\n  <span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Book a Consultation<\/span>\n  <\/span>\n<\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59b6178 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"59b6178\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Custom Booking Modal -->\n<div id=\"customBookingModal\" style=\"display: none; position: fixed; z-index: 99999; left: 0; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; overflow: auto; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.6); backdrop-filter: blur(3px);\">\n  <div style=\"background-color: #ffffff; margin: 5vh auto; padding: 20px; width: 90%; max-width: 650px; position: relative; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);\">\n    \n    <!-- Close Button -->\n    <span id=\"closeBookingModal\" style=\"color: #333; position: absolute; right: 20px; top: 15px; font-size: 28px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1;\">&times;<\/span>\n    \n    <!-- FluentBooking Iframe -->\n    <iframe id=\"fluentbooking\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"500px\" width=\"100%\" style=\"min-width:320px; height:500px; border:none; margin-top: 20px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/?fluent-booking=calendar&host=helmer&event=30min&embedded=1\"><\/iframe>\n    \n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Modal Logic -->\n<script>\n  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n    var modal = document.getElementById(\"customBookingModal\");\n    var closeBtn = document.getElementById(\"closeBookingModal\");\n    \n    \/\/ Find all buttons that should open the modal\n    var openBtns = document.querySelectorAll(\".openBookingModalBtn\");\n\n    \/\/ Attach click event to all trigger buttons\n    openBtns.forEach(function(btn) {\n      btn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {\n        e.preventDefault();\n        modal.style.display = \"block\";\n      });\n    });\n\n    \/\/ Close modal when clicking the X\n    if (closeBtn) {\n      closeBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {\n        modal.style.display = \"none\";\n      });\n    }\n\n    \/\/ Close modal when clicking outside the white box\n    window.addEventListener('click', function(event) {\n      if (event.target == modal) {\n        modal.style.display = \"none\";\n      }\n    });\n  });\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b26f84e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6b26f84e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d33fdb9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7d33fdb9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f4bf908 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7f4bf908\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bb5ff90 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1bb5ff90\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-244d12b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"244d12b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"254\" height=\"52\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-9861\" alt=\"logo\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57ff435d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57ff435d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben verf\u00fcgt seit dem Jahr 2005 \u00fcber eine Zulassung als Rechtsanwalt. Seine Arbeitsschwerpunkte liegen im Mietrecht, Arbeitsrecht und Ausl\u00e4nderrecht.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-202f29f8 e-grid-align-left e-grid-align-mobile-center elementor-shape-rounded elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"202f29f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-facebook-f elementor-repeater-item-320e991\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100054481000178\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Facebook-f<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook-f\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-twitter elementor-repeater-item-1491259\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mth_Tieben\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-twitter\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-linkedin elementor-repeater-item-5cb7115\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/helmer-tieben-09570226\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span 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class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Mietrecht<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/leistungen-rechtsanwalt-koeln\/auslaenderrecht\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ausl\u00e4nderrecht<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/leistungen-rechtsanwalt-koeln\/arbeitsrecht\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Arbeitsrecht<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b9cc318 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b9cc318\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58971497 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"58971497\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kontaktinformationen\"><\/span>Kontaktinformationen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1264471a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1264471a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/drCgGDRi3H3cgms86\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Attorney Tieben, Sachsenring 34, 50677 Cologne<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ee59241 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ee59241\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Telefon: <a href=\"tel:022180187670\">0221 \u2013 80187670<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46137974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46137974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fax: <a href=\"tel:02212717110\">0221 \u2013 2717110<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-441c533b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"441c533b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"mailto:info@mth-partner.de\">info@mth-partner.de<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a6f0327 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a6f0327\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><pre class=\"ti-widget\" style=\"display: none\"><template id=\"trustindex-google-widget-html\"><div class=\" ti-widget  ti-goog ti-review-text-mode-readmore ti-text-align-left\" data-no-translation=\"true\" data-time-locale=\"vor %d %s|Heute|Tag|Tagen|Woche|Wochen|Monat|Monaten|Jahr|Jahren\" data-plugin-version=\"13.3.1\" data-layout-id=\"115\" 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data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.trustindex.io\/loader.js?wp-widget\" data-template-id=\"trustindex-google-widget-html\" data-css-url=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/trustindex-google-widget.css?1782733583\"><\/div><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65b4b6ff e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"65b4b6ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5450f979 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5450f979\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-468dbbac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"468dbbac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a9 2025 Attorney Tieben, Cologne. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/kontakt\/impressum\/\">Legal Notice<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/kontakt\/datenschutz\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home Profil Rechtsanwalt Helmer Tieben Wir suchen Sie Leistungen Arbeitsrecht Mietrecht Ausl\u00e4nderrecht Internetrecht Unternehmensgr\u00fcndung in Deutschland Blog Kontakt Kontakt Termin buchen Impressum Anfahrt Downloads Kooperationen X German Citizenship by Descent for Americans You may already be a German citizen without knowing it. If your great-grandparents left the Rhineland for Pennsylvania in the 1880s, if your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14172","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>German Citizenship by Descent for Americans | MTH<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"German citizenship by descent for Americans: eligibility under \u00a7 4 StAG, \u00a7 5 StAG, \u00a7 15 StAG and Article 116(2) GG, with BVA filing guidance from Cologne.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/german-citizenship-for-americans\/\" \/>\n<meta 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