My mother was born in France, in 1960, to US parents, in the military there. I was wondering:

a) is she eligible for french citizenship, even now, or a French passport of some sort?

b) if so, or because she was born in france, would it make me eligible for french (and in turn EU) citizenship?

Thanks!

--Ben

Thanks again, Ben

Answering your question is quite complicated as is your situation, but here goes:

My mother was born in France as well (La Rochelle, 1957) while my grandparents were here because of the US military. She was then taken back to the US when she was three years old, but the uniqueness of my situation is that she was NATURALIZED in the US. That last part is completely unexplainable by my mother and by the US CIS, as it was done when she was 16 years old before she could obtain a Social Security number.

According to the law in France, just being born in France does NOT confer automatic citzenship as in the US or Canada. You had to be born to French parents and on French soil. I would ask your mother if she was naturalized in the US around the age of 16 years old, then I would ask when. If she was naturalized in the US before January 1973 then she would NOT retain rights to French citizenship, however if it was done after that date then she has right to claim it.

Your mother would have to go to the French Consulate that serves your home state of residence with ALL of your mother's documents in relation to her naturalization (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, all documents from the INS). The more documents you have the better chance of your mother getting her Certificat de nationalitè.

There is a much more complex process if your mother was ever married. In France, all of the information of birth and marriage are contained in the same file and printed as such. If the marriage was not recordedin France, then according to French law, she is living under two names...it's quite complex.

If you are successful in getting the coveted Certificate of Nationality, then you would have to send a copy of that along with your birth certificate to the French Consulate to record your birth. The consulate must serve the area that you were born. Once done, voila! Vous êtes français!

I hope that this helps you as it was an intricate circumstance for me...the US naturalization was the key. BTW, if you have questions, you can call the Consulate of France in New York. The people there are quite cordial.

Charles in Lyon

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