Had a Baby in Israel with a US Parent? The Full Package: CRBA, Passport and SSN

Congratulations — you've had a baby, and one parent ⁦(or both)⁩ is a US citizen. The odds are very good that your baby is a US citizen from the very first moment. But "citizen from birth" doesn't mean "automatically registered": someone has to register the child with the US authorities, and it's worth doing it right and on time. Here's the full package, step by step.

The three documents every such baby needs

• CRBA ⁦(Consular Report of Birth Abroad)⁩ — the official US birth record, the proof of citizenship from birth
• A first US passport — so the baby can fly and enter the US as a citizen
• An SSN — a Social Security Number, which stays for life and opens the door to tax refunds

All three are usually filed together, in a single embassy appointment — saving you time, trips, and slots that are scarce to begin with.

The condition behind it all: transmitting citizenship

For the baby to be a citizen, the US-citizen parent has to meet a "physical presence" requirement in the US before the birth — usually five years, two of them after age 14. Parents who grew up mostly in Israel don't always clear that bar, in which case another route may be needed ⁦(through a grandparent, for example — N-600K)⁩. So it pays to check eligibility before you book the appointment, rather than discovering a surprise at the window.

The time window you can't afford to miss: Child Tax Credit

Timing here has a direct dollar impact. A US family is eligible for a tax refund of up to $1,700 per child per year — but only if the child has a valid SSN by that year's tax-filing deadline. Parents who drag their feet on the SSN can miss a whole year's refund. The earlier you start, the simpler the process — and the less money you leave on the table.

Why now is the moment

Visa and citizenship service at the embassy in Israel is limited and changes often, and appointments for the newborn package aren't always available right away. And as the baby grows, some steps ⁦(the passport, for one)⁩ require both parents to appear in person. Start early, and you simply keep more doors open.

How we help

We prepare the whole package — the forms, the parent's proof of presence, the required documents — and arrange the embassy appointment so everything gets done in one visit. You arrive prepared, not guessing. A free initial eligibility check, and payment only after an appointment is set.