CRBA evidence guide
How can I organize physical-presence evidence for a CRBA?
Start with a dated chronology of the U.S. citizen parent’s physical presence before the child’s birth. Then map records to those dates. State Department instructions list school, employment, tax, bank, medical, utility, rental, affidavit, and other official public records as possible evidence. No category is automatically sufficient. The useful preparation task is finding gaps, conflicts, and periods supported only by approximate dates before the consular appointment.
Build the chronology first
List presence periods before sorting documents. Merge duplicate dates and separate foreign absences so the evidence index follows one stable chronology.
Map records without scoring them
Record which period each item covers and what official category it belongs to. Do not assign a legal strength score or predict acceptance.
Take unresolved gaps seriously
A gap is a preparation prompt, not a negative legal conclusion. Check the serving embassy or consulate’s current instructions and ask what additional documentation may be needed.
Keep the index readable
Use one short label for each record and note the dates it appears to cover. Keep filenames and private notes on your device.
Separate conflicts from missing records
A document with a conflicting date needs review even when the period has other coverage. Record the conflict instead of silently choosing one date.
Take originals to the official process
The Preparation Pack is an index and chronology. It does not replace original records, certified copies, translations, or the serving post’s document instructions.
Practical example
One school period, one employment period, and a gap
A parent records four school years and two later employment years. The periods overlap for three months, so the chronology counts that interval once. A six-month gap remains between them. The evidence index shows which categories cover each period and flags the gap for further record searches without judging whether the available evidence is sufficient.
Common questions
Questions this guide can answer
Does one evidence category prove a period?
No. The State Department lists possible records, but a consular officer reviews the complete facts and evidence for the case.
Should I upload original records?
No. US Expat Desk does not upload CRBA evidence documents. Keep originals, scans, sensitive identifiers, and certified copies outside the service.
What should I do with conflicting dates?
Keep both dates visible in your preparation notes, identify the source of each date, and resolve the conflict before relying on one chronology.
Limits and official review
This page does not decide citizenship, CRBA eligibility, the governing legal rule, or evidence sufficiency. Check the current official form and serving post instructions. Potentially qualifying overseas service stays outside the automatic total for official review.
Official sources
Sources retrieved and substantively reviewed .
Methodology and review
How this page is maintained
US Expat Desk applies a versioned deterministic calculation to the facts entered. The official-source record, review date, page metadata, structured data, related links and sitemap entry come from the same CRBA registry.