We just adopted a Vietnamese girl and she is living with us there. The same process mentioned above can be used for children adopted overseas by American citizens. While adoption by a U.S. citizen parent does not automatically confer citizenship, it does qualify a child for expeditious naturalization. Q. My son has both French and American citizenship. At no age.
American citizenship is for life.
The laws covering the retention of citizenship have been greatly liberalized - thanks in large part to the lobbying of American community groups based rights here in Paris. No child has to do anything at any age to retain, choose, affirm, or confirm American citizenship. In the 1980's, the Supreme Court ruled that citizenship is a Constitutional right, which cannot be taken away from a citizen who does not intend to relinquish it. Therefore, such actions as naturalization in a foreign election, do not automatically jeopardize American citizenship. Q. I lost my citizenship long ago because I got a job with the French government.