The Citizenship for International Adoptees Act of 2026 automatically grants U.S. citizenship to foreign-born individuals who were adopted by American citizens before age 18, lawfully admitted to the United States for adoption purposes, and physically present in the country as of the bill's enactment date. The law applies 120 days after enactment to those who meet all eligibility requirements and can prove their adoption was finalized in the United States through a certificate of citizenship application. The bill excludes individuals with serious criminal convictions, gang affiliations, or certain immigration violations, and establishes a higher burden of proof for the government to deny citizenship to those claiming reasonable belief in already being U.S. citizens. Application fees are capped at half the cost of a standard citizenship application. This legislation primarily benefits international adoptees who may have fallen through gaps in previous citizenship laws but lack documented proof of automatic citizenship.
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