Final answer:
Children born abroad to a U.S. citizen are usually automatic U.S. citizens, but there are requirements for those who are not. The process of becoming a U.S. citizen may involve naturalization and meeting specific criteria. Citizenship can provide benefits and priority when petitioning for family members.
Step-by-step explanation:
Obtaining citizenship for children born abroad to a U.S. citizen is usually automatic. However, if the child is not born in the United States or is not granted automatic citizenship through their parents, there are certain requirements they need to meet to become a U.S. citizen. These requirements include being at least 18 years old, being a lawful permanent resident, having resided in the U.S. for at least five years, and being a person of good moral character.
For individuals who are not born in the U.S. or have not obtained citizenship through their parents, the process of becoming a citizen may involve naturalization, which requires meeting certain criteria, such as being a lawful permanent resident, having good moral character, and demonstrating knowledge of the English language and U.S. government.
To petition for family members to come to the U.S. permanently, citizenship can provide certain benefits and priority. However, it's important to note that U.S. citizenship is not automatically granted to children born abroad to non-U.S. citizen parents.