Citizenship through a grandparent – even when the parent didn’t live in the US long enough.
The parent is a US citizen but didn’t live in the US long enough to pass citizenship on at birth? If a grandparent did, the children can still become citizens. And many families in Israel can do it without paying the US filing fee.
Quick eligibility check
Five questions to see which route fits you. The final answer comes only after reviewing documents.
Answer the questions to see the result.
Full review on WhatsAppWho qualifies
A child born abroad to an American parent is a citizen at birth only if the parent lived in the US long enough before – 5 years in total, 2 of them after age 14. If the parent meets that, the route is a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, which is simpler and cheaper.
If not, the law allows using the years a grandparent lived in the US (Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act). You apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Form N-600K, and the child receives citizenship at an oath ceremony in the US.
- The child is under 18 – and the whole process, including the oath, must be completed before 18.
- At least one parent is a US citizen, and the child lives with them.
- The grandparent on the citizen parent’s side lived in the US for 5 years, 2 of them after age 14. In most cases their years can be used even if they are no longer alive – you just need the documents.
- Travel to the US for the interview and oath, with lawful entry for the child (ESTA or visa).
The fee waiver – the big saving
The USCIS filing fee is about $1,385 per child. For a family with four children that’s over $5,500. But you can request a waiver (Form I-912), and many families in Israel meet the income test – because the threshold is set by the US cost of living.
The most common route: household income up to 150% of the US federal poverty guidelines. For example, under the 2026 guidelines: a family of 4 – up to about $49,500 a year; a family of 6 – up to about $66,500. Other routes: receiving a US means-tested benefit, or exceptional financial hardship.
Estimate only, at about ₪3.1 per dollar. Income is usually documented with US tax returns – one more reason to keep your filings in order. USCIS decides waiver requests at its discretion, and there is no appeal.
How it works
Eligibility check
We map the years the parent and grandparent spent in the US, and whether you qualify for the fee waiver.
Gather proof
The heart of the file: documents proving the grandparent lived in the US – school records, payslips, tax returns, Social Security records. We know where to look.
Prepare and file
Form N-600K, the waiver request if relevant, translations and every attachment. Then you wait for the interview notice.
Interview, oath and passport
Preparation for the interview in the US, and once the child has the certificate – a passport and Social Security number.
Pricing
A fixed price per file, including support through the interview. Travel to the US is on you.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Grandparent route+ ₪700 per additional child, + USCIS fee | ₪2,900 |
| Grandparent route with fee waiverIncludes the waiver request · + ₪700 per additional child | ₪3,500 |
Prices are final. Government fees are paid separately at the official rate. Full price list
Frequently asked questions
How long does the process take?
Usually many months – it depends on the workload at the USCIS office where the interview is scheduled. So it’s important to start well before the child turns 18.
The grandparent is no longer alive. Is it still possible?
In most cases, yes. What matters is proving they lived in the US long enough – with documents, not with their presence.
How do we prove a grandparent lived in the US 50 years ago?
There are many ways: school and high-school records, employment and Social Security records, old tax returns, military service records and more. This is where most files get stuck – and where we help most.
Do we have to fly to the US?
Yes. The interview and oath take place at a USCIS office in the US, and the child must attend with a parent. You can request an office in a city that suits you.
How is this different from a Consular Report of Birth Abroad?
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad fits when the parent personally lived in the US long enough – then the child is a citizen from birth, and the process is done in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. The grandparent route is for when the parent doesn’t meet that.
What about older siblings?
Every child under 18 can be included, and each additional child in the same file is only ₪700. Anyone already 18 can no longer use this route.
Let’s look at your case – free
Bar answers you personally on WhatsApp: what can be done, how long it takes and what it costs.