Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Tony, from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, with emphasis placed in bold by me for the point in discussion: "Whether someone born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents is a U.S. citizen depends on the law in effect when the person was born.

"These laws have changed over the years, but usually require a combination of at least one parent being a U.S. citizen when the child was born and having lived in the U.S. or its possessions for a period of time. Additionally, children born outside the United States may become citizens after birth based on their parent’s citizenship or naturalization..."

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...00b92ca60aRCRD