305.01 Definition of U.S. Citizen (FSM)

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U.S. citizens are:

• individuals born in one of the several states of the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, or Virgin Islands;

• individuals born in an outlying possession of the U.S. (American Samoa or Swain’s Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession (US non-citizen national);

• foreign-born children, under age 18, residing in the U.S. with their birth or adoptive parents, at least one of whom is a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization; and

• individuals granted citizenship status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (naturalized U.S. citizens).

To receive benefits, an individual must be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible qualified alien (see Section 305.09, Determining Qualified Alien Status).

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References: 7 CFR 273.4(a)(1), 18 USC 1015(e), 62 Federal Register (FR) 61345+ (Nov 17, 1997)