The information and steps below have been provided by a client of ours who recently went through this process in 2024. He is a Dual US-Canadian citizen and his spouse only holds Canadian citizenship. The steps and process below are subject to ongoing changes. We hope this is a useful guide to those who want to get a US social security number for their eligible children.
STEP 1 – US CONSULATE APPOINTMENT TO OBTAIN CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (CRBA)
A. Preparing for the appointment
1. You have to complete and e-File your application at: https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/toronto/
2. You must provide proof of at least one parent’s American citizenship. For my client this meant providing his US passport, his CRBA, and his academic and tax records proving he resided in the US for at least 5 years, 2 of which were over the age of 14 (this requirement varies and depends on your age and your date of birth). He was also required to report all of his travel outside of the US. This can be quite time consuming to prepare, especially if you have lived in Canada most of your life.
3. Additional documentation that was required included (a) Canadian Parent’s ID (b) Marriage Certificate (proof of relationship) and (c) Child’s Birth Certificate
B. Booking the appointment
Once you’ve completed the E-Filing, you can book an appointment at the consulate. The US Consulate only offers CRBA appointments on certain days, and they book up months in advance. My client found it helpful to email: [email protected], as they advised them as to when appointment blocks were opening up.
When you book the appointment, you have the ability to request a passport application at the same time. This is a separate process where a separate application needs to be completed and additional processing fees need to be paid. You also need to attend the appointment with a self-addressed Canada Post XpressPost envelope. Be sure to have everything you need!
C. The appointment process
Prior to your appointment at the consulate, review the security protocols in place. Visa applications are accessed through the Simcoe St. entrance, and CRBA appointments are accessed through the main entrance on University Ave. Make sure you enter the correct entrance. Be prepared to go through airport-style security. No electronic communication/smart devices are allowed on the premises. Leave them at home or in your car. Both parents must attend the appointment, or the Canadian parent has to sign a waiver.
Once in the CRBA office, an administrator will review the ORIGINAL versions of all of your supporting documents. Make sure you have all you need. You will then be interviewed by a consulate official about your application. If successful, you will swear under oath that all of the facts you presented are true. Your child will then be granted US citizenship from birth, and their CRBA and passport will be mailed to you in 2-4 weeks.
STEP 2 – SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE APPOINTMENT
Once you have the child’s US passport and/or CRBA, you can attend the nearest Social Security Administration office and complete the 2nd and final step. The nearest SSA office to Toronto, is in Niagara Falls located at 6540 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY. There is another SSA office in Buffalo, but the Niagara Falls location is closer its in a less busy city.
A. How to prepare for the the appointment
You need to bring (1) Your completed/signed application (2) The child’s proof of US citizenship – CRBA or passport – passport is preferred (3) The child’s foreign Birth Certificate and (4) the US parent’s proof of citizenship – passport is preferred.
B. The appointment process
It’s advisable to go as early as possible in the day, as late as possible in the month, to avoid lengthy waits. You do not need to book an appointment and walk-in service is available. My client lined up outside the office 15-minutes prior to opening, and they were in and out in under an hour. Unlike the CRBA and passport processing, this service is free. If successful, your child’s Social Security Card will be mailed to you within 2 to 4 weeks of the appointment. have
How Can US Taxes Toronto Help?
We can assist with the preparation of your US and Canadian Tax Filings. Our Cross Border Tax Accountants provides hands on ongoing support throughout this process, so that preparing and completing your tax filing is convenient and easy. If you would like to get more information on how we can help please reach out to us via our contact page.