What retention requirement must a child born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent and an alien meet if the parent worked for the government abroad?

• A. Two years continuous physical presence in the U.S. between ages 14 and 28
• B. Five years continuous residence in the U.S. between ages 14 and 28
• C. Exempt from the retention requirement
• D. Five years residence in the U.S. or outlying possession between ages 13 and 21

Answer: (C)

A child born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent and an alien is exempt from the retention requirement if the U.S. citizen parent was employed by the U.S. government abroad. This exemption acknowledges the unique circumstances of children born to U.S. citizens serving in government positions in foreign countries.

The rationale for this exemption is that the child may not have had the opportunity to establish residency in the United States due to the parent's government service, thus recognizing the challenges faced by families in similar situations. Such provisions aim to prevent inadvertent loss of U.S. citizenship for children who were born abroad in these specific contexts.

This is distinct from other options, which outline various residency requirements for children born abroad under different circumstances, emphasizing that the retention of citizenship is not generally required in cases involving government employment.