When did a child born abroad to married alien parents become a U.S. citizen if the father naturalized in 1933 and they were admitted in 1935?

• A. 1935
• B. 1938
• C. 1940
• D. 1943

Answer: (C)

The key to understanding this question lies in the citizenship laws that were in effect during the time in question. A child born abroad to alien parents can acquire U.S. citizenship under certain conditions, particularly if one of the parents becomes a U.S. citizen after the child's birth.

In this scenario, the father naturalized in 1933. For children born abroad to be eligible for citizenship through a naturalized parent, there are specific legal provisions that were applicable at the time. Generally, the law at the time would imply that as long as the parents were married, the citizenship of the father could be passed on to the child as long as the applicable laws were met by the time of the father’s naturalization.

However, in this instance, the child was not immediately granted citizenship at the time of the father’s naturalization because they were not physically present in the United States at that time. They were admitted in 1935. Under the interpretation of law that was present, the child would not acquire citizenship until they were admitted to the U.S. and that would be after the father's naturalization.

By 1940, specific laws regarding the acquisition of citizenship for children born abroad may have clarified that citizenship would be granted upon entering the U.S