Thanks again everyone for clearing up this matter. I can definately get a copy of my HS and University transcripts from the states. Sounds easy enough. I wasnt looking forward to having to put together a ridiculous paper trail. I wonder why though they cant just look at my passport and see that I have only been out of the country a handful of times in the years that I have it with its stamps. No problem though.
The dept. of states website and the US Embassy Helsinki website differ on one thing. The embassy website I see wants a second birth certificate that they want in addition to the one from the magistrate. They say they want:
Child's Birth certificate given at the hospital at the time of birth. This is a document, that you must separately request, explaining that it is needed to complete a U.S. report of birth. (The midwife in Finnish hospitals generally issues the document and it only indicates that the mother has given a live birth to a boy/girl baby on a specific date.)
It has been a few weeks now but I hope its not a problem to drive up to the hospital and have them print me out this document. Anyone know about this?
Also thank you for clearing up what our son will have to do many years from now to have his children recognized as US citizens. You guys are great. Very much appreciated. I will call the embassy and have them send me out the application. I guess that I should completely fill out this application and gather all proof before I make an appointment to get through their gates.
Also (sorry for the long message:
JuliaB wrote:This is what the US Dept of State has to say about how long the Us citizen parent must have lived in the US,
Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock: A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301(g) INA provided the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. (For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen are required for physical presence in the U.S. to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.
It was not hard for us, Baby Stella born last July. I just got copy of my HS transcript and it was fine.
I went to H.S. from when I was 14-18 for 4 years. This obviously doesnt meet their 5 year requirement after the age of 14 since I was born in 1977. So I guess I will need my University diploma as well. How did you pull that off JuliaB? Did you go to H.S from age 14-19. Thanks.
and we just submitted the paperwork to the magistrates with his name, etc... First, will Kela automatically send us a card for him. 
You mean to say that if you lived in the US for more than 9 years( without a green card ), that your child can get US citizenship? 
