If you're considering it:

• personallygive birth in the United States(DIY / Moon Center), or
• Being carefully evaluated for medical reasonsLegal Surrogacy in the United States(Surrogacy).

Then this article is for you.

I don't want to be a condescending "textbook author" in this article, I'd rather be an old friend sitting across the table from you - just a friend who happens to have been in the field for more than a decade.

I'm not going to get into all the "dream story" mumbo jumbo, let's just talk about three issues:

Since you've clicked into this long post, I'll make you a promise:
After reading it, you'll not only be able to read the boring legal jargon, but you'll be able to get a copy of a landmarkable identity planning idea that works for your family.

Let's start with the centerpiece, the product.A child's future identity and security--Read and understand, and then consider those back stories.

🚀 30-Second Speed Preview: What kind of "Mabel's Family" are you more like?

In order not to waste your time, I will first use a minimalist comparison table to clarify the two main "routes to US citizenship".
After reading this table, you'll probably be able to tell: which one you favor more.

If you read the table and already have a feeling, you can take this initial judgment to read down, we put the "foundation logic" firmly.

6 Key Findings on Citizenship for U.S.-Born Children

Many of my friends grab the details as soon as they arrive and ask, "How do I fill out the traveler's permit form?" "Can I get an account or not?"

I usually start by asking them to take a deep breath and talk to them:
Don't rush into the bull's-eye, but get the "underlying logic" right first.

There are 6 core conclusions about "American Citizenship" (whether you gave birth yourself or through a U.S. surrogate).
Once you've got these 6 points down, you basically know the situation better than most agents.

How to choose between in-person birth in the US vs. surrogate birth in the US?

Many families who come to counseling ask me the same thing:

"Do I bite the bullet and fly there to have the baby myself, or do I simply go through American surrogacy and buy a certainty?"

To make it easier for you to make a judgment, I'm going to take the truest part of the two paths and spread it out for you.

That table above is the short version, here we dig down a little.

Scenario A: In-person birth in the U.S. (DIY / Moonchild Center)

This is the most mainstream and familiar path over the past decade or so, that is, "giving birth in the United States".

Basic Processes:

1. Domestic Preparation / Pregnant, got the ultrasound.
2. Applying for a B1/B2 visa. Nowadays, more emphasis is placed on "honesty" by stating the purpose of medical/birth, and preparing proof of financial resources, itinerary description, etc.
3. Immigration "break-in": Especially in the late stages of pregnancy, customs asks more detailed questions, so be mentally prepared.
4. Waiting for and giving birth: staying in a monthly center or renting a room on your own, surviving the entire late pregnancy and postpartum recovery in an unfamiliar environment.
5. Getting a Permit to Return Home: Get your baby's birth certificate, social security number, U.S. passport and Chinese travel permit, and then carry your baby home.

What's the real test?

Money is important, but many families bite the bullet and come up with it.
The real test is:Mom's physical and mental stamina.

• Can you handle a long flight with a belly?
• Are you okay with producing in a place where the language isn't quite spoken?
• Are you okay with the fact that your husband may only be with you part of the time?

If your answers are:

"We can carry it for the sake of this child".
With a relatively limited budget, then, in-person births in the U.S. can be very cost-effective indeed.

Scenario B: U.S. Surrogacy (IVF + Surrogacy)

In the past, this path was labeled as "exclusive to the rich", but in the past two years, more and more middle-class, highly educated and elderly families have begun to seriously evaluate.

The process is roughly like this:

1. Embryo building:In vitro at home or in the U.S. to form usable embryos and do screening such as PGT-A if necessary.
2. Matching surrogate mothers:Matching surrogate mothers with a pool of U.S. surrogacy agencies is a two-way selection process.
3. Legal intervention:Chinese and American attorneys, each representing the two parties, draft and review a very thick surrogacy contract, spelling out sensitive clauses such as compensation, medical care, insurance, and fetal reduction/abortion.
4. Transplantation and pregnancy management:After the embryos are transferred to the womb of the surrogate mother, the doctor and the agency team take care of the pregnancy follow-up, and you are more likely to be waiting for the test reports at home.
5. PBO & pick up the baby:Around mid-pregnancy, your attorney files a PBO (pre-birth parentage determination) to ensure that you are the legal parents of your child at birth. Around the due date, the whole family flies there to pick up the baby, apply for the license, and return to your home country.

The key word for this path is:

• Higher budgets;
• Higher legal/process complexity;
• The trade off: higher controllability and success in physically limited situations.

If you are 40+, or have a uterine condition that doesn't really allow you to go any further, or are in a same-sex, single-person household, this is an expensive option, but one of the few that is truly "legal, enforceable, and successful" on a global scale.

American Perspective: Why surrogate babies can also get US citizenship?

Next, let's switch perspectives:
From the perspective of U.S. law, this article explains why surrogate babies can also get citizenship.

Only when you get this layer right will you not have a drum in your head when making decisions.

The logic underlying the principle of jus soli (place of birth)

The United States is one of the few developed countries in the world today that still adheres to a stronger version of the jus soli principle.

That, in large part, comes from:

• 14th Amendment to the Constitution;
• As well as very critical jurisprudence in history (such as the oft-mentioned Wong Kim Ark).

To put it bluntly:

As long as a child's first breath of air is inhaled on U.S. soil (including some territories) and does not fall under one of a few special exceptions.
Then in current practice, he/she would generally be considered a U.S. citizen.

In this framework:

• Whether through assisted reproductive technology (IVF / Surrogacy);
• Whether or not to use donor eggs / donor sperm;
• Intended parents are not Americans -

These factors do not change the basic logic of the judgment that "native-born children acquire nationality by birth".

Three events after birth: birth certificate, SSN, and U.S. passport

无论你是亲自赴美生，还是美国代孕，孩子出生后都有三件“大事”：

1. Birth Certificate
   这是后续一切证件的起点；
   在合法代孕州，有 PBO 的情况下，出生纸上直接写意向父母的名字，代孕妈妈不会出现在证件上，这对隐私保护和后续跨国办证很重要。
2. Social Security Number (SSN)
   类似于“美国身份证号”，未来报税、上学、工作都会用到。
3. 美国护照（U.S. Passport）
   拿着出生纸和相关材料去办理；
   护照上只会写孩子的姓名和出生地（例如 Los Angeles, USA），看上去和任何一位美国公民的护照没有区别。

China Perspective: Managing Mabel's Identity in a "Conflict of Nationalities"

现在回到中国这边。

很多人以为：美宝就是“外国人”。
其实，从中国政府自创的那套概念来看，这些孩子更像是"Children in conflict of nationality"——需要用一套特别机制来管理。

A key watershed in China's nationality law: whether or not to "settle abroad"

中国国籍法第 5 条，是所有考虑美宝的家庭都应该认真看一眼的条款。

里面有个特别关键的点：“定居外国”。

简单画一个逻辑图：

• 场景 A：父母拿了美国绿卡等长期居留身份，被视为“已经定居海外”。
  孩子在美国出生 → 原则上只按外国人管理，一般不会再认定其拥有中国国籍。
• 场景 B：父母只是拿旅游签、学生签、工作签，在美国短期居留。
  孩子在美国出生 → 一般会被认定具有中国国籍资格，可以申请中国旅行证。

绝大多数准备赴美生子或做美国代孕的中国家庭，其实都属于场景 B。
这不是“钻空子”，而是在现有法律框架下，行使自己孩子本就具备的权利。

China Travel Permit: a special document for "children in conflict of nationality"

很多人对旅行证有误解，以为那是某种变相签证。

实际上更接近于：

发给具有中国国籍资格、但暂时不便或不适合发普通护照的中国公民儿童，用来进出中国的一种证件。

• 在功能上，它在出入境环节起到类似护照的作用；
• 在身份上，它是在告诉边检：“这是我们自己人，只是证件形态特殊。”

所以，当你拿着美宝的出生纸和相关材料，去领馆申请旅行证的时候，
你申请的并不是“外国人入境许可”，而是孩子作为中国公民的一种证件形式。

Travel Permit + Household Registration: Practicalities depend on the local caliber.

很多家长的下一问是：

“拿了旅行证，回国能不能上户口？”

实际情况是：

• 在不少大城市和部分地区，只要手续齐备，持旅行证的孩子是有机会落户的；
• 但每个地方的具体要求、材料清单、是否需要额外声明，差异非常大，而且会随时间调整。

有的地方会要求家长签署类似“放弃外国国籍声明”的文件。
这一类文件，在中国这边是用于内部留档和流程需要；并不会自动改变美国那边对孩子国籍的认定。

但是否签、怎么签、会不会影响后续安排，都建议：

1. 提前和当地派出所 / 出入境管理部门确认最新政策；
2. 同时咨询熟悉中美两边规则的专业人士，不要只听道听途说。

Mabel's 'double identity': changes around age 18

With a U.S. passport and a Chinese Travel Permit (and possibly a Hukou), Mabel tends to live a "dual life" until she turns 18.

Until age 18: daily life in dual-license status

Simply simulate a few scenes and you'll get a better picture:

• Entry and exit:
  To enter or leave China, use a Chinese traveler's permit;
  Entering or leaving the United States or other countries with a U.S. passport.
• Schooling in the country:
  If you have a hukou, you will be enrolled in school according to the district and enjoy nine years of compulsory education, just like the children around you;
  If the family chooses to go international, it is possible to use the "Alien Status" program, subject to compliance, which is another form of planning.
• Visiting the doctor and social security:
  Once you have a household registration, you can usually access the health insurance system and get vaccinated and see a doctor just like a normal child.

To summarize:

Until the age of 18, as long as the family does not deliberately "create conflict".
Children can basically live in a relatively smooth way in both China and the United States.

After 18: Identity choices and long-term planning

Many agents like to scare people with a phrase:

"You must choose your nationality at the age of 18, or else!"

The reality is much more complex.

There is no specific "rite of passage" that requires a child to make a choice on the spot in the year he or she turns 18;

What will really change is that the system of travel permits is designed primarily for minors, and reapplying for a travel permit after adulthood often encounters restrictions or different processes.

Usually around the age of 18, families do have to think seriously:

• Where will you live mostly in the future?
• Is it primarily U.S. citizenship with a long-term stay in China via visa?
• Or would you prefer to be rooted in China for the long term and then evaluate whether you want to deal with citizenship issues on the US side?

My take:

This question is, in fact, 20 years in the future.
By that time, China-US relations, national policies, global patterns will change, today any "dead conclusion" may not be reliable.

What we can do is until the child is 18 years old:
Help him keep his options open as long as possible, rather than making all the decisions for him now.

The True Value of U.S. Citizenship:

After all this hardcore content, I'd like to talk to you about the soft stuff.

A lot of moms and dads come to me with bright eyes-
It's as if by getting this dark blue passport, the child will have a halo around him or her later in life.

I'm not trying to throw cold water on the situation, just trying to help you put this into perspective a bit.

What is the true value of this passport?

In my opinion, there are three main pieces of more realistic value:

1. Flexibility on the education track
   The child can choose either the domestic track (entrance exams, domestic master's degree) in the future.
   It is also possible to go through the college route for Native American student status, with differences in acceptance rates and tuition;
   There are points in time when special policies (such as the Overseas Chinese Student Examination, etc.) can be utilized to add an additional pathway for yourself - of course, these policies themselves are subject to adjustment and require real-time attention.
2. Freedom of global mobility
   The visa-free, visa-on-arrival treatment of U.S. passports around the world is really realistic;
   This means that as an adult, your child will have many more options when it comes to internships, jobs, and travel.
3. Options in long-term family planning
   After the age of 21, the child theoretically has the opportunity to apply for dependent immigration on behalf of his or her parents;
   This is not an "immediate immigration channel", but an additional door to knock on if you really want to change your retirement environment at some point in the future.

The grossly exaggerated "Mabel Myth."

Again, there are some blown out of proportion parts that I still want to make clear ahead of time:

1. There's no such thing as "welfare on the ground."
   If the child does not live in the U.S. and pay taxes for a long period of time, he or she is not entitled to many local benefits;
   On the contrary, if families go ahead and apply for some low-income and welfare programs without fully understanding them, they may be left with a bad record in the future.
2. Surrogacy is not "double insurance" but a program with high investment and decision-making costs
   Especially with American surrogacy, the investment is often a down payment on a house;
   If a family has average financial stability, heavy expectations, and expects "a child to solve all their problems," then this is a very cautious path to take.

In the end:

As good as nationality looks, it's just a tool in a child's toolbox for life.
决定孩子未来走多远的，还是父母的眼界、稳定的陪伴和教育投入。

2025 Executive Order & Supreme Court: Uncertainty of Birthright Citizenship

回头看 2025 年，对整个“赴美生子 + 美国代孕圈”来说，确实像坐了一回过山车。

年初的那道行政令，让很多家庭瞬间慌了；
年中的一系列诉讼，又让大家看到了一点“缓冲期”。

这里我们用最少的笔墨，把这件事讲到“你能做决策”的程度就够了。

EO 14160 What do you want to do? （What does EO 14160 want?)

2025 年 1 月 20 日，新班底签署了第 14160 号行政令（EO 14160）。
它的核心意图，用大白话翻译，就是：

“对部分父母是非法身份或某些临时身份的家庭，不再按照以往的方式自动给予孩子出生公民权。”

它试图通过重新解释“受美国管辖”这几个字，来收紧出生地原则的适用范围。
这也是为什么当时一夜之间，整个行业都在转发相关消息。

What is its true status as of the end of 2025?

关键在这里：

行政令签署 ≠ 立刻落地，

在美国，行政权和司法权之间，会有一个“拉扯”。

目前（2025 年底）的情况是：

• 多个联邦法院对 EO 14160 发布了禁令，暂时阻止其生效；
• 美国最高法院已经同意受理相关案件，预计要到 2026 年夏天才会完成最终裁决。

这意味着：

在最终裁决出来之前，各州在实际操作中，仍然按既有规则处理在美国本土出生的孩子。

所以，对于现在已经在孕中、或者代孕项目已经在进行中的家庭来说，
讨论的重点不是“孩子会不会突然被取消国籍”，而是：

• 你打算在什么时候生？
• 你是否接受在 2026 年之后，规则可能出现变化的那种不确定性？

The Legal Heart of Surrogacy in the U.S.: PBO and Birth Certificates

很多准备做美国代孕的家庭，会问两个非常实际的问题：

“孩子生出来，代母要是反悔怎么办？”

“出生纸上会不会写代母名字，以后孩子一翻就全看见了？”

答案都藏在一个关键工具里：PBO（Pre-birth Order，出生前亲权裁定）。

What is PBO? Why is it so important?

用最日常的话讲，PBO 就是一张“孩子出生前就把亲子关系确定好的法院判决书”。

• 一般在怀孕中期，由律师向当地法院申请；
• 法官会审核代孕合同、双方律师意见等；
• 一旦裁定通过，就会在判决书里写明：

“这个孩子出生后的法定父母为某某夫妻（或单身/伴侣），代孕妈妈不具有该儿童的监护权和抚养义务。”

有了这份文件：

• 医院在孩子出生后，会按照法院判决，直接把孩子交给意向父母；
• 不会出现常见影视剧里的那种“代母抱着孩子不放手”的桥段。

当然，不同州的具体流程和支持程度不一样，这也是为什么选州、选律所非常关键的原因。

"De-surrogacy" and privacy on the birth paper

在很多代孕友好州（例如加州等），有了 PBO 之后，出生证明的填写会按这份判决来：

• 父亲栏：写意向父亲的名字；
• 母亲栏：写意向母亲的名字（即便没有在美国怀孕生产、甚至使用了捐卵也一样）；
• 代孕妈妈：不会出现在出生纸上。

这有两层现实意义：

1. 保护隐私
   孩子长大后，单从出生纸上看，是一份跟普通家庭无异的文件；
   什么时候、以什么方式告诉孩子真相，更多回到家庭内部选择。
2. 跨国办证时的叙事更清晰
   拿着这张出生纸去办旅行证或其他证件，从材料外观上看，更接近一般留学生家庭的情况；
   并不等于“可以隐瞒代孕事实”，只是让最初的材料呈现更简洁，后续如实回答问题时也更有底气。

Repatriation of surrogate U.S. babies: document risks and compliance advice

前面讲的更多是“顺利情况下”的流程。
但作为顾问，我更在意的是：出问题的时候，会出在哪儿？

Theoretical qualification vs. substantive review

从法律条文角度看，只要满足：

• 父母一方或双方是中国公民；
• 尚未“定居海外”；

那么代孕出生的孩子与自然分娩的孩子一样，具备申请旅行证的资格。

但在实际操作中：

• 领馆签证官会结合材料、家庭具体情况来判断；
• 对一些明显能看出是代孕的情况（高龄父母、同性家庭、单身父亲等），可能会要求补充更多证明材料，审查也会更严谨。

这不是“针对代孕”，更多是因为涉及国籍认定与亲子关系确认，
签证官要对自己的决定负责。

When the consulate asks for "proof of paternity" or medical records

常见的几种补充材料要求有：

• 医院生产记录（住院、出院小结等）；
• 孩子与父母的亲子鉴定报告；
• 相关法律文件（例如 PBO 的翻译件、经过认证的出生证明等）。

如果是意向妈妈自己生产，这些材料很好准备。
但如果是代孕，有些传统意义上的“生产记录”就无法提供，这时候就需要：

• 提前在律师指导下准备好亲子鉴定等证据；
• 保证所有提交的信息前后一致、没有自相矛盾的地方。

一旦出现“材料不一致”“表面说自己生，结果又拿出代孕合同”这类情况，
就有可能被认定为不符合旅行证的发放条件，而转向以签证形式安排孩子入境。

这会带来一整套后续问题：不能上户口、需要按外国人续签、教育和医疗都走另一套路径……
所以，准备阶段的严谨性非常关键。

The balance between compliance and privacy: the bottom line is one thing - no faking it!

给代孕家庭几个底线建议：

1. 诚实是唯一底线
   无论是对美国机构、美国政府，还是中国使领馆，
   在正式文书和问答中，不能伪造材料，也不能撒谎。
2. 让专业律师把关
   代孕涉及中美两边的法律体系，
   哪些材料该主动提供、哪些在对方明确要求时再交、怎么表述，
   都建议在专业律师指导下进行，而不是自己瞎猜。
3. 慎重对待“DIY 办证”
   不是说不能 DIY，而是要清楚：
   一旦因为经验不足在重要材料上出错，后果往往很难完全“补救回去”。

Route Comparison and Family Decision Table

聊了这么多，该回到那个最现实的问题了：

“我们家，究竟适合走哪条路？”

再用一张稍微简化的表，帮你把思路捋一捋。

Recommendations under different family portraits

年轻夫妻、身体状况良好、只是想给孩子多一条道路

优先考虑亲自赴美生产，把预算更多留给后续教育。

40 岁以上、多次试管失败、医生明确不建议再怀孕

美国代孕值得认真评估。
时间比钱更宝贵，过了某个时间窗口，医学上能做的也会变少。

预算尴尬地卡在中间（比如 80–100 万人民币），又对美国代孕心动

这时候可以考虑**“Kyrgyzstan”或“Georgia (country)”**等高性价比Surrogate countries（虽然孩子拿不到美籍，但解决了生育问题），或者再攒攒钱上美国。千万不要被“低价美国代孕”“地下渠道”这类字眼诱惑。

Visa compliance, the bottom line for all routes

无论你最终选择哪条路，有一个底线是共同的：

不要在签证和入境上做文章。

• 不要听信任何“教你假装旅游”“P 图肚子”的所谓技巧；
• 诚实签证、诚实入境，虽然未必是最轻松的路，但从长期来看是风险最低的选择。

一旦在美国移民系统里留下“欺诈”记录，对你和孩子未来几十年的出入境，影响都非常大。

FAQ

下面这几个问题，是我这两年被问得最多的。
我用简短的问答来收个尾。

Conclusion:

写到这里，如果你还能耐心看完，说明这件事对你来说真的很重要。

我想用最简单的一句话，帮你把这篇长文收起来：

不管是亲自赴美生产，还是美国代孕生子，
那一本护照，永远只是孩子人生工具箱里的一件工具，而不是全部。

它可以：

• 给孩子多一条路；
• 给家庭一个长期的备选方案；
• 在某些时刻，帮你们少绕一些弯路。

但它给不了的是：

• 一段稳固的亲子关系；
• 父母对孩子长期稳定的陪伴和教育；
• 一个真正有底气、有温度的家庭氛围。

如果你们已经认真想清楚：

• 这本护照未来大概会怎么用；
• 你们有没有能力和意愿，陪孩子走向一个更复杂但也更宽广的世界——

那无论你最后选的是哪条路，我都真心祝福你们。