USCIS Updates Policy Manual to Remove References to Diplomatic 'Blue List'
Published Aug 6, 2026
USCIS has issued policy guidance removing references to the Diplomatic List, also known as the Blue List, from its Policy Manual because the Department of State no longer publishes it. The update affects chapters addressing citizenship for children born in the United States to foreign government employees.
Key points
- The Department of State no longer publishes the Diplomatic List, previously used as a reference for identifying accredited foreign diplomats.
- USCIS revised 7 USCIS-PM O.3, covering children born in the United States to foreign government employees, and 12 USCIS-PM H.3, on U.S. citizens at birth under INA 301 and 309.
- This is a technical update removing an outdated reference rather than a change to eligibility rules.
- No specific effective date is stated in the source.
Who is affected
Children born in the United States to foreign diplomatic or government officials, and attorneys handling related citizenship determinations.
What to do
Those handling related cases should review the updated sections of the USCIS Policy Manual.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-12. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services www.uscis.gov U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of the Director Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009 August 6, 2026 PA-2026-07 Policy Alert SUBJECT: Lists of Foreign Diplomatic Officers Accredited to the United States Purpose U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual that removes references to the Diplomatic List (also known as the “Blue List”), which is no longer published by the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
Background Generally, foreign diplomatic officers, their spouses, and children enjoy certain immunities under international and U.S. law, which affects their legal status while present in the United States. Because these immunities mean that they are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. law, children born in the United States to a foreign diplomatic officer accredited to the United States are not U.S. citizens at birth.1 The children may be eligible to register for lawful permanent residence (LPR) status under 8 CFR 101.3. If one parent is a foreign diplomatic officer and the other is a U.S. citizen, the child is a U.S. citizen at birth and ineligible to register LPR status.
This guidance, contained in Volumes 7 and 12 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.
Policy Highlights
Removes reference to DOS’s “Diplomatic List” and “Blue List” throughout.
Provides that, if a child was born in the United States to an accredited foreign diplomat that child is not a U.S. citizen; however, the child may be eligible to register for lawful permanent status under 8 CFR 101.3.
Clarifies that if one parent is an accredited foreign diplomatic officer and the other is a U.S. citizen, then the child is a U.S. citizen at the time of birth and is ineligible to register LPR status.
1 See 8 CFR 101.3(a)(1).
PA-2026-07: Lists of Foreign Diplomatic Officers Accredited to the United States Page: 2 Summary of Changes Affected Section: Volume 7 > Part O > Chapter 3 > Section D, Eligibility Requirements
Revises the chart titled Eligibility Requirements: Children Born in the United States to Accredited Diplomats.
Revises language under Subsection 4 (Parent with Full Diplomatic Immunity at Time of the Applicant’s Birth).
Affected Section: Volume 12 > Part H > Chapter 3 > Section A, General Requirements for Acquisition of Citizenship
Revises first footnote.
USCIS may also make other minor technical, stylistic, and conforming changes consistent with this update.
Citation Volume 7: Adjustment of Status, Part O Registration, Chapter 3, Children Born in the United States to Accredited Diplomats [7 USCIS-PM O.3]; Volume 12: Citizenship and Naturalization, Part H, Chapter 3, U.S. Citizens at Birth (INA 301 and 309) [12 USCIS-PM H.3].
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.