What is an essential requirement for a US citizen to file a complaint under The Hague Convention?

An essential requirement for a US citizen to file a complaint under The Hague Convention is that the child must be abducted. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is specifically designed to safeguard children from international abduction by a parent or guardian. It provides a legal framework for the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully removed or retained in a jurisdiction different from where they were habitually resident.

In order to initiate proceedings under the Convention, the focus is on situations where a child has been taken without consent, which is classified as abduction. This legal principle aims to ensure that custody disputes are resolved in the child's country of habitual residence and aims to deter the wrongful removal of children from their home environments.

The other options do not fulfill the requirements under The Hague Convention. Dual citizenship, residency status, and the child being in foster care are not prerequisites for filing a complaint; what matters foremost is the action of abduction.