Do children have to apply for citizenship before turning 18?

G

GKER

Registered Users (C)
If one of the parents passes the N400 and becomes a US citizen, do the children have to apply for citizenship before age of 18? What happens when they become older?

Also can a child that holds a green card apply for a US passport if one of the parents has become a US citizen or do they have to pass thorugh the same process before?
 
If your child is under 18, has a GC and lives with you, it becomes a citizen as soon as you take your oath, and can apply for a passport and/or certificate of citizenship based on your citizenship.
 
cafeconleche said:
If your child is under 18, has a GC and lives with you, it becomes a citizen as soon as you take your oath, and can apply for a passport and/or certificate of citizenship based on your citizenship.
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Yes, but if the child doesnt apply for the certificate/passport before turning 18 will he/she go through the N400 process later on?


Also, we dont need to apply for the certificate before obtaining passport, right? If so, can we just go to the post office and apply for a passport? What do we have to provide them? Then what is the certificate for?
 
No, the child will have been a citizen the entire time. That status is automatically conferred, and the passport and/or citizenship certificate is simply proof of that status- proof that it is HIGHLY ADVISABLE to obtain. Also, if you and your child were, say, Indian, and you are naturalized, both you AND the child lose that citizenship, so the child, if it wants to travel, will have to use a US passport (and renounce Indian citizenship officially).

You don't need to get the certificate at all if you don't want to. It's expensive. But, it does not expire, and is permanent proof of citizenship, while a passport will expire. It's good to have one. To get a passport, you'll have to send the application, photos, the child's green card, birth certificate showing its relationship to you, your naturalization certificate, and your ID.

The details are here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_826.html
 
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GKER said:
Yes, but if the child doesnt apply for the certificate/passport before turning 18 will he/she go through the N400 process later on?
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No. There are some people who didn't realize until over 30 years old that their parent's naturalization qualified them for derivative citizenship, but they were still able to obtain a US passport and/or citizenship certificate without going through the N-400 process.

The main problem with applying after 18 is having to dig up their parent's old documents to prove that they satisfied all the necessary criteria back when they were under 18. Which is generally easy for a 19 or 20 year old, but can be a major hassle for a 35 year old whose parents have died or moved outside the US.


Also, we dont need to apply for the certificate before obtaining passport, right? If so, can we just go to the post office and apply for a passport? What do we have to provide them? Then what is the certificate for?
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Most people apply for their children's passport first, as it is cheaper and faster than the certificate. The certificate is useful because it's additional proof of citizenship that doesn't expire. Without your children having their own certificate, upon replacing a lost or expired passport they may have to dig up your naturalization certificate and other old documents. The fact that the certificate doesn't expire could be useful in other situations such as if there is a delay in renewing the passport at a time when proof of citizenship is required (such as at the DMV).

If you don't think the certificate is worth it, don't bother to apply for it, but you should still let your children know about it as they approach 18 so they are aware of it and can decide to get it on their own if they want it.
 
Approval of an N-600 and issuance of a certificate will update the main DHS database as to the individuals USC status.

Numerous USCs who get into trouble with the law regret skipping the N-600 because ICE sees them as aliens subject to Removal. Additionally, the database is used to support E-verify and SAVE when one is applying for a job or various benefits (including a Driver's License).

E-Verify does look at DOS passport data BUT it can show a Tentative Non-Confirmation and require a trip via an InfoPass appt at USCIS anyway.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

When applying for a passport for the children does the parent that obtained US citizenship have to be there too?

What is the process for the N600 form? Is there a interview similar to the N400?
 
GKER said:
When applying for a passport for the children does the parent that obtained US citizenship have to be there too?
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If the child is under 16, the standard requirement is for both parents to be there when applying for the child's passport. Exceptions are allowed if you have sufficient documentation based on the circumstances.

What is the process for the N600 form? Is there a interview similar to the N400?
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At the end of the process there may be a mini-interview on the day you visit USCIS to pick up the certificate. It's just to go over the documents and forms to make sure everything is in order (including checking your original documents, since you only send in copies with the N-600 applications).
 
never received certificate for my daughter yet

**********
 
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jonny1 said:
i became citizen in early july and got the certificate. filed for citizenship certificate for my daughter in mid july 2011, it has been over 7 months and still nothing in the mail from USCIS chicago field office. Daughter has GC and is 12 yrs old now. The processing time on USCIS.GOV says 5 months but when we called, the agent says wait few more months.
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It's certainly has been long enough, so you should probably start applying some external pressure now.

By the way, they at least did cash your check with the application fee for N-600, correct?

I suggest that you contact both the U.S. Senators for Illinois (Durbin and Kirk) as well as the U.S. House of Representatives member for the area where you live, and ask them for help. All members of Congress have staff that regularly help with USCIS related inquiries; if you go to their website, there will be a form to fill there for constituent services.
Sometimes a congressional inquiry is enough for USCIS to get moving on a case that is stuck in some long drawer; at least you'll get more accurate information this way about the status of the application then when you make inquiries yourself.
You could also schedule an INFOPASS appointment at the USCIS Chicago office, if you have not done so already.
 
jonny1 said:
i became citizen in early july and got the certificate. filed for citizenship certificate for my daughter in mid july 2011, it has been over 7 months and still nothing in the mail from USCIS chicago field office. Daughter has GC and is 12 yrs old now. The processing time on USCIS.GOV says 5 months but when we called, the agent says wait few more months.
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Did you get any confirmation from USCIS of having received the application (receipt, email, letter)?

Did you change address after submitting the application?
 
jonny1 said:
i became citizen in early july and got the certificate. filed for citizenship certificate for my daughter in mid july 2011, it has been over 7 months and still nothing in the mail from USCIS chicago field office. Daughter has GC and is 12 yrs old now. The processing time on USCIS.GOV says 5 months but when we called, the agent says wait few more months.
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You filed at a local office right before they switched to a lockbox, right? You filed at a VERY busy office so are stuck with the wait. As of lockbox filing, you get a receipt notice but before that, it was not required so few offices sent anything at all until the end to come in for the cert and sometimes they requested more evidence first or at the same time. Hang in there!
 
Child process to Citizen

What is process for child (less than 18 years, has green card) for citizen. I am going to apply my citizen in Aug so just need to find out what is process for child.
 
AshvinKPatel said:
What is process for child (less than 18 years, has green card) for citizen. I am going to apply my citizen in Aug so just need to find out what is process for child.
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File N-600 and/or a US passport application for your child after completing your own citizenship process.
 
Jackolantern said:
Did you get any confirmation from USCIS of having received the application (receipt, email, letter)?

Did you change address after submitting the application?
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confirmation received back in early august or late july, address has never changed.

called USCIS number says it can take mroe than 5 months, made another call yesterday , says same thing but i told the agent i would like to make a service ticket. i guess this means they notify the field office here to see what the f*** is happening!
can't believe they would say 5 months time line and it is taking 8 months now
 
BigJoe5 said:
You filed at a local office right before they switched to a lockbox, right? You filed at a VERY busy office so are stuck with the wait. As of lockbox filing, you get a receipt notice but before that, it was not required so few offices sent anything at all until the end to come in for the cert and sometimes they requested more evidence first or at the same time. Hang in there!
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i didn't file at feild office just cos i wanted to, i did just cos i had to. mine required filing for my daughter's citizenship certificate with the USCIS field office.

time line posted online is 5 months but its about 8 months now
 
jonny1 said:
confirmation received back in early august or late july, address has never changed.

called USCIS number says it can take mroe than 5 months, made another call yesterday , says same thing but i told the agent i would like to make a service ticket. i guess this means they notify the field office here to see what the f*** is happening!
can't believe they would say 5 months time line and it is taking 8 months now
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Make an Infopass appointment and go to USC in person to inquire about it. Bring the case number and the originals of the major documents used for the N-600 (your naturalization certificate, marriage certificate if married, child's birth certificate and green card), and you could get the certificate within a week (or even the same day, if it's already been printed and somebody forgot about it).
 
Name change - Child Under 18 years

Thanks for repsonse.

I am going to short my first name and middle name during citizen process. So my child has my long first name in middle name so that is also going to change.

When I should ask to change fist name (short) for my child and middle name of my child name will be my new short first name. ?

I donot see anything on N-600 form mention about child name change. I wanted to short my first name and middle name of child.


Jackolantern said:
File N-600 and/or a US passport application for your child after completing your own citizenship process.
Click to expand...
 
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