Father Naturalized when I was 16. Now I'm 22 and I have no documents.

H

hometownhero

Registered Users (C)
I was...
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, April 20, 1987.
Came to New York, USA in 1992 when I was 5 years old.

My father got his naturalized citizenship certificate on April 19, 2000. I did not receive any documentation for myself.
I did obtain my U.S. passport in May, 2003. It states that my nationality is of the United States of America.
I assume my passport was obtained when my father presented his certificate of naturalization.

Now I'm working with an airline at JFK international airport and I need to get a security badge. The new rules state I must present a certificate of naturalization (if I am naturalized, which I am) to get a security badge.
What do I need to obtain a certificate proving I have derived citizenship?
And why the heck am I issued a U.S. passport (which has since been used to go on vacation to Europe, and renewed), by one governmental agency and it is not recognized by other entities as proof of citizenship?!?

I just got snookered into dealing with an (private) agency that I though was part of USCIS, and they have directed me to fill out an N-600. Can anyone tell me if this is the right way to go about it, seeing as to how I already have a U.S. passport proving my citizenship status.

Help would be enormously appreciated!!!
 
Yes, that is correct you need to submit N-600. There is lot of kids receives their ctizenship from their naturulazation, however parents ingoring to submit N-600 in most cases. Now you have your passport but don't have your certificate. Not just for badge but think about how you will apply for a new passport when current one expired? So you need to submit N-600 to obtain your certificate. It will not take long and will not create any problem for you.
 
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Thanks much for your reassuring response.
I've already renewed btw, but your probably right in it that they change their rules every year, month, day... I'll probably need it down the line anyway.


Thanks again!
I'm a little confused as to what I need to submit. I have my U.S. passport, but I highly doubt my Alien Registration card is still valid. (I haven;t used it in 7 years)
 
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You should only submit N-600 form nothing else. You need to put your A# on it.

How did you renew your passport? (You can also use your parent's birth certificate to renew your passport if you don't have yours)
 
I don't know about the requirements for your security clearance, but if you need a certificate it would be of citizenship in your case, not of naturalization, as you derived citizenship through your parents automatically, not through naturalization. That is indeed done with form N-600 as it has been pointed out. Just wanted to point out the correct name of the certificate you'll get. However, it will take several months to get one. There are not many known situations in which a passport is not accepted as proof of citizenship. If they are not accepting it for the security badge this is about one of the few or the only situation that comes to my mind in which a passport is not enough. Make sure you complain to your congress representatives about this. Let them know how you are a citizen and how this is affecting your ability to get the security badge, and all the rest.
 
Federal law recognizes a valid US passport as a definite proof of US citizenship. I am not aware of any case that specifically requires a foreign born US citizen to present a certificate of naturalization/citizenship in order to prove US citizenship. I think your employer is misinterpreting the law.
 
hometownhero, do you have a link to the document that specifies the requirements of proof of citizenship you need for that job?
 
I am employed with Air France. They have no problem with my passport as proof of citizenship. The Port Authority of NY/NJ, on the other hand, has refused to badge fellow colleagues on the grounds that they cannot produce a certificate of naturalization. I am being told by HR at AirFrance that this is a requirement they have recently put in place as of March, 2009.
I've been dealing with AirFrance HR on this issue, when I go to work on Friday I will try to inquire directly with Port Authority and obtain information as to why they have denied security badges to U.S. citizens without a certificate of naturalization/citizenship.

(immigrant7777)
"How did you renew your passport?"
I simply followed the procedure as anyone would. They only require you to fill out a form, and send in your old passport, photos, and a fee. I think the question you are asking is how did I get the passport to begin with?

nkm-oct23
This TWIC looks interesting, perhaps I can obtain it and it would be satisfactory. I'll bring this information to them and find out if it will do.
 
I found this NASA webpage that asks naturalized citizens to bring the naturalization certificate copy to get employment, which is strange. I have read other documents on the Internet requiring the A number for DHS verification. Perhaps the whole idea of asking for the certificate instead of the passport is in order to obtain the A number and check with USCIS about the status of that person. Perhaps the person has had the citizenship revoked but still keep a valid passport.

http://employeeorientation.nasa.gov/dryden/relocation.htm

Anyway, there is a distinction as I noted earlier between naturalized and a person who has derived citizenship. Persons who derive citizenship do not get certificates unless they apply for N-600. However, it is expecting too much of bureaucrats to understand the difference. I hope you find out what you need after contacting HR and I would be curious to see any explanation of why would that be needed.
 
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NASA requires it as well... So Port Authority is not unique in asking for a supporting citizenship document in addition to a passport.

Since I've been researching this, am I wrong now to believe that I am not a naturalized citizen, but a derived citizen through my father's naturalization?
If so, would NASA's requirement for an additional document pertain to me as well?
 
That NASA document might be mistaken too :)

This is what USCIS says about derivative citizenship and certificate of citizenship:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=b328194d3e88d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=b328194d3e88d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

That doesn't mean that department of state and some lawyers talk about "derivative naturalization". I would say that NASA or port authority request should be dealt in the same manner, telling them that derivative citizens (derivative through their parent's naturalization) don't get certificates issued automatically, it doesn't work as in naturalization, and that if a passport would suffice as proof of citizenship. Anyway, I'm glad I applied for a certificate of citizenship for my child and I don't have to burden him with doing this in the future when documents and proofs might be more difficult to obtain.

There is also anothe angle to this. If indeed NASA or the port authority contact USCIS to verify your citizenship status, it has been my concern (and that's why I suggested other people to apply for certificates of citizenship for their children) that USCIS might not have any idea if you derived citizenship or not. The N-600 application should create a record inside USCIS of when and how you derived citizenship. I know a lot of people in this forum disagree with me, and truth be told for more intents and purposes it should not be required, but for me, it was worth it.
 
NASA or port authority will contact USCIS to verify citizenship status only when you present a citizenship document issued by USCIS. If you produce a US passport, they will contact state department, not USCIS.
The NASA document is only for issuance of a badge for new employees. It is also unclear from their document what the badging requirement for US born citizens is.
Anyway, the OP should talk to his supervisor and figure out why the specific request for CoN. If he can point to a written document that will be enlightening to us.
 
Yes, I am curious also about a written document or memo specifying the reasons for needing that specific document for proof of citizenship.
 
Huracan said:
I found this NASA webpage that asks naturalized citizens to bring the naturalization certificate copy to get employment, which is strange. I have read other documents on the Internet requiring the A number for DHS verification. Perhaps the whole idea of asking for the certificate instead of the passport is in order to obtain the A number and check with USCIS about the status of that person. Perhaps the person has had the citizenship revoked but still keep a valid passport.

http://employeeorientation.nasa.gov/dryden/relocation.htm

Anyway, there is a distinction as I noted earlier between naturalized and a person who has derived citizenship. Persons who derive citizenship do not get certificates unless they apply for N-600. However, it is expecting too much of bureaucrats to understand the difference. I hope you find out what you need after contacting HR and I would be curious to see any explanation of why would that be needed.
Click to expand...

The NASA document talks about those that are naturalized as citizens. As others have stated, hometownhero, you derived citizenship and therefore you are a US citizen by derivation NOT by naturalization. You can tell AirFrance this and see what they say. I have a feeling they are misinterpreting the law.
 
I've talked with HR, I'm a little peeved that others were only required to present a passport and not a birth certificate to prove their U.S. birth. It seems unfair that I have to provide a supporting document in addition to a passport and others don't. It seems like a gross oversight on the part of whoever created this new policy.
I still have not talked to Port Authority they are not in office for the weekend. I will talk to them on Monday, and attempt to get some written or electronic clarification.

I appreciate all of the input.
BTW, I will not be filling out an N-600. Port Authority supposedly told HR that a certificate of birth abroad will suffice. And this can be had in 4-8 weeks rather than the 2-4 months for the n-600.
 
Port Authority supposedly told HR that a certificate of birth abroad will suffice.

A certificate of birth abroad is issued by department of state for children born to US citizens abroad. You don't qualify for it since your parents were not US citizens when you were born.
 
hometownhero said:
I've talked with HR, I'm a little peeved that others were only required to present a passport and not a birth certificate to prove their U.S. birth. It seems unfair that I have to provide a supporting document in addition to a passport and others don't. It seems like a gross oversight on the part of whoever created this new policy.
Click to expand...
It may also be illegal discrimination. If HR won't accept your passport without the certificate, get a lawyer to send them a letter on your behalf (may cost $50-$100).
 
nkm-oct23 said:
A certificate of birth abroad is issued by department of state for children born to US citizens abroad. You don't qualify for it since your parents were not US citizens when you were born.
Click to expand...

wow thanks for the heads up. Perhaps I should not do anything until I speak with Port Authority on Monday.

As for the discrimination thing, I absolutely see this as a classic case of discrimination. They did not require U.S. born passport holders to prove it with a birth certificate. They did NOT have to provide any additional documents on top of their passport. But my passport, unlike theirs, is not good enough, I must have a supporting document with it.

I will present this angle on Monday though I was warned to be careful, apparently they are sensitive down at the Port Authority office.
I am not ready to create a big hoopla by hiring a lawyer to investigate this new policy. I am not an activist, I just don't want to lose my job with Air France. As offended as I am that my citizenship status is being treated differently than other Americans, I must keep my focus on obtaining the clearance I need and not creating drama that I do not need.
 
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