Filling out N-600 (COC) for son, question about "a-number", etc.

[Bluegrass1]

Hi. I am filling out the N-600 to get our son's COC. We adopted him internationally, so he gained citizenship through the Child Citizenship Act and already has a U.S Passport to prove it. He is only 3 years old so I thought it might be a good idea to go ahead and get the COC although many people seem to think a U.S. Passport is all he would ever need.

Anyway, the N-600 can be confusing and I was gathering up every possible thing I thought I would need to send, when I came across a copy the I-171 (I-797), it is the USCIS approval letter of the I-600 that we had to have before we brought him home. Here's my question, on the I-171 (I-600 approval letter) there is his name and a "file number" listed in the upper right area of the letter, this file number starts with an "a". But on his permanent resident card, his actual "a-number" is different than that file number on the I-171 (I-600 approval letter). Are these numbers supposed to be different? I know the actual A-number on the Green Card is the one we should use on the N-600 application.

We we got the US passport, they sent the green card back to us. I understand that when we apply for the N-600, they will ask us for it.

Any information about those two numbers I mentioned and whether that is anything to be concerned about would be appreciated. I don't want anything to be confusing when we send in the N-600.

 

[BigJoe5]

Hi. I am filling out the N-600 to get our son's COC. We adopted him internationally, so he gained citizenship through the Child Citizenship Act and already has a U.S Passport to prove it. He is only 3 years old so I thought it might be a good idea to go ahead and get the COC although many people seem to think a U.S. Passport is all he would ever need.

Anyway, the N-600 can be confusing and I was gathering up every possible thing I thought I would need to send, when I came across a copy the I-171 (I-797), it is the USCIS approval letter of the I-600 that we had to have before we brought him home. Here's my question, on the I-171 (I-600 approval letter) there is his name and a "file number" listed in the upper right area of the letter, this file number starts with an "a". But on his permanent resident card, his actual "a-number" is different than that file number on the I-171 (I-600 approval letter). Are these numbers supposed to be different? I know the actual A-number on the Green Card is the one we should use on the N-600 application.

We we got the US passport, they sent the green card back to us. I understand that when we apply for the N-600, they will ask us for it.

Any information about those two numbers I mentioned and whether that is anything to be concerned about would be appreciated. I don't want anything to be confusing when we send in the N-600.

The I-600 as a petition was assigned as receipt number. AFTER he was granted LPR status he was assigned an "A#" for the Immigrant Visa and File.

 

[Bluegrass1]

The I-600 as a petition was assigned as receipt number. AFTER he was granted LPR status he was assigned an "A#" for the Immigrant Visa and File.

Thank you Joe, I really appreciate it. So the "file number" on the I-600 approval letter (I-171 was the letter and it was I-796 Notice of Action) was just that, a "file number", not an actual A-Number (as on a green card), right? Although the file number on the I-600 approval letter actually did happen to start with the letter "A"...just coincidence? I just don't want there to be any confusion when we submit the N-600.

 

[Jackolantern]

We we got the US passport, they sent the green card back to us. I understand that when we apply for the N-600, they will ask us for it.

Make sure you only send a copy of the green card with the N-600 application. Bring the physical card to the USCIS office at the end of the process when you go to pick up the citizenship certificate (unless they directly mail the certificate to you without requiring an in-person visit).

Although the file number on the I-600 approval letter actually did happen to start with the letter "A"...just coincidence?

Is it the same as the A-number on his green card?

Use the A-number from your son's green card for the N-600 application. If you see any other document with an A-number that doesn't match the A-number on the green card, ignore the number on those other documents.

 

[Bluegrass1]

Make sure you only send a copy of the green card with the N-600 application. Bring the physical card to the USCIS office at the end of the process when you go to pick up the citizenship certificate (unless they directly mail the certificate to you without requiring an in-person visit).


Is it the same as the A-number on his green card?

Use the A-number from your son's green card for the N-600 application. If you see any other document with an A-number that doesn't match the A-number on the green card, ignore the number on those other documents.

Thanks Jackolantern very much. The "file number" on the I-600 approval letter (form I-171, I-797 Notice of Action) starts with an "a" but it is totally different than the actual "A-number" on the green card. I will use the A-number from the green card when I fill out the N-600, I was just wondering if the "A-number" from the green card and the "file number which starts with an a" from the I-600 approval letter should have been the same.

I tend to worry about filling everything out exactly correct. lol.

We already have the US Passport, I just thought it might be a good idea to also get the COC because otherwise how would USCIS be informed that he is now a citizen? Or do the Passport people let them know when they issue the passport?