Bluegrass1
Registered Users (C)
Hi everyone, I have quick question that I was curious about regarding the CCA (Child Citizenship Act) and whether or not a COC is necessary. I had posted a few months ago asking if you all think our child (who we adopted from overseas) needed a COC since he is already a citizen according to the Child Citizenship Act (CCA). We already have a US Passport for him and we've updated Social Security so they know he is a US Citizen. It seemed the advice and thoughts were divided among those who thought a COC was necessary and those who thought that just having a US Passport was enough.
I called USCIS customer service and asked the person I talked to, and she said that the US Passport was all we needed. Anyway, in the adoption community, people are also divided over whether or not to get a COC for their children. The people (in the adoption community) who believe the COC is crucial usually use this reason: they say that the people who issue the US Passports (state dept) and the USCIS do not really communicate the update; so they say that when you get the child's US passport (which is usually in the child's new adoptive name, not the birth name that is on the green card) that the state department does not notify the USCIS of the change and that the child is now a US Citizen, and that the only way to have the child removed from USCIS list as a permanent resident in their old name, is to get a COC. In other words, they are saying that's the only way USCIS updates the records.
Here's why I doubt this. First of all, surely the 2 departments communicate. Secondly, I think that when you apply for a SS Card, the SS people check everything against a database from USCIS to verify citizenship (isnt that right?), so by using a US Passport (from the state dept.) to verify citizenship at the SS office, wouldnt that mean that the name change and new citizenship status is in the USCIS database too? Otherwise you wouldnt be able to use a US Passport to verify citizenship with the SS folks would you?
Just wondering. I guess I should go ahead and just get the COC for our child to be certain that I've taken care of everything. But I've had several folks (including a the customer service rep I talked to at USCIS, and an attorney) tell me that the US Passport is all we need. Even the USCIS website about the Child Citizenship Act says that the COC is optional. Our son is the most important thing in our lives and I just want to make sure I have everything taken care of so he will have a wonderful life in this great country. I'm so thankful he is a US Citizen, and I am very blessed to be his dad.
I know you all know alot more about this than me so I just wanted your thoughts on how it all works together. Thanks and have a great day!
I called USCIS customer service and asked the person I talked to, and she said that the US Passport was all we needed. Anyway, in the adoption community, people are also divided over whether or not to get a COC for their children. The people (in the adoption community) who believe the COC is crucial usually use this reason: they say that the people who issue the US Passports (state dept) and the USCIS do not really communicate the update; so they say that when you get the child's US passport (which is usually in the child's new adoptive name, not the birth name that is on the green card) that the state department does not notify the USCIS of the change and that the child is now a US Citizen, and that the only way to have the child removed from USCIS list as a permanent resident in their old name, is to get a COC. In other words, they are saying that's the only way USCIS updates the records.
Here's why I doubt this. First of all, surely the 2 departments communicate. Secondly, I think that when you apply for a SS Card, the SS people check everything against a database from USCIS to verify citizenship (isnt that right?), so by using a US Passport (from the state dept.) to verify citizenship at the SS office, wouldnt that mean that the name change and new citizenship status is in the USCIS database too? Otherwise you wouldnt be able to use a US Passport to verify citizenship with the SS folks would you?
Just wondering. I guess I should go ahead and just get the COC for our child to be certain that I've taken care of everything. But I've had several folks (including a the customer service rep I talked to at USCIS, and an attorney) tell me that the US Passport is all we need. Even the USCIS website about the Child Citizenship Act says that the COC is optional. Our son is the most important thing in our lives and I just want to make sure I have everything taken care of so he will have a wonderful life in this great country. I'm so thankful he is a US Citizen, and I am very blessed to be his dad.
I know you all know alot more about this than me so I just wanted your thoughts on how it all works together. Thanks and have a great day!
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