Just adopted my step-son (adult adoption)

R

ricka01

New Member
Hello everyone,
I searched but not sure if I found the answer to this.
I am a born U.S. citizen, and married my Brazilian wife 10 years ago, and got green cards for her and her son, who was 8 at the time).

Anyway, his dad is horrible, and would not give consent to an adoption. So we waited until my step son was 18, and we did an adult adoption. What now? Other posts mentioned that adoption of an adult gives has no effect on citizenship. Therefore, should he apply for citizenship the same way as everyone else? Will there be anything different about the process for him?

In the meantime, should he go get a new Green Card from the BCIS? What is necessary for that? Thanks!
 
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Adult adoption brings no immigration benefits, so he didn't derive citizenship through you.

Did his mother become a US citizen before he turned 18? If yes, and she had legal custody of him (which I assume would have been established before they approved his green card), he may have already derived US citizenship through her and should apply for a US passport and/or N-600. Otherwise, he should file N-400 if he wants US citizenship, just like all other adults who want to become US citizens.

In the meantime, should he go get a new Green Card from the BCIS? What is necessary for that? Thanks!
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You mean his green card is about to expire because he's had it for almost 10 years? If he applies for citizenship with more than 6 months remaining on his green card, he won't have to apply for renewal; either his citizenship process will be completed within those 6 months, or he'll be entitled to free I-551 stamping in his passport to extend his green card if his citizenship process is still pending when his green card expires.
 
Thanks for your reply.

No, his mom (my wife) is not a citizen (her Green Card expires in 2 years - no reason to wait to apply for citizenship, guess)

His Green Card will expire in about 18 months (this is actually is second Green Card; his first one was some kind of short-term provisional one). Therefore, during the months until citizenship is finalized, his Green Card will have a wrong name on it unless we get a new one. Do you think we should bother to do this? I am worried that for some reason he would need his Green Card, and that it may not be valid because of the name change.
Thanks,
Rick
 
What do you mean his green card would have a "wrong name" on it? Was his name changed on other documents? If yes, was his name changed through a court process (the adoption?), or did you somehow just start putting his name on other documents without any formal name change process?
 
wow! I am sorry that I did not mention it before. His name changed as part of the adoption; he got rid of his biological father's name, and took my (and his mom's) name. As the adoption was very recent, his green card still has his former name on it. Sorry about the confusion.
Rick
 
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