Kids Naturalization

F

Flashington

Registered Users (C)
Hi Guys,

As many of you I'll be requesting my citizenship this year, I haave 2 kids under 18, their GC were issued 3 months before mine, can anyone advise me on how to proceed with this? Should I request their citizenship in advance or just wait until I request my wife's and mine? Do they go through the same process? please advise.

Regards to all.
 
Flashington said:
Hi Guys,

As many of you I'll be requesting my citizenship this year, I haave 2 kids under 18, their GC were issued 3 months before mine, can anyone advise me on how to proceed with this? Should I request their citizenship in advance or just wait until I request my wife's and mine? Do they go through the same process? please advise.

Regards to all.
Click to expand...

Kids under 18 CANNOT get citizenship on their own. A kid becomes a citizen when a parent does.
 
Assuming that you have legal and physical custody of the child, the child will automatically become a citizen when you are sworn in. You can (and should) then apply a passport for him or her. To do that, you need to provide the Passport Office proof that you are the parent, your naturalization certificate and
the child's green card. It should be a simple process.

The rules were different before 2001.
 
thankful said:
Assuming that you have legal and physical custody of the child, the child will automatically become a citizen when you are sworn in. You can (and should) then apply a passport for him or her. To do that, you need to provide the Passport Office proof that you are the parent, your naturalization certificate and
the child's green card. It should be a simple process.

The rules were different before 2001.
Click to expand...

Is the child have to be a green card holder at least 5 years in order to be eligible to get the US passport from his her US citizen parent?
 
thankful said:
Assuming that you have legal and physical custody of the child, the child will automatically become a citizen when you are sworn in. You can (and should) then apply a passport for him or her. To do that, you need to provide the Passport Office proof that you are the parent, your naturalization certificate and
the child's green card. It should be a simple process.

The rules were different before 2001.
Click to expand...

I know that you should file N-600 for childen under 18 to order to get Citizenship certificate after one of parents become USC.
It make sense that child or any person will need some kind of document on their own to prove that they are USC to order to apply for US passport.
Here is the instruction and the form.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-600instr.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-600.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
thankful said:
Assuming that you have legal and physical custody of the child, the child will automatically become a citizen when you are sworn in. You can (and should) then apply a passport for him or her. To do that, you need to provide the Passport Office proof that you are the parent, your naturalization certificate and
the child's green card. It should be a simple process.

The rules were different before 2001.
Click to expand...

Thankful: I too have children and have been looking into this. I have seen a number of documents even though I don't remember the details, but my understanding is: When a parent of children under 18 is applying for a citizenship, the parent can petition for their children; if the child has greencard, the parent has legal and physical custody of the child...The parent needs to petition, and on the day the parent becomes citizen, then the child will have approved petition of their own and becomes a citizen. I don't think that because the parent becomes a citizen the child also become a citizen outomatically. there must be a paperwork and fee...If I am wrong on this issue, I will not insist on it, however, common sense will resist a greencard and then passport; there is a gap there...happy new year to all of you
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Actually, the child automatically obtains US citizenship when any of it's parents naturalize and the child

a) is a GC holder;
b) is in the physical custody of the naturalized parent in the US;
c) is under 18 years old.

No other paperwork is required to claim the child's citizenship. For practical purposes a passport should be obtained for the child with the following documentation:
1) Child's original birth certificate showing both parents' names;
2) Child's green card;
3) parents naturalization certificate.

It is possible to apply for child's passport at the same time as the parents' passports.
 
faysal said:
Thankful: I too have children and have been looking into this. I have seen a number of documents even though I don't remember the details, but my understanding is: When a parent of children under 18 is applying for a citizenship, the parent can petition for their children; if the child has greencard, the parent has legal and physical custody of the child...The parent needs to petition, and on the day the parent becomes citizen, then the child will have approved petition of their own and becomes a citizen. I don't think that because the parent becomes a citizen the child also become a citizen outomatically. there must be a paperwork and fee...If I am wrong on this issue, I will not insist on it, however, common sense will resist a greencard and then passport; there is a gap there...happy new year to all of you
Click to expand...

Under a law that took effect in 2001 it is automatic and in theory you do not need to do anything further for the kid. Obviously you will want proof of the kid's new status. So just go ahead and apply for a passport.
 
thankful said:
Under a law that took effect in 2001 it is automatic and in theory you do not need to do anything further for the kid. Obviously you will want proof of the kid's new status. So just go ahead and apply for a passport.
Click to expand...

Thankful, So what is the N-600 for? A fee of $420 is required with that form. So what you say is just go ahead and request passport, no fees?

Thanks for all your help.
 
N-600 is an application for a certificate of citizenship which is another way to document your child's US citizenship. In my opinion a US passport is a better option (you will get it anyway) since it is easier to get and cheaper. If you absolutely need a second backup documentation for citizenship you can also apply for a passport card along with the passport which costs an additional $20 for a child. It is a card just like the green card and is acceptable proof of US citizenship almost everywhere. It needs to be renewed every 5 years for a child and 10 yeards for those over 18.
 
thankful said:
Under a law that took effect in 2001 it is automatic and in theory you do not need to do anything further for the kid. Obviously you will want proof of the kid's new status. So just go ahead and apply for a passport.
Click to expand...

It is too good to believe, and will take your word for it....
 
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