Lost Naturalization Certificate and Passport Please Help!!!

T

trueblu

New Member
Hi, everyone. Hopefully someone can direct me. I lost my NC and expired PP when I moved. I'm not the most organized person and now I'm suffering for it. I have no immediate travel plans but would like to apply for a PP not only for my own peace of mind, but most jobs require proof of citizenship and I would like to go back to work. Having a valid driver's license and voter's registration is not enough for most jobs. I've seen from other posts that PP processing is faster and simpler than applying for a duplicate NC, which I will do later.

I was naturalized in 1977, and applied for and received a PP in 1987. On the plus side I do know my NC # and PP #, have my valid driver's license, voter's registration, many years of tax returns, payment slips from my previous employers showing my SSN, etc. I was ready to go to the post office and pay for the file search when I decided to call them to ask about it. The lady I spoke with then told me that file searches are not guaranteed. Stupid me but that possibility had never occurred to me. What if because it was so long ago, they have trouble locating my file? How should I even begin this process? Thank you for any help you can give me.
 
NC and passport are not a requirement for employment. A Drivers license + Original SSN card are sufficient to prove your legal status for most jobs. However, if you seek jobs that require proof of US citizenship then you are in trouble. Do you have copies of passport/NC?

Since NC is the "seed" for a US passport, you should get a first get a duplicate NC ASAP. See below for application and instructions:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/n-565.pdf
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/n-565instr.pdf

You will need to know your Alien Registration Number and Certificate number.

Once you get a new NC, you can apply for a passport. I am not sure if you can apply for a US passport without any documentation to prove US citizenship - the secondary evidence mentioned in the passport website of dept of state does not cover your situation. see http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_4315.html
 
Thanks for your answer, nkm-oct23. I not only want the passport to apply for a job but also as my proof of citizenship until I apply for and receive the duplicate NC. I have had a passport in the past, I'm just wondering that since it was a while ago, the search would find it. Actually, 1987 is not really that long ago, what do you think? Do you think that having had a passport previously would change the situation? I also read another post from someone in a similar situation who had lost both documents and filed a FOIA request. Do you know what this is? Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.
 
I don't know if just having a US passport in the past will be enough to apply for a new one. You will have to talk to someone at the National Passport Information Center (NPIC).
their phone number is 1-877-487-2778 24x7
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top