US Passport for a permenant resident child

[karkoor24]

Hi,

I got my citizenship 2 weeks ago. They told me at the ceremony that my daughter automatically qualified for a passport. I went ahead and applied for a US Passport for my child who had her green card exactly at the time I got mine. She got her passport on Friday, but they returned it with the Green Card! Do I have to return the green card to USCIS> or I just keep it?

Also, where (other than the SSA) should I update her immigration status?

Your advise is appreciated.

Thank you

 

[cafeconleche]

You're supposed to return it to CIS or destroy it I think, but they won't bother you about it. If you want, you can keep it as a souvenir.

I'm not sure where else a child needs updated records. Does she have state ID? The DMV, then. Maybe at school?

 

[sarwarmd]

Visit SSA ofice to update

Go to SSA office and inform them that you have got citizenship now!

 

[BigJoe5]

Hi,

I got my citizenship 2 weeks ago. They told me at the ceremony that my daughter automatically qualified for a passport. I went ahead and applied for a US Passport for my child who had her green card exactly at the time I got mine. She got her passport on Friday, but they returned it with the Green Card! Do I have to return the green card to USCIS> or I just keep it?

Also, where (other than the SSA) should I update her immigration status?

Your advise is appreciated.

Thank you

It is wise to file an N-600 for your daughter. Approval will supply her with a Certificate of Citizenship and the DHS database will be updated. That will serve her for the rest of her life. Depending on her age, her passport might only be a 5-yr passport.

USCIS will want the greencard back in exchange for the Certificate.

8 CFR

PART 341--CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP

§ 341.4 Surrender of immigration documents.

Each claimant shall surrender any immigration identification and permanent resident cards in his or her possession.

 

[baikal3]

Hi,

I got my citizenship 2 weeks ago. They told me at the ceremony that my daughter automatically qualified for a passport. I went ahead and applied for a US Passport for my child who had her green card exactly at the time I got mine. She got her passport on Friday, but they returned it with the Green Card! Do I have to return the green card to USCIS> or I just keep it?

Also, where (other than the SSA) should I update her immigration status?

Your advise is appreciated.

Thank you

I second what BigJoe5 said: it is a good idea for you to file N-600 for your daughter now, to get her a certificate of citizenship.
See http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
for the application instructions.

Under the provisions of the Child Citizenship Act, she automatically became a U.S. citizen when you naturalized. While getting a certificate of citizenship is not mandatory in such cases, it is still a good idea to do that now. Unlike a U.S. passport, a certificate of citizenship is a non-expiring document proving U.S. citizenship. It is much easier for her to get a certificate of citizenship now, while she is still a minor and is living with you, than to try to get it later when she is an adult.

 

[-me-]

She got her passport on Friday, but they returned it with the Green Card!

DOS does not need your daughter's green card. They do not keep track of your status. It's just a flaw in the broken government, when the passports prooving the citizenship are issued by a department, that has nothing to do with the citizenship. Like others recommended, submit N-600 and get the Certificate... well, it will cost you $600 though...

 

[König]

It's just a flaw in the broken government, when the passports prooving the citizenship are issued by a department, that has nothing to do with the citizenship.

I agree that it is indeed the flaw in the process of granting the citizenship. However, the Department of State also has a jurisdiction over granting the citizenships in certain cases. In my opinion, all citizenship cases - whether by birth or by naturalisation - should go through the USCIS. The Department of State should only serve as a intermediary in this process. Of course, many people will cry "big government" if that ever becomes the case. I also believe that the Federal government should maintain vital statistics (death, birth, marriage, etc), but unfortunately, it will not happen for another few hundred years...

 

[-me-]

I agree that it is indeed the flaw in the process of granting the citizenship. However, the Department of State also has a jurisdiction over granting the citizenships in certain cases. In my opinion, all citizenship cases - whether by birth or by naturalisation - should go through the USCIS. The Department of State should only serve as a intermediary in this process. Of course, many people will cry "big government" if that ever becomes the case. I also believe that the Federal government should maintain vital statistics (death, birth, marriage, etc), but unfortunately, it will not happen for another few hundred years...

Yeah, in very certain cases, limited to the birth abroad, which in fact only complicates things even more. I would totally agree, that there must be only one government department, granting/confirming the citizenship.
And, under no circumstances, any person should have a valid U.S. passport and yet to have a PR status with USCIS.

 

[GKER]

What is the N600 process like? Is it similar to N400, involving FP/interview/oath ceremony/same timeline, or is it just a matter of sending in the form and getting a certificate?

 

[baikal3]

What is the N600 process like? Is it similar to N400, involving FP/interview/oath ceremony/same timeline, or is it just a matter of sending in the form and getting a certificate?

The N-600 process is simpler than N400.

If I remember correctly, there is no FP or biometrics for N600 for young children (I think under 14), but there may be FP required for older applicants, I am not completely sure.


Sometimes they just mail the citizenship certificate to the applicant without an interview, sometimes there is a (relatively short) interview - that depends on whether the case is straightforward and on the age of the applicant.

As for the oath, the details sometimes vary, depending on a particular DO.
Technically, there is no analog of the naturalization oath for N-600 applicants - since, if their applications are approved, they are already U.S. citizens. There is a short swearing in at the interview, if an interview is required.
However, I also seem to remember reading that some DOs hand in the certificate of citizenship to (some) N-600 applicants during the regular naturalization oath ceremonies for the N-400 applicants.

The main issue with N-600 is a rather substantial application free - $600 (somebody at USCIS must have a strange sense of humor). Still, it is worth doing.

 

[BigJoe5]

There is a requirement to take the Oath in order to get the Certificate of Citizenship. It is a statutory requirement, clarified in the regulations.
********************

INA: Sec. 341. [8 U.S.C. 1452] CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP OR U.S. NON-CITIZEN NATIONAL STATUS; PROCEDURE

(a) A person who claims to have derived United States citizenship through the naturalization of a parent or through the naturalization or citizenship of a husband, or who is a citizen of the United States by virtue of the provisions of section 1993 of the United States Revised Statutes, or of section 1993 of the United States Revised Statutes, as amended by section 1 of the Act of May 24, 1934 (48 Stat. 797), or who is a citizen of the United States by virtue of the provisions of subsection (c), (d), (e), (g), or (i) of section 201 of the Nationality Act of 1940, as amended (54 Stat. 1138; 8 U.S.C. 601), or of the Act of May 7, 1934 (48 Stat. 667), or of paragraph (c), (d), (e), or (g) of section 301 of this title, or under the provisions of the Act of August 4, 1937 (50 Stat. 558), or under the provisions of section 203 or 205 of the Nationality Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1139; 8 U.S.C. 603, 605), or under the provisions of section 303 of this title, may apply to the Attorney General for a certificate of citizenship. Upon proof to the satisfaction of the [Secretary of Homeland Security/USCIS] that the applicant is a citizen, and that the applicant's alleged citizenship was derived as claimed, or acquired, as the case may be, and upon taking and subscribing before a member of [USCIS] within the United States to the oath of allegiance required by this Act of an applicant for naturalization, such individual shall be furnished by the [Secretary of Homeland Security/USCIS] with a certificate of citizenship, but only if such individual is at the time within the United States.

************
8 CFR § 320.5 Decision.

(a) Approval of application. If the application for the certificate of citizenship is approved, after the applicant takes the oath of allegiance prescribed in 8 CFR 337.1 (unless the oath is waived), USCIS will issue a certificate of citizenship.

************
8 CFR § 322.5 Decision.

(a) Approval of application. If the application for certificate of citizenship is approved, after the applicant takes the oath of allegiance prescribed in 8 CFR 337.1 (unless the oath is waived), USCIS will issue a certificate of citizenship. The child is a citizen as of the date of approval and administration of the oath of allegiance.

************
8 CFR § 341.5 Decision.

(a) Adjudication. USCIS may adjudicate the application only after the appropriate approving official has reviewed the report, findings, recommendation, and endorsement of the USCIS officer assigned to adjudicate the application.

(b) Approval. If the application is granted, USCIS will prepare a certificate of citizenship and, unless the claimant is unable by reason of mental incapacity or young age to understand the meaning of the oath, he or she must take and subscribe to the oath of renunciation and allegiance prescribed by 8 CFR 337 before USCIS within the United States. Except as provided in paragraph (c), delivery of the certificate in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(19) and 8 CFR 103.8 must be made in the United States to the claimant or the acting parent or guardian.

 

[baikal3]

(b) Approval. If the application is granted, USCIS will prepare a certificate of citizenship and, unless the claimant is unable by reason of mental incapacity or young age to understand the meaning of the oath, he or she must take and subscribe to the oath of renunciation and allegiance prescribed by 8 CFR 337 before USCIS within the United States. Except as provided in paragraph (c), delivery of the certificate in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(19) and 8 CFR 103.8 must be made in the United States to the claimant or the acting parent or guardian.

Do you know what the cut-off age is for the applicant to be unable "to understand the meaning of the oath" because of "young age"? Is it being younger that 14 y.o.?

 

[BigJoe5]

Do you know what the cut-off age is for the applicant to be unable "to understand the meaning of the oath" because of "young age"? Is it being younger that 14 y.o.?

While it can vary based on the individual, 14 is the age at which the parent can no longer sign UNLESS the the child is unable to to so, so that is the standard age. However, many offices will still call in younger kids anyway at certain times of the year (like during summer vacation) and have a ceremony or "celebration" (feel-good, PR photo op).

 

[-me-]

Interesting enough, that even USCIS considers filing N-600 as optional, if the child has already acquired the U.S. Passport through the naturalized parents. Yet, they want $600 for that. I would say it must be for free. Or at least comparable to what you pay for a copy of the birth certificate (like $20). They can't be SO gready... And yes, if I pay $600 for my kid, I want an all-inclusive service with the "celebration",party, balloons, cake, free drinks and live music...
LOL

 

[Bluegrass1]

After we got a US passport for my son I called uscis to ask them if we needed a COC (N600) for him. The lady I talked to said that the US Passport was sufficient and the COC was optional. We used the US passport to change his status with Social Security to citizen. Still it bothers me that USCIS may have him listed as a permanent resident in their database; so after 4 years we applied for the COC (N600) two days ago. I don't mind the fee, what I dreaded was the constant worry that I would have if the postal service lost the N600 or if I never got an email-text confirmation from uscis or if they didn't cash the check; I worried I would not be able to just call someone to see where it was or what happened. Well, sure enough, the postal service lost our N600 package even though we sent it Express Mail Overnight. When they located it (they say it was never lost) they delivered to the USCIS at 6:06 PM on June 6th (wouldn't they be closed) and it had signature stamp (not an actual signature as far as I can tell, but a signature stamp) by "L. Creeden". Now, I have not received a text-email confirmation and the check hasnt been cashed which must mean either it is lost or misplaced or I've accidentally filled something out incorrectly. It's not possible to just pick up the phone and get an answer. There's got to be a more efficient to do this, especially for those that already have a US passport proving their citizenship.

 

[Jackolantern]

Now, I have not received a text-email confirmation and the check hasnt been cashed which must mean either it is lost or misplaced or I've accidentally filled something out incorrectly. It's not possible to just pick up the phone and get an answer.

It is common for them to take 2-3 weeks before the application is entered into the system and they cash your check.

There's got to be a more efficient to do this, especially for those that already have a US passport proving their citizenship.

Unfortunately, there have been many erroneously issued passports over the years, and USCIS doesn't automatically trust the Department of State's decision to issue passports. USCIS will review all the evidence afresh, and if they determine that the child isn't a citizen they'll tell the Department of State to revoke the passport.

However, as USCIS is the primary authority of evaluating who has citizenship and who doesn't, the DoS will automatically trust any citizenship certificate issued by USCIS.

 

[rjackal]

Now, I have not received a text-email confirmation and the check hasn't been cashed which must mean either it is lost or misplaced or I've accidentally filled something out incorrectly.

.. or it means you need to calm down and wait patiently. You went thru multiple immigration processes for your son, right? You realize it's a 5 month process for N-600? How did you survive the stress before?
Your package has arrived safely at the USCIS lockbox. You have a delivery confirmation with the name of someone who is known to be the correct recipient.
The text/email is not sent out immediately, if at all. It takes a couple days.
The check is not cashed for about a week. Look at other people's timelines.
Relax and enjoy the weekend with your family.

 

[Bluegrass1]

Thanks Jackolantern. On the uscis website it says to expect a text/email confirmation in 2-3 days. I also noticed here on the board where someone had submitted an N400 this past Monday and received their text on Wednesday. I know ours is a N600 but I assumed it might be similar. According to USPS ours was delivered to uscis at 6:06 pm on June 6.

The part you mentioned about uscis looking at everything afresh even though there is a US passport shouldn't be a problem, as far as I know everything is in perfect order. That's still a scary thought though.

 

[Bluegrass1]

.. or it means you need to calm down and wait patiently. You went thru multiple immigration processes for your son, right? You realize it's a 5 month process for N-600? How did you survive the stress before?
Your package has arrived safely at the USCIS lockbox. You have a delivery confirmation with the name of someone who is known to be the correct recipient.
The text/email is not sent out immediately, if at all. It takes a couple days.
The check is not cashed for about a week. Look at other people's timelines.
Relax and enjoy the weekend with your family.

Thanks Rjackal. You are right, we went through the immigration process to bring our son here but somehow it's different now with the N600 I think because he is now here and as his dad I don't ever want to let him down. I want to make sure I have taken care of everything he needs to grow up and have a wonderful life. I can handle a 4-5 month wait for the N600 as long as I know USCIS has accepted our package. I appreciate your kind words and support.

 

[Jackolantern]

When they located it (they say it was never lost) they delivered to the USCIS at 6:06 PM on June 6th (wouldn't they be closed)

By 5 or 6:00 they're closed to the public, but they still have people working there in the late evening and on Saturdays.