What If I don't have all the papers they ask for (N-600) ?

[SabrinaAmira]

I'm filling out my N-600 form and I noticed that it asked for me to bring all these papers (parents marriage certificate, passports, etc) but the only papers I have is my Social Security card & the only ID i have is an old school ID with no birthdate just picture and name. I don't know what to do !? The reason I'm filling out this form is because I have no proof of citizenship so therefor I can't get an ID, and not having an ID is making it impossible to get a job, bank account, drivers license! I don't know what to do? I don't think my parents have these papers either and I'm 18 about to be 19 now! I really need help I've been trying to get an ID for 4 years now.

EDIT: i have an Alien Receipt number. I had a green card that expired a few years ago that I lost when my wallet was stolen. My parents naturalized and became citizens in 2003 when I was 11 , We came from England with my fathers work VISA i beleive. Also both of my parents have Their certificates of Citizenship, me and my sister didn't get any. I was 11 and she was 9 at the time my parents became naturalized citizens.

 

[Huracan]

Another reason for parents on this forum to do the N-600 right away after naturalization as it becomes harder as years go by.

I don't have an easy answer for you. USCIS usually wants copies of things. If they still have those documents on file from previous immigration applications then you don't need to resubmit. For example, if your parents already provided a marriage certificate as part of their Green Card process then you might not need to provide it again. On the other hand I would expect your parents to have their marriage certificate and some other documents. File with what you have or make sense for your case (documents needed depend on each particular case) and you can wait for them to ask for more documents if needed.

 

[Jackolantern]

It seems to me that you're NOT a US citizen.

If you never had a green card, what is your basis for claiming US citizenship and filing the N-600? Why do you think you are a US citizen?

Assuming you were born outside the US and never had a green card, you'll either need at least one parent to have been a US citizen at the time of your birth. Did either parent have US citizenship before you were born? How did you enter the US?

 

[Huracan]

That's a good point, there is no mention of Green Card in the whole original post.

 

[Jackolantern]

This is probably another situation where a person entered the US as a young child, stayed illegally, and grew up falsely thinking they're American when the reality is that they've been in the US illegally for years. So they have no birth certificate, no passport, no green card. The OP's parents probably don't have proof of citizenship because they're illegal too! (even though they may not have told this fact to the OP)

 

[SabrinaAmira]

i have an Alien Receipt number. I had a green card that expired a few years ago that I lost when my wallet was stolen. My parents naturalized and became citizens in 2003 when I was 11 , We came from England with my fathers work VISA i beleive. Also both of my parents have Their certificates of Citizenship, me and my sister didn't get any. I was 11 and she was 9 at the time my parents became naturalized citizens.

 

[faysal]

i have an Alien Receipt number. I had a green card that expired a few years ago that I lost when my wallet was stolen. My parents naturalized and became citizens in 2003 when I was 11 , We came from England with my fathers work VISA i beleive. Also both of my parents have Their certificates of Citizenship, me and my sister didn't get any. I was 11 and she was 9 at the time my parents became naturalized citizens.

You have two choice: First, when you lost your greencard, you were suppossed to report it and file form I-90-application to replace permenant card....Since this didn't happen, you can still file I-90 and get your greencard on your own. Once you get your greencard, then you can file for citizenship on your own....
Second...If you have greencard, and you were 11 when your parents naturilized, then you can claim citizenship through the N-600 process, but you must have the paperwork right...In each case, your case is very easy, but you a little immigration work...good luck

 

[baikal3]

I'm filling out my N-600 form and I noticed that it asked for me to bring all these papers (parents marriage certificate, passports, etc) but the only papers I have is my Social Security card & the only ID i have is an old school ID with no birthdate just picture and name. I don't know what to do !? The reason I'm filling out this form is because I have no proof of citizenship so therefor I can't get an ID, and not having an ID is making it impossible to get a job, bank account, drivers license! I don't know what to do? I don't think my parents have these papers either and I'm 18 about to be 19 now! I really need help I've been trying to get an ID for 4 years now.

EDIT: i have an Alien Receipt number. I had a green card that expired a few years ago that I lost when my wallet was stolen. My parents naturalized and became citizens in 2003 when I was 11 , We came from England with my fathers work VISA i beleive. Also both of my parents have Their certificates of Citizenship, me and my sister didn't get any. I was 11 and she was 9 at the time my parents became naturalized citizens.

Hmm. It sounds like you do qualify for derivative citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act. However, the problem is that before filing N-600, you need to recover documentary evidence of your permanent resident status. I doubt that an N-600 can be approved without such evidence.

Did your parents happen to at least have a photocopy of your old green card? If yes, the best thing to do is probably to first submit I-90 to get a replacement green card. A photocopy of the previous green card is generally required for an I-90 application.

If your parents did not keep a copy of your old green card (which would have been very irresponsible of them), you are in a bit of a pickle.
I still would suggest trying to submit I-90 with the information that you do have (you do know your A-number, correct?) and then seeing what happens.

Another thing that your parents can do is to file Freedom of Information/Privacy Act requests with USCIS to get complete copies of their own A-files. Hopefully, a copy of your old green card would be contained there.

What age were you what you came to the U.S. from the U.K? Did you have a U.K passport at the time? I assume that you have a U.K. birth certificate, correct?

Another thing that you could try doing is to get a new U.K. passport. If you don't have a copy of your old green card, then knowing your A-number plus having a valid ID like a U.K. passport, would be sufficient for filing I-90.

You may also want to talk to an immigration lawyer and also schedule an INFOPASS appointment with USCIS and see what they might recommend doing in your situation.

 

[Jackolantern]

With the immigrant visa and I-551 stamp in the old passport, and knowledge of the A-number, it should be possible to obtain a replacement green card without a copy of the lost green card.

 

[Jackolantern]

I don't think my parents have these papers either and I'm 18 about to be 19 now! I really need help I've been trying to get an ID for 4 years now.

Do your parents hate you? I can't believe they just sat there for 4 years and wouldn't help you to get an ID, including 3 years while you were under 18 and in their custody.

 

[SabrinaAmira]

Yeah, I have been asking them for 4 years because I wanted to get a bank account and permit and ID for work but they never tried helping me. I don't know why. I don't live with them anymore though, they kicked me out when I was 18.

 

[SabrinaAmira]

Hmm. It sounds like you do qualify for derivative citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act. However, the problem is that before filing N-600, you need to recover documentary evidence of your permanent resident status. I doubt that an N-600 can be approved without such evidence.

Did your parents happen to at least have a photocopy of your old green card? If yes, the best thing to do is probably to first submit I-90 to get a replacement green card. A photocopy of the previous green card is generally required for an I-90 application.

If your parents did not keep a copy of your old green card (which would have been very irresponsible of them), you are in a bit of a pickle.
I still would suggest trying to submit I-90 with the information that you do have (you do know your A-number, correct?) and then seeing what happens.

Another thing that your parents can do is to file Freedom of Information/Privacy Act requests with USCIS to get complete copies of their own A-files. Hopefully, a copy of your old green card would be contained there.

What age were you what you came to the U.S. from the U.K? Did you have a U.K passport at the time? I assume that you have a U.K. birth certificate, correct?

Another thing that you could try doing is to get a new U.K. passport. If you don't have a copy of your old green card, then knowing your A-number plus having a valid ID like a U.K. passport, would be sufficient for filing I-90.

You may also want to talk to an immigration lawyer and also schedule an INFOPASS appointment with USCIS and see what they might recommend doing in your situation.

I was born in Algeria, but we moved to England because my dad was studying there. Then we moved to America when I was 6 or 7. I don't know If I had a passport or not though. I asked my mom and she said I didn't need one because my age, but I don't know. And yeah I do know my A- number, I dont have a photocopy of my greencard though unfortuantly.

 

[baikal3]

I was born in Algeria, but we moved to England because my dad was studying there. Then we moved to America when I was 6 or 7. I don't know If I had a passport or not though. I asked my mom and she said I didn't need one because my age, but I don't know. And yeah I do know my A- number, I dont have a photocopy of my greencard though unfortuantly.

Well, the only way you can straighten out your situation is to get your parents to help you. Go to their house(s) and stay there until they do, if you have to. I can't believe that your parents would not help you if they understood the gravity of your situation.
From what you wrote I assume you do not have (a copy of) your birth certificate either, right?

 

[Jackolantern]

I was born in Algeria, but we moved to England because my dad was studying there. Then we moved to America when I was 6 or 7. I don't know If I had a passport or not though. I asked my mom and she said I didn't need one because my age, but I don't know.

Unless you entered illegally or claimed asylum or refugee status, you would have needed a passport to enter the US. Go to your parents place to find the old passport.

And yeah I do know my A- number, I dont have a photocopy of my greencard though unfortuantly.

How do you know the A-number is right? Where did you see it?

 

[anxiouscdn2]

Unless you entered illegally or claimed asylum or refugee status, you would have needed a passport to enter the US. Go to your parents place to find the old passport.

Back in the day, Britain and Commonwealth kids never had their own passports. Instead, you were listed on a parent's passport. I lived in the US for a year as a pre-schooler, because my dad had a temporary work assignment in this country. I was listed on my mom's passport and did not have one of my own. This was legal and normal, at the time (1960s). I see no reason to think the same couldn't be true for SabrinaAmira. If she was listed on a parent passport when she entered the US, her parents might very well not have that old passport any more. My country of origin confiscates expired passports when issuing a new one.

 

[Jackolantern]

Back in the day, Britain and Commonwealth kids never had their own passports. Instead, you were listed on a parent's passport.

OK, but a passport still was required to enter the US, it's just that the child could share the parent's passport.

If she was listed on a parent passport when she entered the US, her parents might very well not have that old passport any more.

Yes, sharing a passport with uncooperative parents would make it very difficult to obtain now.

 

[natur08]

I was born in Algeria, but we moved to England because my dad was studying there. Then we moved to America when I was 6 or 7. I don't know If I had a passport or not though. I asked my mom and she said I didn't need one because my age, but I don't know. And yeah I do know my A- number, I dont have a photocopy of my greencard though unfortuantly.

Can you tell us what documents you do have (even as copy) that might be a starting point? You may have to be a bit creative to obtain the documents needed for either a US passport or an N-600 application. How about:

- Filing a Freedom of Information request for your A file (since you have your A number). Depending on what is in the file, information regarding your parents' naturalization might be in there as well. You may also be able to have it expedited given your situation.
- Talk to your congressperson with regard to help obtaining documentation. Their immigration liaison might be able to help. (I have found that you get more attention if you make clear that you are a US citizen.)
- Give the State Department National Passport Information Center a call at 1-877-4-USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). They may have additional ideas.

 

[baikal3]

- Filing a Freedom of Information request for your A file (since you have your A number). Depending on what is in the file, information regarding your parents' naturalization might be in there as well. You may also be able to have it expedited given your situation.s.

Filing a FOI/PA request will be problematic. In order to do that, the applicant has to provide notarized signature on G-639 form:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pdf
Since the OP has no government-issued ID, it seems unlikely that any notary public would notarize her signature. Still, it might be worth a try...

 

[Jackolantern]

Filing a FOI/PA request will be problematic. In order to do that, the applicant has to provide notarized signature on G-639 form:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pdf
Since the OP has no government-issued ID, it seems unlikely that any notary public would notarize her signature. Still, it might be worth a try...

A notary can notarize documents based on personally knowing the individual. Of course, that option isn't available to everybody.

 

[natur08]

Filing a FOI/PA request will be problematic. In order to do that, the applicant has to provide notarized signature on G-639 form:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pdf
Since the OP has no government-issued ID, it seems unlikely that any notary public would notarize her signature. Still, it might be worth a try...

There is no need for a notarized signature. She can just apply with a letter without filling out a form (this is what I did when I requested my A file), and she would then be sent an additional form by the USCIS where she certifies her identity under penalty of perjury. The form asks for her A number and also her Social Security number (optional). They also ask for port of entry, name of parents and date of entry, although this is mainly needed to identify the documents.

This reminds me that if she has a Social Security number, she could also call the Social Security administration and see what they have on file and to request a card if she does not have one.

Furthermore, it would be useful to know whether she is a British or Algerian citizen. I am not sure about Algeria, but Britain allows dual citizenship and she might be able to get additional documents from their consulate. Depending on the state she lives in, she might be able to cobble together enough documents for the ID.