Filing n-400 for me and my children

[StateSide 0]

I am in the process of filing for citizenship for myself (K1) now married and having lived with my husband for 5 years. We have our 10 year green cards. My children are 19 and 21. In the N-400 application I will list all of my children. I have two that live with me in the US and came over with me in the fiance visa process. I also have one daughter who is married with children still living in Colombia. I know that I will list all three of my children on the N-400.

The N-400 instructions are a little confusing regarding years as a perminent resident in my situation. I meet the three year requirement as my husband is a us citizen and I have had my perminent residency since 2010.

My questions...

Will my children be covered under my N-400?

Fees?

If my children are not covered under my N-400 will they have to wait to meet the 5 year residency?

[Jamericanlove 31]

I am in the process of filing for citizenship for myself (K1) now married and having lived with my husband for 5 years. We have our 10 year green cards. My children are 19 and 21. In the N-400 application I will list all of my children. I have two that live with me in the US and came over with me in the fiance visa process. I also have one daughter who is married with children still living in Colombia. I know that I will list all three of my children on the N-400.

The N-400 instructions are a little confusing regarding years as a perminent resident in my situation. I meet the three year requirement as my husband is a us citizen and I have had my perminent residency since 2010.

My questions...

Will my children be covered under my N-400?

Fees?

If my children are not covered under my N-400 will they have to wait to meet the 5 year residency?

Because your children are over the age of 18 they are respnsible for meeting the requirements for citizenship on their own and will each have to file the N400 and pay individual fees. You still list all of them on your form. All the best for your citizenship journey!

[BigDaddy28 228]

Your kids cannot file with you for citizenship. They are older then 18 years, they have to be resident for 5 years before they can apply. Since you are still married with you husband you can apply in 3 years but your kids HAVE to wait for 5 years since they became residents.

[Henia 11]

What if the children are under the age of 18? and under 14? Like mine

[Udella&Wiz 325]

To the OP - yes - they will have individual applications, full fees for each one ($680 right now) and they will apply under the 5 yr rule when they are eligible.

For example - I became a citizen 2 yrs ago (my daughter was 19 then) and she is now just applying for her own now.

[Shub 78]

What if the children are under the age of 18? and under 14? Like mine

It doesn't matter if they are under 14. What matters is whether or not they are under 18. Obviously if they're under 14, they're also under 18

That being said, a child born outside the U.S. is a citizen after birth IF the child was under 18 or not yet born on February 27, 2001 AND at least one parent is a U.S. citizen, the child is currently under 18 and residing in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to lawful admission for permanent residence.

In other words, if you become a citizen before they turn 18, and if they are in the US as legal permanent residents, they will automatically become citizens when you do.

[BigDaddy28 228]

What if the children are under the age of 18? and under 14? Like mine

Your kids will be US citizens once you become a citizen. As long as they are under the age of 18 when you become a citizen then all you have to do for them is apply for your US passport and their US passport using your certificate of naturalization.

If you want to get done with USCIS and update their records, you can apply for N600 for each kid and the will have certificate of citizenship of their own.

Good luck.

[SunDrop 59]

If you want to get done with USCIS and update their records, you can apply for N600 for each kid and the will have certificate of citizenship of their own.

Good luck.

I would absolutely recommend doing this, so there's a traceable record of THEIR right to citizenship. Close family friend obtained his US Citizenship through his father, who was naturalized citizen based on 5 year residency. Friend was actually born in the UK, but within a time frame that qualified him to also become a citizen. Fast forward to a couple years ago, friend has lived in the US for over 20 years. His US passport had expired but they refused to renew it because he couldn't prove he had a right to citizenship, because he was born outside of the US to a naturalized parent. He couldn't apply for a copy of his Dad's cert, because it wasn't his. Total and utter chaos!

So, long story short, do your kids a massive favor and file a N-600 for them