Filing N-400 for myself and my child

[cindaroo64 0]

I am now eligible to apply for citizenship. I have a 15 year old daughter who is also eligible to apply for citizenship. (we came into the US together when she was 6 years old and I married my American husband)

My question is, do we have to apply separately or can we apply on one application because she is a minor? Do I pay one application fee for the two of us if I can apply on one application or do I have to pay two fees?

Any information would be helpful!

Thanks in advance

Cindy

[Bobby+Umit 161]

How is your daughter eligible to apply? Is she adopted by the USC? (are you referring to the N-600?)

Each N-400 is for one individual - with it's own fee.

[lucyrich 20]

You apply only for yourself. One application, one fee. She doesn't file anything at this time. Of course, in the biographic information, where it asks you to list your children, you list her, but you don't need to make any special notation that she's wanting to become a citizen too.

When you become a citizen, assuming she's still under 18 at the time, assuming she has a green card, and assuming she's living with you in the US, she will automatically become a citizen via the child citizenship act. She doesn't have to take any special action to become a citizen; the law makes her one just by being the child of a US Citizen who is under 18 and living in the US with LPR status in the custody of a US Citizen parent.

After you have your naturalization certificate in hand, you can fill out an N-600 request for citizenship certificate for your child. Or you can just apply directly for a US passport for your child.

[NickD 203]

You apply only for yourself. One application, one fee. She doesn't file anything at this time. Of course, in the biographic information, where it asks you to list your children, you list her, but you don't need to make any special notation that she's wanting to become a citizen too.

When you become a citizen, assuming she's still under 18 at the time, assuming she has a green card, and assuming she's living with you in the US, she will automatically become a citizen via the child citizenship act. She doesn't have to take any special action to become a citizen; the law makes her one just by being the child of a US Citizen who is under 18 and living in the US with LPR status in the custody of a US Citizen parent.

After you have your naturalization certificate in hand, you can fill out an N-600 request for citizenship certificate for your child. Or you can just apply directly for a US passport for your child.

18 years and 4 months is way way too old to get that privilege. Even questioned the USCIS directly about that, 17 years and 364 days is okay. Now if her mom could have carried her another four months, we would have been fine. Or if we would have received the conditional green cards four months earlier. But the USCIS was very slow back then.

[cindaroo64 0]

I came into the US from Canada in 2001 with my three children. We all got greencards. My two oldest were not eligiable to apply for citizenship until after they had turned 19 so they have each made separate applications.

My daughter is only 15 so I wondered if she needed to fill out an application as well, but I can see by the response here that that need not be the case.

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Our greencards do not expire until 2014 but I want to apply for citizenship before she turns 18 and save myself some time and money!

Thanks again!

[NickD 203]

I came into the US from Canada in 2001 with my three children. We all got greencards. My two oldest were not eligiable to apply for citizenship until after they had turned 19 so they have each made separate applications.

My daughter is only 15 so I wondered if she needed to fill out an application as well, but I can see by the response here that that need not be the case.

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Our greencards do not expire until 2014 but I want to apply for citizenship before she turns 18 and save myself some time and money!

Thanks again!

Often wonder on what basis these rules are made of, you as my wife as immigrants to this country cannot petition for your own children, only the sponsoring USC spouse can do that. Provided they are under 21 years of age, but at least at under that age, they can be petitioned for by the sponsoring USC spouse. Over 21, only the biological parent can petition for them, and that is after they have become a LPR. When we looked into that, was like a nine year processing wait. Looked like at the time, we would be better off with waiting until she became a USC and petitioned right after. But those processing dates for an unmarried child over 21 are jumping all over the place. We have no idea when her son will be processed. It causes a strain, and families should be able to stay together

This has created an interest as to the immigration rules of other countries, some will take you as long as you have a couple of bucks in your pocket. As a 3rd generation Italian, they want me back, but didn't check about my family yet. Is it about being loyal to your country or to your family?