Legal entry for N-600K

[bister 0]

For anyone who has entered the US for the purpose of a naturalization interview, can you tell me how the child entered the USA? Was a specific visa required, or was an ESTA/visa waiver acceptable? Thanks.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Naturalization is applied for via form N-400. The minimum age for this is 18 years.

There is no naturalization interview for an N-600 or N-600K as these forms are for people who are US citizens already.

US citizens don't need to nor can they be naturalized. A B2 or, if applicable, VWP entry in connection with an interview letter from the USCIS should suffice. I know it sounds crazy, as a US citizen would not need a visa to enter the United States, but some things are just plain crazy when it comes to these things.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Brother Hesekiel

[bister 0]

There is no naturalization interview for an N-600 or N-600K as these forms are for people who are US citizens already.

US citizens don't need to nor can they be naturalized. A B2 or, if applicable, VWP entry in connection with an interview letter from the USCIS should suffice. I know it sounds crazy, as a US citizen would not need a visa to enter the United States, but some things are just plain crazy when it comes to these things.

Thanks for the reply. On the N-600K form itself, it says "This form, the N-600K is an application for the naturalization of a child who regularly resides outside the United States and for the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship to the child." and we are being called for an interview. However, it sounds like it's ok for the UKC child, soon to be USC, to enter with an ESTA for the N-600k interview with USC parent.

[jhm3 15]

Thanks for the reply. On the N-600K form itself, it says "This form, the N-600K is an application for the naturalization of a child who regularly resides outside the United States and for the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship to the child." and we are being called for an interview. However, it sounds like it's ok for the UKC child, soon to be USC, to enter with an ESTA for the N-600k interview with USC parent.

As you say, an application for citizenship for a child using N-600K is in fact an application for naturalization, under Section 322 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act. These children are not US citizens by birth, but they do qualify for expeditious naturalization because they meet certain other criteria. The State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual (section 9 FAM 41.31 N14.6) states that a child entering the US to be naturalized through this process may be issued a B-2 visitor visa as long as it can be shown that he/she will subsequently return to a regular residence abroad. (The text is available here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/87206.pdf) Presumably if the child is a citizen of a VWP-eligible country, he/she could enter that way, as a visitor.

[bister 0]

Presumably if the child is a citizen of a VWP-eligible country, he/she could enter that way, as a visitor.

Right. Well, that's what I'll aim for. But being a naturally cautious person, I didn't want to end up with the dialogue: CBP: "I see you're here on an ESTA. Business or pleasure?" Me: "er, what does attending an interview for the purposes of obtaining citizenship fall under?"... and getting turned around on the next flight

But I'm getting the impression I'm being over-cautious and that an ESTA will be ok. One month to go before I find out.