Daughter of USC

[jo_islandgirl 0]

Hi, I became a USC on 12/12/12. I filed for my US Passport begining of February 2013 along with my minor daughter of 17 years old (she would turn 18 on May 2013) and she holds a Green Card. I received my US Passport end of February and received a letter requesting I provide my divorce decree and proof of custody. I sent the decree and the sent the affidavit which showed that I had legal custody of my daughter. Passport Information Center received these on March 6. I have been calling the passport office every other weeks for updates but till now they keep saying it is being processed and a note was added since it is past processing time. I also sent out a letter to New Hampshire Passport Office and still nothing. My daughter turned 18 on May 29... and now I am not sure whether she is still elligible to obtain a US passport thru me the US Parent since she is not a minor anymore and I should file for N-600?? I would think that since I applied when she was a minor shouldn't affect her obtaining a US Passport... not sure.

1. Has anyone been in a situation like with the Passport Office?

2. Do I have to file form N-600 for my daughter?

3. Is there a way to contact an officer from the Passport Office (not the agency/information center)

Thank you all for any insight.

J

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

*** Moving from Bringing Family to US Citizenship forum ****

[N400-2011 24]

As long as she was under the age of 18, and in your legal and physical custody, and a permanent resident when you became a citizen, she became eligible to receive a US passport. Therefore it doesn't matter if the passport was applied for before or after her 18th birthday.

If you want additional proof of her citizenship status, she may file the N-600 application - she is now over 18 so she should be the one to fill it out. The date on the certificate should be the date when the parent became a citizen.

[Mark88 183]

The moment you completed the naturlization process (12/12/12/) is the moment you're daughter became a USC. Even if she doesn't have a US Passport, she still is a USC by law.

We almost went through the same thing, that's why we went to a passport agency instead of a post office. Main advantage is you could have picked up her passport within a day or two and they deal on a daily basis with the child citizenship act. You can read why here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/431566-our-story-crba-for-our-child-denied-entering-the-us-with-a-baby-transportation-letter-and-citizenship-through-the-cca/

"Receiving US Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 and a US Passport"

[Markieboy 104]

Hi, I became a USC on 12/12/12. I filed for my US Passport begining of February 2013 along with my minor daughter of 17 years old (she would turn 18 on May 2013) and she holds a Green Card. I received my US Passport end of February and received a letter requesting I provide my divorce decree and proof of custody. I sent the decree and the sent the affidavit which showed that I had legal custody of my daughter. Passport Information Center received these on March 6. I have been calling the passport office every other weeks for updates but till now they keep saying it is being processed and a note was added since it is past processing time. I also sent out a letter to New Hampshire Passport Office and still nothing. My daughter turned 18 on May 29... and now I am not sure whether she is still elligible to obtain a US passport thru me the US Parent since she is not a minor anymore and I should file for N-600?? I would think that since I applied when she was a minor shouldn't affect her obtaining a US Passport... not sure.

1. Has anyone been in a situation like with the Passport Office?

2. Do I have to file form N-600 for my daughter?

3. Is there a way to contact an officer from the Passport Office (not the agency/information center)

Thank you all for any insight.

J

I recently went through a similar situation.

My wife had her naturalization on May 28th. Her daughter (my stepdaughter) fulfilled all the requirements of Section 320 of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Both of them applied for their passports at the Seattle Passport Agency. My wife had no problems with her passport application. She submitted her Certificate of Naturalization. However, the agent denied her daughter a passport. We submitted 1) her mother's Certificate of Naturalization, 2) her foreign birth certificate and 3) proof of permanent residence...her green card. Still, the agent requested more evidence. School records, baptismal certificate. Of course, we didn't have those documents (as this was not specified in the DS-11 instructions). He stated that if we couldn't furnish any of those documents, we would need to have her own Certificate of Citizenship or have a maternal dna test performed.

Of course, I know that the agent is misinformed. I quoted Section 320 of the CCA of 2000. He still insisted on providing additional evidence. We did plan on have her own Certificate of Citizenship. However, we'll get our state representatives involved in expediting her N-600 application. Since there is no biometrics or civics exam (for minors), we hope to have her certificate issued ASAP. It really irritates me that one person's ignorance of the law will cause so much inconvenience to others.

As long as she was under the age of 18, and in your legal and physical custody, and a permanent resident when you became a citizen, she became eligible to receive a US passport. Therefore it doesn't matter if the passport was applied for before or after her 18th birthday.

If you want additional proof of her citizenship status, she may file the N-600 application - she is now over 18 so she should be the one to fill it out. The date on the certificate should be the date when the parent became a citizen.

Right! The date on the Certificate of Citizenship should be the date the parent naturalized.

The moment you completed the naturlization process (12/12/12/) is the moment you're daughter became a USC. Even if she doesn't have a US Passport, she still is a USC by law.

We almost went through the same thing, that's why we went to a passport agency instead of a post office. Main advantage is you could have picked up her passport within a day or two and they deal on a daily basis with the child citizenship act. You can read why here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/431566-our-story-crba-for-our-child-denied-entering-the-us-with-a-baby-transportation-letter-and-citizenship-through-the-cca/

"Receiving US Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 and a US Passport"

[N400-2011 24]

I recently went through a similar situation.

My wife had her naturalization on May 28th. Her daughter (my stepdaughter) fulfilled all the requirements of Section 320 of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Both of them applied for their passports at the Seattle Passport Agency. My wife had no problems with her passport application. She submitted her Certificate of Naturalization. However, the agent denied her daughter a passport. We submitted 1) her mother's Certificate of Naturalization, 2) her foreign birth certificate and 3) proof of permanent residence...her green card. Still, the agent requested more evidence. School records, baptismal certificate. Of course, we didn't have those documents (as this was not specified in the DS-11 instructions). He stated that if we couldn't furnish any of those documents, we would need to have her own Certificate of Citizenship or have a maternal dna test performed.

Of course, I know that the agent is misinformed. I quoted Section 320 of the CCA of 2000. He still insisted on providing additional evidence. We did plan on have her own Certificate of Citizenship. However, we'll get our state representatives involved in expediting her N-600 application. Since there is no biometrics or civics exam (for minors), we hope to have her certificate issued ASAP. It really irritates me that one person's ignorance of the law will cause so much inconvenience to others.

Right! The date on the Certificate of Citizenship should be the date the parent naturalized.

Thank god the passport agency in New York knew what they were doing when my son and I went to apply for our passports (Passport day in Sept. 2011). For my son, I submitted exactly what you did - and we got the passports and cards with no further need to submit anything.

I also filed the N-600 for my son at the beginning of May, 2013 - just to close the USCIS file and have that very expensive scrap of paper in case he ever needs it. Unfortunately, NYC takes 9.7 months to process this application.

Edited June 4, 2013 by N400-2011

[Mark88 183]

I recently went through a similar situation.

My wife had her naturalization on May 28th. Her daughter (my stepdaughter) fulfilled all the requirements of Section 320 of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Both of them applied for their passports at the Seattle Passport Agency. My wife had no problems with her passport application. She submitted her Certificate of Naturalization. However, the agent denied her daughter a passport. We submitted 1) her mother's Certificate of Naturalization, 2) her foreign birth certificate and 3) proof of permanent residence...her green card. Still, the agent requested more evidence. School records, baptismal certificate. Of course, we didn't have those documents (as this was not specified in the DS-11 instructions). He stated that if we couldn't furnish any of those documents, we would need to have her own Certificate of Citizenship or have a maternal dna test performed.

Of course, I know that the agent is misinformed. I quoted Section 320 of the CCA of 2000. He still insisted on providing additional evidence. We did plan on have her own Certificate of Citizenship. However, we'll get our state representatives involved in expediting her N-600 application. Since there is no biometrics or civics exam (for minors), we hope to have her certificate issued ASAP. It really irritates me that one person's ignorance of the law will cause so much inconvenience to others.

It's really sad, that these civil servants have no idea of the law.

[jo_islandgirl 0]

Hello All - Thank you for the responses. I am now somewhate relieved that even though she turned 18 her application is still valid ..... just not sure why it is taking sooo long; we are travelling end of July 2013...... Geee next month!!

I contacted our congress staffer yesterday he kindly explained how he/the congress office can help to work with the State Department to expedite passport and resolve issues. He will send my daughter a form (since she is now 18) and we will have to fill that out explaining what happened. Fingers-cross that this takes care of this issue!

So if anyone here is going through similar situation please contact your congressional representative they can help expedite.

I will let you all know if I was successful:-)

[Markieboy 104]

I contacted my state representatives today.

One of the congressman's liaisons replied to my expedite request. She stated that she contacted USCIS and, unfortunately, my request does not meet any of the expedite criteria.

My family and I are planning to visit the Philippines this summer (end of June). Since my stepdaughter is now a U.S. citizen (from what I understand), she must use a U.S. passport to exit and enter the United States.

Our local USCIS office is currently processing N-600 in August 2012. If we are using their timeline, it would take months for our N-600 to be approved! We are still hoping our other state reps will work something out. I cannot imagine our situation being that difficult to resolve.

I'll post any updates.

[N400-2011 24]

Go to a passport agency and apply for her passport there (need proof of travel within two weeks to make an appointment). I edited my comment because I realize they rejected her application. The agency will handle it better.

I have a pending N-600 for my son (to close his USCIS file) - in NYC, the processing timeline says 9.7 months. Thank god I already have his passport.

Edited June 7, 2013 by N400-2011

[N400-2011 24]

Arrgh...just realized that you said that they applied at a passport agency...this is making no sense to me. I never had to submit any school records or any additional evidence...

[jo_islandgirl 0]

Update! GOOD NEWS!

I finally received my daughter's US passport last week. As mentioned in my earlier post I had to get our state representative (New Jersey -Office of Chris Smith) involved last June 2013. The gentleman was very kind and was of great assistance. After several emails and follow up calls it was finally came! At one point I was told that there was an issue with the government from our country of origin ... I contacted the consultate on the island and they were as baffled as we were. Stating nothing can be done on there side. It is in the USCIS court.. We travelled in early August 2013 and my daughter had to use her Mauritian passport ( there was no other way...not our fault even if technically she was a US citizen then). My daughter is attending college overseas so I mailed her passport! :-)

I wanted to know what was the bottleneck and the answer was ''we DO NOT need any additional info from you' go figure....

Thank you all for the insight!

[Shub 78]

Wow, thanks for the update... A full year to get a stupid passport is borderline scandalous. It doesn't sound like there was anything out of the ordinary with your case, your daughter became a US citizen at the same time you did, and in the absence of a certificate of naturalization, all you need under the law as you probably know by now is her translated foreign birth certificate, her green card and your proof of citizenship... It makes sense they would ask to prove that you're a single parent and have legal custody but I really don't understand why it took so long.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Shub