Applying Citizenship for Wife + Step Child

[uscitizeninca 0]

Hello,

Today I have started to look into applying for Citizenship for my wife & (step) daughter. I am a US citizen (for more than 5 years). My wife & daughter (Age: 10 years) received their Green cards (Resident since: 10-30-2010). So I figured that it will be 3 years on 10-30-2013. Since we can apply 90 days prior, so I should be able to apply in August 2013. They both have their seperate Green Cards individually.

Please advice about these question:

• On USCIS we site, it says that one has to be 18 years or older to apply
• How can I apply for both my wife & daughter?
• Do I apply together or something like it?
• Do I fill out 1 N-400 form & include my daughter?
• Are theor 2 seperate fees?

So basically my question is how do I apply for both my wife & (step) daughter when the child is less than 18 years of age?

Thanks & Best Regards

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Your daughter, if your biological daughter, is already a US Citizen, because she has a US Citizen parent and is in possession of valid immigration documents and presently in the US. You can order N600 for her or just a passport.

If she is your step daughter, then your wife can apply for citizenship and then the daughter will become a citizen through the mom, and you can also apply for N600 or a passport.

edit: Oh, I just realized you said (step).

Edited August 17, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[BigDaddy28 228]

Since your daughter is not biologically yours, she can't get citizenship through you. But Thanks to the child act issued in 2001, your step daughter can become a citizen once her mother becomes a citizen. So what you have to do is simple. File N400 for your wife that's it. Forget about your daughter for now until later. Do everything for your wife once she is approved and 1 second after she takes her oath, your wife and your daughter are US citizen. Your daughter has to be younger than 18 years old. Once your wife is approved for citizenship, apply for a passport for your wife and your daughter (yes I said and your daughter). Fill up a passport application for your daughter and send green card, and custody papers to prove that your wife has custody of your daughter (necessary). After that you will receive both passports. If you want to close the door all the way with USCIS, apply for N600 for your daughter once your wife becomes a citizen. Good luck.

[wadelmaki 0]

Silkafii88

When you say close the door and apply for N-600 what exactly do you mean by that. I know you have responded to another post by me last week.

[uscitizeninca 0]

Thank you so much everyone who replied. This forum is great. It is clear to me now. As suggested by responders, I plan to apply N-400 Citizenship for my wife. Once she gets the citizenship, I will apply N-600 for my (step) daughter so that it is confirmed. Once received, then I will apply for both the passports together. I understand that wife's passport can be applied as soon as she gets the citizenship certificate. For daughter I would rather do the N-600 & then apply for passport since I feel it would be a safer.

Thanks again. I will help anyone if someone needs to find about my experience with this process as I go thorugh it.

[newacct 688]

Thank you so much everyone who replied. This forum is great. It is clear to me now. As suggested by responders, I plan to apply N-400 Citizenship for my wife. Once she gets the citizenship, I will apply N-600 for my (step) daughter so that it is confirmed. Once received, then I will apply for both the passports together. I understand that wife's passport can be applied as soon as she gets the citizenship certificate. For daughter I would rather do the N-600 & then apply for passport since I feel it would be a safer.

Thanks again. I will help anyone if someone needs to find about my experience with this process as I go thorugh it.

There is no point to waiting for a Certificate of Citizenship before applying for a passport. A passport is faster and cheaper to get. You can get a Certificate of Citizenship later to be safe for the long term if you want.

[BigDaddy28 228]

Silkafii88

When you say close the door and apply for N-600 what exactly do you mean by that. I know you have responded to another post by me last week.

See when one parent naturalize and the kids have green cards, by law the kids are US citizens. But Since the law confirmed that USCIS didn't update their data and put on the kids file that they are citizens because one of their parent naturalized. Applying for N600 even though you have a US passport will make USCIS update that record,and when the kid gets older later and if God forbids he looses that passport that he had he can use that certificate that his parent got him from USCIS as a proof of US citizenship.

For a person who is born in the US, they can get a birth certificate to prove that they are US citizens. For Immigrants who naturalize, there is no record of birth in the US. It's the certificate of naturalization that you get from USCIS that proves you are a citizen. For a kid who became a citizen because his mother or father naturalized, only that certificate is the proof of citizenship if passport is not applied for or lost. N600 gets you that certificate.

I hope I did explain it to you better than I did before. I'm sorry for not being clear as I should've when I answered your question earlier.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you so much everyone who replied. This forum is great. It is clear to me now. As suggested by responders, I plan to apply N-400 Citizenship for my wife. Once she gets the citizenship, I will apply N-600 for my (step) daughter so that it is confirmed. Once received, then I will apply for both the passports together. I understand that wife's passport can be applied as soon as she gets the citizenship certificate. For daughter I would rather do the N-600 & then apply for passport since I feel it would be a safer.

Thanks again. I will help anyone if someone needs to find about my experience with this process as I go thorugh it.

Small point - YOU are not "applying for (your) wife's citizenship". SHE is applying for HER citizenship as the spouse of a USC based on 3 years marriage to said USC (and 3 years - 90 days of LPR status). She signs the paperwork, you are not involved in the process at all. You don't even attend the interview... you can but you won't be interviewed. This is HER process.

[NickD 203]

One major difference between the I-751 and N-400 process, if your stepdaughter received her green card within 90 days of your wife, pay an extra 80 bucks, and she automatically receives receives her ten year green card. With the N-400 provided your stepdaughter is under 18 years of age, your wife lists her daughter in the family section, plus any other kids you may have. And then at the oath ceremony for your wife, your stepdaughter is told she is a US citizen, just like your wife.

But without any proof, don't ask me or any other logical person why they do it this way. Only cost about 15 cents to print out that certificate.

Another very nebulous subject is that I-864 we are forced to sign. Doesn't have to be a family split up, but if it is, you as the sponsor are obligated to pay both your wife and stepdaughter 125% above the poverty level until they both receive their US citizenship, then finally free of that obligation. If not that, your job moves to China, a sever injury or illness, would come out of your pocket.

This is suppose to end with citizenship, and would think with a US passport, should be proof enough, but not written in stone. So would feel safer with the N-600 to completely close the door with the USCIS.

Does seem weird to me that two entirely different governmental agencies can offer proof of citizenship, but with the USCIS with that door closed, done with them and just dealing with the DOS. Should be use to this since over 1,500 new governmental agencies appeared out of nowhere in just the last 40 years. Jurisdiction is the issue, with wars between the EPA and OSHA, or the FAA and the FCC, and even in law enforcement. Or about dealing with over 40 agencies to drill a well on your own property?

Name one congressman that can even name all these agencies, let alone know what they are doing. But yet they all claim congress has made their laws. Sure made a mess out of this once great country.

[billtherese 0]

Thank you so much everyone who replied. This forum is great. It is clear to me now. As suggested by responders, I plan to apply N-400 Citizenship for my wife. Once she gets the citizenship, I will apply N-600 for my (step) daughter so that it is confirmed. Once received, then I will apply for both the passports together. I understand that wife's passport can be applied as soon as she gets the citizenship certificate. For daughter I would rather do the N-600 & then apply for passport since I feel it would be a safer.

Thanks again. I will help anyone if someone needs to find about my experience with this process as I go thorugh it.

I was looking to find out some more information about this process. Myself and my son are green card holders. My husband petitioned for us. I plan on applying for Citizenship when the time comes. My son will be 15 years old at that stage. I'm wondering if your wife had full custody of her daughter? I have joint custody with my sons biological father. He does not live in America and communication is not good between us. Do you know if I would need his permission to get my son an American passport when we receive Citizenship?

If anyone has first hand experience with this situation I would appreciate their input.

Thank you

Edited June 26, 2015 by billtherese