Where was my Certificate of Citizenship issued?

[naatan 0]

Hey guys,

I have a weird issue. I once had a Naturalization Certificate because I immigrated here when I was a child. This took place in Chicago, IL somewhere. Years later I lost it!

So long story short, I had to go through some long drawn out process to replace it. At that time I was living in San Francisco, CA.

What I ended up receiving was not an exact replacement. In fact, it wasn't a Naturalization Certificate at all, but rather a Certificate of Citizenship.

And now as I'm filling out form I-129F, it's asking me questions about it that I'm not sure of.

Part 1

Question 13.d:

Have you obtained a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship in your name?

Yes

Question 13.d.1:

Certificate Number

Ok, I think I see this. It's in the top right corner denoted by the "No."

Question 13.d.2:

Place of Issuance

Hmm, not sure. Are we talking about the original Naturalization Certificate that I lost... or where I applied for this replacement Certificate of Citizenship? I remember the folks in the San Francisco office had to reach out to the department in the Chicago office, then there was a bunch of delays. Not sure now what the "Place of Issuance" is.

Any ideas?

Question 13.d.3:

Date of Issuance

Same deal here. Are they asking about the original Naturalization Certificate or this replacement Certificate of Citizenship? On this Certificate of Citizenship it has has the following remarks:

... Having applied to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization for replacement of a Certificate of Citizenship issued by the commission on May 11, 1987, evidencing that (s)he became a citizen of the United States of America on August 28, 1986...

Now Therefore, in pursuance o the authority contained in Section 343(b) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, this Certificate of Citizenship is issued this Fourth day of May, Year Two Thousand...

So I'm guessing the date I need to supply is May 4, 2000?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Don't know much about naturalization, but I would think since you are using the Certificate of Citizenship as your document all your answers should come from that document. I would not refer to information on the lost document because you are not using that as evidence for your I-129f packet.

Good Luck!

[naatan 0]

Don't know much about naturalization, but I would think since you are using the Certificate of Citizenship as your document all your answers should come from that document. I would not refer to information on the lost document because you are not using that as evidence for your I-129f packet.

Good Luck!

Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks!

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Your welcome. Maybe someone with naturalization experience will respond too.

[teeak 224]

Since you're saying you were a child when you obtained US citizenship, I'm going to assume it was through your parent who naturalized in the US. You would then have derived citizenship because your parent had naturalized before you turned 18 and you were a permanent resident in the US.

Since you did not have to go through the naturalization process (interview, test, etc.) you would not have received a naturalization certificate but, your parent would have. Instead you would receive a certificate of citizenship, evidencing your US citizen status which you obtained through your parent.

All your above answers make sense. As for the place of issuance, it would be where you were living when your certificate was issued, basically when you became a USC. That would be Chicago, IL.

Edited July 5, 2016 by teeak

[naatan 0]

Since you're saying you were a child when you obtained US citizenship, I'm going to assume it was through your parent who naturalized in the US. You would then have derived citizenship because your parent had naturalized before you turned 18 and you were a permanent resident in the US.

Since you did not have to go through the naturalization process (interview, test, etc.) you would not have received a naturalization certificate but, your parent would have. Instead you would receive a certificate of citizenship, evidencing your US citizen status which you obtained through your parent.

All your above answers make sense. As for the place of issuance, it would be where you were living when your certificate was issued, basically when you became a USC. That would be Chicago, IL.

Hmm, so this goes a little counter to what I thought since I received this Certificate of Citizenship from the San Francisco office. Do you mind if I ask how certain you are of this information?

And also, what date then do I use? Because the original was issued in Chicago, IL on one date, and this replacement was issued in San Francisco on another date. So if I state the place of issuance is Chicago, do I use the original date also?

[teeak 224]

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/frequently-asked-questions-about-when-children-may-derive-citizenship-from-parents-who-na

My cousin recently derived citizenship through my aunt. She came to the US when she was 5 yo as a LPR, her mother became a US citizen when my cousin turned 10 and they applied for a US passport and certificate of citizenship for my cousin.

Hmm, I thought it was a replacement certificate and it references all the information listed on your original certificate?

The date listed would be as you presumed May 4, 2000 and the place where it was issued would be Chicago

[naatan 0]

Ok, so I just found this:

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/whats-naturalization-certificate-date-place-issuance.html

Toward the bottom it states:

On newer certificates, the place of issuance is not stated, but can be presumed to be Washington, DC. You can also use your residence at the time the certificate was issued, which is on the certificate, since this will help identify your certificate. Older certificates may have been issued by a court. If so, use the location of the court, not your residence.

It must be a newer certificate since the location that it was issued is not listed. I'm now really confused. Should I use Washington, DC, San Francisco, or Chicago? :-\

[teeak 224]

It also states that you can use your residence at the time the certificate was issued. Your original certificate was issued (May 2000) whilst you were in Chicago, correct?

[naatan 0]

It also states that you can use your residence at the time the certificate was issued. Your original certificate was issued (May 2000) whilst you were in Chicago, correct?

The original was issued in Chicago on 1987. The replacement was issued in San Francisco on 2000.

What do you think?

[teeak 224]

Hmm, well the most important part is evidencing that you are a USC and eligible to file a Form I-129F. And if as evidence, you're submitting the replacement certificate, then you may just want to use the 2000 date and San Francisco location.

[newacct 688]

Note that children who derive citizenship as minors from their parents usually don't get a Certificate of Citizenship (they don't need to). So it's possible that this is your first Certificate of Citizenship and you never got one before.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Check on the certificate. I lived in another town during my naturalization. the place of ceremony became the place of issuance not the city I lived in.

I just want to point that out to those saying that your place of residence becomes that place to put there.

Wherever it says on the certificate is what you put down.

[Cathi 5,839]

it was issued wherever you lived when you were naturalized, not where you lived when you got the replacement. They want to know where the original naturalization certificate was issued.

Use the numbers from the replacement to fill in your answers

[Caykay1 71]

Hey guys,

I have a weird issue. I once had a Naturalization Certificate because I immigrated here when I was a child. This took place in Chicago, IL somewhere. Years later I lost it!

So long story short, I had to go through some long drawn out process to replace it. At that time I was living in San Francisco, CA.

What I ended up receiving was not an exact replacement. In fact, it wasn't a Naturalization Certificate at all, but rather a Certificate of Citizenship.

And now as I'm filling out form I-129F, it's asking me questions about it that I'm not sure of.

Part 1

Question 13.d:

Yes

Question 13.d.1:

Ok, I think I see this. It's in the top right corner denoted by the "No."

Question 13.d.2:

Hmm, not sure. Are we talking about the original Naturalization Certificate that I lost... or where I applied for this replacement Certificate of Citizenship? I remember the folks in the San Francisco office had to reach out to the department in the Chicago office, then there was a bunch of delays. Not sure now what the "Place of Issuance" is.

Any ideas?

Question 13.d.3:

Same deal here. Are they asking about the original Naturalization Certificate or this replacement Certificate of Citizenship? On this Certificate of Citizenship it has has the following remarks:

... Having applied to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization for replacement of a Certificate of Citizenship issued by the commission on May 11, 1987, evidencing that (s)he became a citizen of the United States of America on August 28, 1986...

Now Therefore, in pursuance o the authority contained in Section 343(b) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, this Certificate of Citizenship is issued this Fourth day of May, Year Two Thousand...

So I'm guessing the date I need to supply is May 4, 2000?

Call the Uscis that's what they're there for. Explain to them and they can advise you. Don't know why people trust strangers with such topics than the people employed to to answer such questions. If they're not helpful that's when you ask strangers. Most answers I saw to my questions here, I still called Uscis to make sure.