N-400 parental quation

[Wub100 0]

Hi All

 

I am adopted by my uncle which he brought me to the US when I was 17. I lived with him for about 3 years, now I am 22 and leaving with a roommate.  On the N-400 application It asks if I my father is USA citizen,  which he is.  I am not sure if I would get citizenship right now .Do I have to fill out the N-600 or can I just finish the N-400 application?

 

Thank you very much

[Hypnos 6,578]

Was the adoption final before you turned 18?

 

Did you enter on an immigrant visa (or were granted AoS) before you turned 18?

[Wub100 0]

I entered by immigration visa and I have a green card. 

[Boiler 46,353]

Was the uncle a USC.

 

There is also an English Language test.

[Wub100 0]

Yes my uncle became citizen in 2012. 

[Hypnos 6,578]

But when was the adoption finalised? And how old were you then?

[Wub100 0]

The adoption started when I was 8 finalized at a court back home and I got here I was 17 in 2012 in the same year when he got his US passport.  He is single and my mother is still in Ethiopia. 

[Boiler 46,353]

Odder and odder.

[Wub100 0]

Its not like they are married.  It is a family adoption. When my uncle brought me here He  was citizen and I was under 18. I am just confused if I have to fill out the N-400 or the N-600. right now am 22. 

[Hypnos 6,578]

It sounds as if you are already a US citizen under the Child Citizenship Act.

 

You became a US citizen on the day all of the following became true:

 

(i) you were under 18

 

(ii) one of your parents is a US citizen and was a US citizen by birth or naturalisation

 

(iii) you are an LPR

 

If this is the case, you wouldn't be eligible to file an N-400 because you're already a US citizen.

 

You could either file an N-600, at a cost of $1,170, to obtain a certificate of citizenship, or jump directly to obtaining a US passport, at a cost of $135, which would also serve as proof of US citizenship.

 

If you choose to go the passport route, you can find out how to do so here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/Child-Citizenship-2000-Sections-320-322-INA.html (scroll down to "How does the child get a passport...").

[Wub100 0]

Thank you very much for the clarification. I was going to apply for N-400 and see what they say. 

Thank you

[Going through 5,671]

14 hours ago, Wub100 said:

Thank you very much for the clarification. I was going to apply for N-400 and see what they say. 

Thank you

If you went ahead with the N400 and it was determined at the interview stage that you were already a citizen (under the CCA mentioned above), then the N400 would just be denied as ineligible and you would be told to go the N600 route....with no refund of the N400 fees, if you were curious about that.

 

Better to file the N600 (if you want the actual certificate in your hands), or do the passport if you meet the criteria given earlier.