N-600K Complete Experience/Process - Canada to USA

[Eric Peterson 9]

• Just wanted to share my experience here as I found this forum helpful while applying for citizenship for my children via N-600K form.

 

I was first turned on to this N-600k form after emailing the US Consulate in Calgary, AB (where I reside) - I emailed them and they responded to my email same day.

 

I am dual US/Canadian citizen (wife Canadian citizen), I did not meet the residency requirements to fill birth abroad applications for my children because I moved to Canada before I turned 14 (residency requirement 2 years of consecutive residency after you are 14 years old).

 

I have 4 children to fill N-600K applications for, using my father's (children's paternal grandfather's) residency as he was born in the USA and lived in US for more than 2 years after age 14. 

 

I had to create 4 different USCIS accounts with 4 different emails, and pay the fee 4 times. about $1,140/ea

 

I filled the applications in online, paid online etc. I reside in Canada (abroad) and this wasn't an issue.

 

I had to provide proof of my father's residency in the US ie mortgage, utility, social security documents, as well as high school diploma etc etc all helped. I uploaded these scans online.

 

I sent the application online on February 13th 2023, and chose the Helena, MT office as it is a days drive from where we live in Canada and had an estimated processing time of 8mo for this application (we were then anticipating a trip in fall 2023, some USCIS offices had 50+ month processing times, while one or two had 2-3mo processing times. I think 4 or 5 had the 8-13mo processing times) I used this link:

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

I didn't hear anything until March 21st 2023, when I got an email from the Helena, MT USCIS office saying the applications we're approved and requesting to set an interview time at the office.

 

In the email they requested I bring all original documents that I submitted via scan and upload AND that when we enter the USA for the appointment that I request at the port of entry from the boarder agent to stamp our passports to show legal entry - they don't normally stamp Canadian passports from my experience unless requested. Also sent me pdf acceptance letters for use at the boarder if they questioned our entry and requested that we bring the printed acceptance docs to the interview (ended up showing it to the security agent at the USCIS office in Helena) The mailed versions arrived the week before we left on the trip, so I guess they sent the pdf version incase the mailed version didn't arrive in time. The acceptance letter was addressed to my children, with 'C/O' then child's name - it was mailed to my address though (same address the kids reside at)

 

The earliest date they had was April 10th 2023, we chose the April 17th 2023 appointment date (they had appointments available every Monday from April 10th - mid June to choose from), they scheduled all 4 kids for appointments 1h apart (9am, 10am, 11am and 12pm) for the same day. 

 

I had to ask via email if my father needed to attend (it wasn't clear in any instructions) and the answer was YES - as he was the one we were using residency for for the applications. 

 

We planned the trip to Montana and attending the interviews on Monday, April 17th 2023 at 9am. When we crossed the boarder I requested the passports be stamped - no issue took a couple mins, I think he talked to his supervisor. Asked 'so you're trying to escape Canada?' in a cheeky way with a smile, I said 'eventually'. Let us in no problem (we have travelled frequently to the US - by land and air - with the kids over the last year, spending about 5mo+ in the US just travelling as 'tourists') So I'm sure they can see that in their system.

 

On Monday, April 17th 2023 at 9am we showed up to the office about 10mins early, one person in line in front of us. At security we asked the very friendly officers if we could bring all 4 kids in at once, he called up to the adjudicating officer and allowed all 4 kids, myself and my father into his office for the interviews.

 

The interview was my father and I taking an oath to tell the truth (raise your right hand and repeat after me), we were in his office for about 20mins (with all 4 children 7 and younger), officer was just looking over my passport, my fathers (US Passports for both) and my Children's 4 Canadian passports and verifying the stamp we received at the land boarder (stamp said B1/B2 visa, with B2 circled) 

 

Officer was friendly and patient with all 4 of my wild children in his office. I had to do 4 digital signatures, didn't read what I was signing. He kept saying 'this is an easy one, cause they're young - just need a few signatures'. Didn't look at any original documents or ask us any questions.

 

After we were done in his office my dad took the kids to the van, I waited in the waiting area for 15mins and he came out with the 4 printed citizenship documents and 4 mini American flags, asked if I had any questions, said congrats and shook my hand and I was on my way. 

 

So I started gathering the documents for this application January 15th 2023, eventually sent in the application on February 13th 2023, and received first response on March 21st 2023, and kids got their citizenship on April 17th 2023

 

Now, I have scheduled the US passport application 'interviews' at the US Embassy in Calgary, AB in late May for all 4 kids. So all in all it seems like the process for us from first gathering documents to kids having passports will be less than 6 months. 

 

Seems like this experience is abnormal on the speed side of things, but might also be because I chose a 'quiet' office and had all my ducks in a row?

 

To summarize the requirements we met:

 

1. Paternal Grandfather (grandmother is not US Citizen) met residency requirements to pass citizenship to grandchildren 

a. Father US citizen, did not meet residency requirements to pass citizenship to children. (mother non-us citizen, children born outside of US)

2. Created separate online logins with 4 different emails, paid fee 4 times. (I created 4 different emails, and setup autoforwarding to my primary email address so I would get the notifications still)

3. Found a USCIS office with quick processing times: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

4. As part of the application got my I-94 form to show lawful entry would occur from this website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/history-search (arrival/departure records)

5. Submitted online application and paid $1,140 fee for each separate application: https://myaccount.uscis.gov/

6. Waited for response from the local office I selected in the application (see #3)

7. Got a personal email from the field office, once interview was scheduled I got automatic email notification from USCIS account saying interview scheduled. 

8. Brought all original documents AND my father to scheduled interview AND got land border agent to stamp kids passports to show lawful entry. 

9. Interview for children (7y/o and younger), no questions asked, signed some paperwork, confirmed lawful entry to USA and printed citizenship certificates.

10. Fill out passport application and schedule appointments with local US Embassy in my home country for children to receive US passports  

 

Happy to answer any questions, but that's the summary!

 

Good Luck!

 

Eric Peterson

Black Kettle Consulting

Canada

Edited April 20, 2023 by Eric Peterson
Add clarity

[mam521 1,854]

Excellent summary.  Thank you!

 

Just something to note that isn't applicable to the children for some time, but all USC, regardless of whether they've lived in the US or not, earned US income or not, are responsible for filing US Income Tax.  Many kids don't realize this and attempt to petition for a family member as adults and have to make this adjustment before they can proceed.  

[Eric Peterson 9]

On 4/21/2023 at 10:09 AM, mam521 said:

Excellent summary.  Thank you!

 

Just something to note that isn't applicable to the children for some time, but all USC, regardless of whether they've lived in the US or not, earned US income or not, are responsible for filing US Income Tax.  Many kids don't realize this and attempt to petition for a family member as adults and have to make this adjustment before they can proceed.  

Yes! And even more so all the obscure forms relating to all bank accounts in US citizen's name - luckily there is $100,000+ per year exemption amount on foreign income so mostly just filing returns and keeping addresses current etc. Once you know all these fine details it's only a minor inconvenience to comply imo. 

[CeciBol 0]

Eric Peterson,

Thank you very much for sharing your experience!! I find myself in a similar situation, I am applying for my kid and 2 nephews, so it is my Mother (Grandmother) the one providing the citizenship and thanks to you now I know how to proceed with the three uscis accounts. 

Would you please help with the next matters? 

- Who should sign the N-600K online form, my mother? or me for my kid and my sister for hers?  or is it the applicant, meaning the children?

I am filling out the form, but in my mother's name. Meaning we created the uscis account for her, and everything is at her name and signing. 

 

- After having filled out all the form, and uploaded all concerning documents, in the last section for reviewing, in the SUMMARY section, the system shows me a Draft Case Snapshot of my form, and it appears incomplete, even dough the summary itself is complete. and now I have doubts about sending it like that. I have reviewed every step and there were no errors. this draft keeps coming out incomplete. did this happen to you too? 

Edited May 24, 2023 by CeciBol
missing details

[Eric Peterson 9]

13 hours ago, CeciBol said:

Eric Peterson,

Thank you very much for sharing your experience!! I find myself in a similar situation, I am applying for my kid and 2 nephews, so it is my Mother (Grandmother) the one providing the citizenship and thanks to you now I know how to proceed with the three uscis accounts. 

Would you please help with the next matters? 

- Who should sign the N-600K online form, my mother? or me for my kid and my sister for hers?  or is it the applicant, meaning the children?

I am filling out the form, but in my mother's name. Meaning we created the uscis account for her, and everything is at her name and signing. 

 

- After having filled out all the form, and uploaded all concerning documents, in the last section for reviewing, in the SUMMARY section, the system shows me a Draft Case Snapshot of my form, and it appears incomplete, even dough the summary itself is complete. and now I have doubts about sending it like that. I have reviewed every step and there were no errors. this draft keeps coming out incomplete. did this happen to you too? 

Glad you find this summary helpful! To answer your questions:

 

1. Whoever is 'filling out the application' is the one who should sign ie if you are filling out the application for your children using your parents citizenship etc then YOU are the one to sign  - same goes for your sister, even though you are filling it out on her behalf, she should sign as it is technically 'her' application

 

2. Yes! This is how mine looked as well, the 'gaps' in info relates only to the areas that do not apply to you ie. if you are the parent, you don't need to fill out any of the guardianship info as this info is all captured elsewhere, same as if your child is biologically related to you and not adopted, you wouldn't fill out the sections that ask questions about the adoption etc.

 

 

[CeciBol 0]

3 hours ago, Eric Peterson said:

Glad you find this summary helpful! To answer your questions:

 

1. Whoever is 'filling out the application' is the one who should sign ie if you are filling out the application for your children using your parents citizenship etc then YOU are the one to sign  - same goes for your sister, even though you are filling it out on her behalf, she should sign as it is technically 'her' application

 

2. Yes! This is how mine looked as well, the 'gaps' in info relates only to the areas that do not apply to you ie. if you are the parent, you don't need to fill out any of the guardianship info as this info is all captured elsewhere, same as if your child is biologically related to you and not adopted, you wouldn't fill out the sections that ask questions about the adoption etc.

 

 

Thank you very much for your answer!

Regarding point 2; I understand your comment, if it does not apply to my case then it won't show, but in my case, all the information concerning the US citizen grandparent such as her name, and contact information, which I typed in, won't show. When looking at the summary, the information is there, but when looking at the PDF draft form, there are only blank spaces in the grandparent info section. So I thought maybe I mistyped something as if it was not my case or did something wrong, but everything was correctly filled out.

[reey 14]

Hey cecibol.im also experiencing the same with the draft snapshot and i think its on their part.i just submitted mine as it is.

[reey 14]

@erick you didnt get to do biometrics?as my receipt notice says i wait to be scheduelled for biometrics?

[Ontarkie 13,995]

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