Is filing N-600 really necessary?

[mam521 2,103]

What are the actual advantages to filing the N-600 for the purpose of obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship for minors who already have a US Passport and a US Passport card?  It's an expensive form to file two times and I question the necessity.  

 

Maybe this is a question best answered by @Mike E

 

 

[nastra30 2,288]

27 minutes ago, mam521 said:

What are the actual advantages to filing the N-600 for the purpose of obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship for minors who already have a US Passport and a US Passport card?  It's an expensive form to file two times and I question the necessity.  

 

Maybe this is a question best answered by @Mike E

 

 

MikeE is no longer active here. Since you are interested in his feedback he already gave one here:

 

[OldUser 6,890]

If 20 years later they're asked to show proof of citizenship in order to renew US passports, the certificate would be the best one! Don't make it difficult for them.

[mam521 2,103]

12 hours ago, OldUser said:

If 20 years later they're asked to show proof of citizenship in order to renew US passports, the certificate would be the best one! Don't make it difficult for them.

It's cheaper to file for citizenship again!  

 

The challenge is their father and I happily adult, so we don't have a court ordered custody agreement.  This is a requirement for the N-600.  Not sure how to get around that and it seems redundant considering they were allowed their greencards and passports without it.  

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

Hacking makes a good case for filing the N-600.  Without the N-600, USCIS thinks the person is still a legal resident.  USCIS is the agency which determines citizenship.   Hacking has a good, short video titled "Do I Need to Bother Filing an N-600?".

Edited January 17 by Crazy Cat

[OldUser 6,890]

26 minutes ago, mam521 said:

It's cheaper to file for citizenship again!  

Not so easy! USCIS may deny N-400 saying they're already citizens, whereas DOS may require proof of citizenship but won't be just accepting denial letter from USCIS as such proof. It happened in real life to some. 

 

If it's difficult to get N-600 now, it would be 10x times more difficult proving citizenship several decades later.

[mam521 2,103]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Hacking makes a good case for filing the N-600.  Without the N-600, USCIS think the person is still a legal resident.  USCIS is the agency which determines citizenship.   Hacking has a good, short video titled "Do I Need to Bother Filing an N-600?".

In the past, the post office didn't take the greencards.  The post office took the greencards and returned them to USCIS, so they know the kids have passports.  

 

Like I said, the issue is a custody agreement.  We've not needed one in the past.  The IO for our greencards accepted a lawyer notarized letter from their father and for the passports, he had the DS-3053 notarized for me.  I wonder if yet another notarized letter would be accepted.  It's really a headache when people know how to adult in the best interest of their children.  

[OldUser 6,890]

13 minutes ago, mam521 said:

Like I said, the issue is a custody agreement.  We've not needed one in the past.  The IO for our greencards accepted a lawyer notarized letter from their father and for the passports, he had the DS-3053 notarized for me.  I wonder if yet another notarized letter would be accepted.  It's really a headache when people know how to adult in the best interest of their children.  

The kids may have to prove they're in custody for N-600 in the future.

You only get one chance to get N-600 approved. If not, they'll be stuck in limbo.

Some stories why N-600 is important:

 

 

 

 

You can find a lot more if you search.

 

 

 

[mam521 2,103]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

The kids may have to prove they're in custody for N-600 in the future.

You only get one chance to get N-600 approved. If not, they'll be stuck in limbo.

Some stories why N-600 is important:

I understand this.  However, did you read what I've written regarding custody?  That is the challenge.  

[OldUser 6,890]

1 minute ago, mam521 said:

I understand this.  However, did you read what I've written regarding custody?  That is the challenge.  

It will be challenge in the future too, unfortunately. 

[R&OC 371]

I am not sure what you are referring to when pointing out custody? Where are your children and who are they residing with?

 

I am currently trying to get the N-600 for my children and have been waiting for more than two years by now. Unfortunately, we ended up getting our case directed to San Diego which seems to be overwhelmed according to a lawyer. I am still waiting for our congressman to find out more but -alas- been waiting for what feels like forever.

 

Side note, since when is MikeE inactive and why?

[Verrou 1,962]

7 minutes ago, R&OC said:

I am not sure what you are referring to when pointing out custody? Where are your children and who are they residing with?

 

I am currently trying to get the N-600 for my children and have been waiting for more than two years by now. Unfortunately, we ended up getting our case directed to San Diego which seems to be overwhelmed according to a lawyer. I am still waiting for our congressman to find out more but -alas- been waiting for what feels like forever.

 

Side note, since when is MikeE inactive and why?

been a couple months already know ( refering to mike E) and why? guess you have to ask him yourself

 

my take for n-600 :

 

in the new future who knows if the kids who only have US passport/card might petition their future spouse ( u never know right). who knows USCIS ( if they didnt change the name again - it was INS 2 decades ago) might said US passport is not enough, u have to submit birth certificate or n-400 or n-600. also US passport = Department of State and USCIS = DHS. 2 different agencies. as you know they dont communicate to each other well enough. 

 

so this is just an  expensive investment, IMO

[GEOntificator 281]

23 hours ago, mam521 said:

What are the actual advantages to filing the N-600 for the purpose of obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship for minors who already have a US Passport and a US Passport card?  It's an expensive form to file two times and I question the necessity.  

 

Maybe this is a question best answered by @Mike E

 

 

If I were you I would get them as soon as possible and forget about it. They will thank you for doing it at some point in the future. In fact, I am filling out I-130 for my relative and when I answer that I naturalized it asks for the naturalization certificate number. 
 

I know it is expensive and I know you have to jump through hoops but if it does not break your bank do it. 

[mam521 2,103]

51 minutes ago, R&OC said:

I am not sure what you are referring to when pointing out custody? Where are your children and who are they residing with?

The N-600 instructions, item 9 refers to Proof of Legal and Physical custody.  Physically, yes, they reside with me.  But I am not the sole conservator.  Their father, who lives in Canada, and I partake in a joint managing conservatorship without a legally binding agreement as issued by a court.  As such, I technically cannot prove that I have the legal right to apply for their citizenship certificates.  

 

When it came to their passports, Kid1 was old enough to have only 1 parent present.  For Kid2, their father signed the DS-3052 and had it notarized for me so I could apply.  

 

57 minutes ago, Verrou said:

2 different agencies. as you know they dont communicate to each other well enough. 

Communication is an issue!  Husband files I-130 to petition for us (USCIS) but our consular processing is handled by NVC (Department of State).  Then you have AP which is administered by DOS, but utilizes which ever security agencies are required.  It feels like a game of hot potato. 

[OldUser 6,890]

9 minutes ago, mam521 said:

The N-600 instructions, item 9 refers to Proof of Legal and Physical custody.  Physically, yes, they reside with me.  But I am not the sole conservator.  Their father, who lives in Canada, and I partake in a joint managing conservatorship without a legally binding agreement as issued by a court.  As such, I technically cannot prove that I have the legal right to apply for their citizenship certificates.  

 

When it came to their passports, Kid1 was old enough to have only 1 parent present.  For Kid2, their father signed the DS-3052 and had it notarized for me so I could apply.  

 

Communication is an issue!  Husband files I-130 to petition for us (USCIS) but our consular processing is handled by NVC (Department of State).  Then you have AP which is administered by DOS, but utilizes which ever security agencies are required.  It feels like a game of hot potato. 

Are you sure your kids US citizens then? DOS may decide they're not until proven many years down the line.

 

I totally see how difficult your situation is, but you asked whether it's worth it The more info you're giving, the more I see the need to somehow obtain it to avoid issues in the future. It won't be easy for them to prove how they became citizens based on what you described.