N-400 process

[joyride 0]

Hello,

 

I will be starting my N-400, I have a daughter who is 16 yrs old, my question is does my daughter take the test, ie.. interview and citizenship questions test?  Or does she fall under me, If I pass the test, then she automatically becomes a U.S. Citizen?

[OldUser 9,976]

If the daughter is your biological daughter, is LPR, under 18 and lives in your full physical custody at the time you naturalize, she will be US citizen by operation by law.

 

You will be able to get her US passport and (highly recommended) certificate of citizenship (N-600).

[joyride 0]

Thanks for that fast response....both of have green cards, she is my biological daughter and she does live with me all the time.  

 

And does she need to pay N-400 fee?  Or just me?

[OldUser 9,976]

12 minutes ago, joyride said:

Thanks for that fast response....both of have green cards, she is my biological daughter and she does live with me all the time.  

 

And does she need to pay N-400 fee?  Or just me?

No, only you have to pay N-400 fee.

But if you need her to have a certificate of citizenship, she cannot do N-400 (will be denied) and should file N-600 instead. And I wish the fee was as low as N-400!

 

You can delay filing N-600, but that is one the best presents for 18th / 21st birthday you can give to your child.

 

Here's reasons why:

 

 

 

 

[joyride 0]

Thank you

[joyride 0]

Ok, saw the fee for the N-600....alot.  If I  do not put my daughter on my N-400, and file a separate N-400 for her is that possible?   And save some $

[RauLia 3]

Once you pass your test, your daughter will automatically be a US Citizen. I just recently became Citizen. That’s the they told us during Oath. 

Edited August 14, 2024 by RauLia

[OldUser 9,976]

1 hour ago, joyride said:

Ok, saw the fee for the N-600....alot.  If I  do not put my daughter on my N-400, and file a separate N-400 for her is that possible?   And save some $

No, her N-400 will be denied, because a US citizen cannot apply for naturalization. Also, you always need to list your kids in N-400, don't misrepresent yourself as this may prevent you from naturalizing.

N-600 is optional, not required. But highly recommended. You don't have to do it immediately or ever. The only risk is if your daughter will have issues proving she's a US citizen in the future. That may cost more than N-600 (lawyer fees etc)

Edited August 14, 2024 by OldUser

[OldUser 9,976]

13 minutes ago, OldUser said:

No, her N-400 will be denied, because a US citizen cannot apply for naturalization. Also, you always need to list your kids in N-400, don't misrepresent yourself as this may prevent you from naturalizing.

N-600 is optional, not required. But highly recommended. You don't have to do it immediately or ever. The only risk is if your daughter will have issues proving she's a US citizen in the future. That may cost more than N-600 (lawyer fees etc)

Just an idea. If current filing fee doesn't change, you can save $1335 in 12 months by putting aside $111.25 every month.

[mam521 2,523]

Your daughter will become a derivative citizen through you.  You cannot file an N-400 for her.  You can get her a passport and file N-600.  If you file the N-600, she will have to do biometrics and attend an oath ceremony, just like you.  

 

The passport will have her recognized as a US citizen with the Department of State and serves as evidence of citizenship.  They will take her greencard at the time of the passport application.  Many people just get a passport, but if it ever gets lost or stolen, there is no record of proof that your child is actually a citizen. When an N-600 is secured, USCIS will recognize her in their system as a US citizen and serve as proof of citizenship.  

 

I contemplated whether I needed the N-600 or not for my kids and ultimately just sucked it up and paid the fees.  After reading some nightmarish threads elsewhere of people with passports only and no USCIS issued evidence of citizenship, I decided it was far easier to have than not.  Yes, it isn't a nice fee to pay, but it seems like a small price compared to some of the other headaches others have experienced.  

[joyride 0]

I postponed the filing  N-400 back in August 2024, now will file, my daughter turns 18 in  January 25, 2026.  Do I need to fill out a N-400 for her now, she is still under 18 now?

[OldUser 9,976]

45 minutes ago, joyride said:

I postponed the filing  N-400 back in August 2024, now will file, my daughter turns 18 in  January 25, 2026.  Do I need to fill out a N-400 for her now, she is still under 18 now?

Depends when you become a citizen. If you become a citizen before she turns 18, she will be a citizen by operation of law and doesn't need N-400.

[Mozillaman 18]

I see a lot of back and forth here "avoiding" the N-600. Remember, ***she is a citizen*** when you get sworn in if she's under 18 at the time. The N-600 is just getting specific proof for her of that. She doesn't need it right away. She can just get a passport. If you're concerned about losing documents, she can get a REAL ID and a Passport card as well and then has 3 documents that show citizenship status. She can put the passport card in a safety deposit box. The N-600 can be filed now, in 5 years, in 10 years; she is a citizen, the N-600 doesn't grant citizenship, it just a very, very, very nice to have.

 

Please don't try and schedule things so she gets her own N-400 and then has to wait for her own process there as well, needlessly, and separately (even if unlikely) risks a denial.

 

Also, if you want to be annoyed, the Canadian citizenship certificate application is $75 CAD ($54 USD at today's exchange rate).

Edited 16 hours ago by Mozillaman
typo

[OldUser 9,976]

29 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

The N-600 is just getting specific proof for her of that.

 

 

"Just" a proof is sometimes what really matters, and becomes a deciding factor whether somebody gets a tangible benefit or doesn't.

 

29 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

She doesn't need it right away.

 

 

That's true

29 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

She can just get a passport.

She absolutely can and should.

29 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

 If you're concerned about losing documents, she can get a REAL ID and a Passport card as well and then has 3 documents that show citizenship status.

Great idea.

 

The only caveat, passport and passport card are issued by DOS, and not USCIS. Sometimes government agencies and employers really need certificate of citizenship, else goodbye.

 

REAL ID has nothing to do with citizenship status. It can be issued to anybody on temporary visas, even to tourist, as long as they give correct documentation proving legal status. You may be confusing it with EDL. But EDL is only issued by few states, and EDL is only issued to US citizens. 

 

29 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

 The N-600 can be filed now, in 5 years, in 10 years;

Levels of difficulty getting citizenship proved:

 

- Now - EASY

- after 5 years - MEDIUM

- after 10 years - somewhat HARD

- after 20 years - potentially DIFFICULT

 

As you may know, over the time, people forget details, lose paperwork. Agencies lose records. 1 document showing undebatable proof of citizenship is worth getting sooner than later. Passports were known to be issued in error by DOS, and were and are questioned from time to time by agencies.

Edited 15 hours ago by OldUser

[joyride 0]

Thank you for this info.  If I become a citizen before my daughter turns 18, USCIS will take my green card when I take the oath, correct?  and they will get my passport and mail it to me?

 

 How  does my daughter get a passport?  We just go to the post office and show them my passport and tell them I want to apply for my daughter's passport since by law my daughter is a citizen now?