N-400 process

[OldUser 9,981]

19 minutes ago, joyride said:

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?  

They'll take your GC away any time you naturalize and take oath, whether your daughter is under or over 18.

 

19 minutes ago, joyride said:

  and they will get my passport and mail it to me?

No, they won't. You'll file passport application form DS-11 and pay all the fees to get yourself a US passport.

 

20 minutes ago, joyride said:

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?

She'll get it same way as you. By filing form DS-11 and paying all the fees for it. She'll have to prove how she's a citizen. Proving she's a citizen now is easier, because you just naturalized, you have all papers, and alive. Many years down the road (say 40 years from now), you may no longer be alive, and she can be asked how she is a US citizen when renewing a US passport, getting benefits at SSA or getting a job requiring special security clearance. They may not be happy with just US passport and ask for certificate. This is why N-600 is a good idea. You don't have to do it to get her passport, don't have to do it this year. But at some point, it's a good idea to do it.

[Mozillaman 18]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

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. 

 

You're correct, I'm in a state that doesn't offer Real IDs and instead issues EDLs; so their requirements are what I was referencing. If you're in a state (often border states) that offer an EDL/EID option those do also show your citizenship information. Nexus/Global Entry/SENTRI can also serve that purpose. Point is, they can get multiple docs that can establish citizenship. They can also make sure notorized copies of her birth certificate and your citizenship certificate are available as well. The N-600 is the gold standard, but if OP is thinking about delaying N-400 to avoid it I'd highly recommend against that and be satisfied with other options instead.

 

Even the USCIS notes (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/A4en.pdf) "You can apply to the U.S. Department of State for a U.S. passport. A passport is evidence of citizenship and also serves as a travel document if you need to travel. For information about applying for a U.S. passport, see the U.S. Department of State Web site at www.state.gov. • If you are already in the United States, you also have the option of applying to USCIS using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship. However, you may find applying for a passport to be more convenient because it also serves as a travel document and could be a faster process."
 

1 hour ago, joyride said:

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?

When you take your oath, they'll take your green card and give you a citizenship certificate. If you're at a ceremony with a passport desk (not all do) AND you brought your own personal check and 2 passport-style photos with you, you'll be able to apply immediately for your passport. If there isn't a passport desk at your ceremony (like you get a same-day), you'll need to make your own appointment to apply for a passport with your citizenship certificate. USPS offers this service, many county clerks/auditors/etc will also offer it.

Your daughter will need to apply for a passport using the same process. She'll need to include the needed copies of her birth certificate and either your citizenship certificate or copy of your passport. See the required documents for that here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html under the "I became a U.S. citizen through my parent who naturalized or through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000" section.

Edited 20 hours ago by Mozillaman
typo

[OldUser 9,981]

3 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

You're correct, I'm in a state that doesn't offer Real IDs and instead issues EDLs

The following states issue EDLs:

• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New York
• Vermont
• Washington

Source: https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they

 

How to get Real ID in each of these states:

 

Michigan - https://www.michigan.gov/sos/license-id/real-id

 

Minnesota - https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/dl-and-id-card-information/real-id-dl-and-id-card

 

New York - https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id

 

Vermont - https://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/types-of-licenses-ids/real-id

 

Washington - https://dol.wa.gov/id-cards/real-id - only EDL available, no Real ID.

 

Looks like you're from Washington state? In this case, I understand your prior comments about Real ID and the fact people in your state cannot get this Real ID compliant document without being a US citizen. If my state offered EDL, I'd get it. But I still would get and keep safe certificate of citizenship / certificate of naturalization due to reasons outlined earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

[OldUser 9,981]

14 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

 Nexus/Global Entry/SENTRI can also serve that purpose. Point is, they can get multiple docs that can establish citizenship.

I have Global Entry and Global Entry card. Even though it says my US citizenship on it, I wouldn't rely on it as solid proof. It may be accepted by CBP, but acceptance by other agencies is to be proven, there's not much data on whether SSA would accept it to prove US citizenship. Federal employers, I can almost guarantee, wouldn't see Global Entry card as credible proof of citizenship. I'm saying this, because I know somebody who's US passport and US passport card weren't sufficient to prove citizenship. Employer demanded naturalization certificate specifically.

 

Global entry is also available to citizens of certain countries like Germany, without even having any permanent status in the US. A German citizen can get GE and travel to US on ESTA as a tourist.

[Mozillaman 18]

6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

 

 

Looks like you're from Washington state? In this case, I understand your prior comments about Real ID and the fact people in your state cannot get this Real ID compliant document without being a US citizen. If my state offered EDL, I'd get it. But I still would get and keep safe certificate of citizenship / certificate of naturalization due to reasons outlined earlier.

 

 

Looks like we're the last hold outs! Yeah, if you're not a citizen in WA you can't get a Real ID or an EDL; which is pretty messed up. Nexus/Trusted Traveler cards, foreign passports, and your Green Card itself all are also Real ID, but annoying the state doesn't issue one.

And yes, N600, great idea, amazing idea, no argument there; should be the goal, even. Just don't want OP to be delaying his N400 purely because he views N600 cost as too high and makes their child go through the N400 process.

 

[OldUser 9,981]

21 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

Even the USCIS notes (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/A4en.pdf) "You can apply to the U.S. Department of State for a U.S. passport. A passport is evidence of citizenship and also serves as a travel document if you need to travel. For information about applying for a U.S. passport, see the U.S. Department of State Web site at www.state.gov. • If you are already in the United States, you also have the option of applying to USCIS using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship. However, you may find applying for a passport to be more convenient because it also serves as a travel document and could be a faster process."

Yes, they say a lot of things. Last time they said my naturalization case would take 7 months, but it took 3.5.

 

I wouldn't want to bloat this topic with examples (news reports and immigration forums) where US passport wasn't enough to establish US citizenship. I just know the problem exists.

[OldUser 9,981]

6 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

And yes, N600, great idea, amazing idea, no argument there; should be the goal, even. Just don't want OP to be delaying his N400 purely because he views N600 cost as too high and makes their child go through the N400 process.

 

Totally agree with you on this one. OP should not delay N-400. They should apply as soon as eligible.

N-600 for child is a nice thing to have in the future, when parent or kid can afford it. In most cases yes, US passport is sufficient proof of child's citizenship.

Edited 19 hours ago by OldUser

[Rhema1 378]

If you are granted US citizenship when all your under 18 years children are still abroad, but their birth certificates listed and submitted on your N-400  at the  moment of oath swearing.

Can they also apply for a US passport when they entered US under ESTA visa program?

At their entry, they still do not have any social security number yet.

How to proceed in this case?

@OldUser, your thoughts on this.

Edited 17 hours ago by Rhema1

[OldUser 9,981]

15 minutes ago, Rhema1 said:

If you are granted US citizenship when all your under 18 years children are still abroad, but their birth certificates listed and submitted on your N-400  at the  moment of oath swearing.

Can they also apply for a US passport when they entered US under ESTA visa program?

At their entry, they still do not have any social security number yet.

How to proceed in this case?

@OldUser, your thoughts on this.

Children must be lawful permanent residents living with their parent in the US to become citizens as far as I know.

[Rhema1 378]

24 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Children must be lawful permanent residents living with their parent in the US to become citizens as far as I know.

If they come, are they applying the N-600 as far as still under 18 years?

Or they must go through a normal I-485 adjustment of status process?

[OldUser 9,981]

19 minutes ago, Rhema1 said:

If they come, are they applying the N-600 as far as still under 18 years?

Or they must go through a normal I-485 adjustment of status process?

Depends on how they come. If they come on immigrant visa, they don't need to adjust.

[Mozillaman 18]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Children must be lawful permanent residents living with their parent in the US to become citizens as far as I know.

Correct, they need to be permanent residents and show proof they live/lived with their US parent in that parents custody, including legitimation evidence if it's needed. The full list of what's needed is under the "I became a U.S. citizen through my parent who naturalized or through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000" section on this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html .