N400 February 2025 General Provision

[An Alien 44]

On 8/5/2025 at 10:15 AM, ksh9256 said:

My wife's oath ceremony was yesterday. When she filed she checked the update social security info box. From the info they gave during the oath ceremony it must be mandatory. I don't know why it's an option on the N400 and USCIS just doesn't do it. They told everyone there that if they hadn't they'd have to fill out the form they were passing around and stick around afterwards. I believe the other option was going to your local office. Glad it's done. 

I had my oath yesterday.

 

FYI regarding the SS auto update matter.

 

The speaker made a special point about automatic SS update. He said:

 

"Even though there is an option in the form to have SS status automatically updated, this is a new system, so do not rely solely on this very new facility provided by USCIS. Once/After you receive your passport and naturalisation certificate back from the passport office, make sure you update your SS at the SSA office". 

 

Timeline:

Feb 13 – Submitted case online,

Feb 13 – Received NOA1 with case #,

Feb 13 – Received biometric reuse letter.

May 27 - Interview Scheduled for 15 July 2025 (PDF copy in USCIS account)

July 15 - Approved - Ceremony letter was handed to me on the spot. 

Aug 5 - Ceremony completed.

Aug 6 - Expedited application for passport submitted.

 

 

 

[An Alien 44]

3 hours ago, Frankjavir said:

Passport fees can be paid with a cedit card, we paid $255 today (Passport book $130, Card $30, Expedited 2 day fee $60 and $35 facility fee).

Forms of payment in passport appointment letter.

• Application fee and expedite fee

  • Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover

  • Debit cards (or prepaid cards that are not linked to a line of credit or bank account): Visa or Mastercard

  • Contactless payments such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay

Never heard of this one.

 

You are the first one.

 

Good if they do now. But I doubt. It might be just that your local USPS is very nice.

[ghostinthemachine 98]

30 minutes ago, An Alien said:

Never heard of this one.

 

You are the first one.

 

Good if they do now. But I doubt. It might be just that your local USPS is very nice.

 

I believe it depends where you apply. Was under the impression card payments are only for applying at a Passport Agency directly (vs. a Passport Acceptance Facility like a post office etc.)

[Frankjavir 122]

11 hours ago, An Alien said:

Never heard of this one.

 

You are the first one.

 

Good if they do now. But I doubt. It might be just that your local USPS is very nice.

It is not my local USPS, it is the Miami Passport Agency (State Department).

[OldUser 10,349]

13 hours ago, Frankjavir said:

One thing that I learned while filling the DS11 (Paspport application form) is that N-600 (Certificate of Citizenship) which cost over $1300 and takes between 12 and 18 months, used primarly by minors who benefit from derivate citizenship, it is not necessary to obtain a US Passport, according to the form itself. I also asked the official who helped us and confirmed it. So unless I am misunderstanfing the form and the passport officer is wrong, any one who meets the following requirements can obtains a US Passport without filing a N-600 and spending over $1300 dollars.

N-600 is typically not needed for getting first passport, but very important for the future.

 

One day the derived citizen can be asked to provide their parent's naturalization certificate, parent's job records, their own school records, bills, bank statements and other documentation proving they were under 18 when parent became a citizen and that's how derived citizen became a citizen. It may be easy now, but imagine 40 years later.

 

Here's good thread discussing why:

 

So it's not like only fools pay $1300 for useless paper. It's super valuable.

 

Also, until derived citizen gets their certificate of citizenship, they are not recorded as citizens in USCIS database. They are recorded as LPRs.

Edited August 7 by OldUser

[Frankjavir 122]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

N-600 is typically not needed for getting first passport, but very important for the future.

 

One day the derived citizen can be asked to provide their parent's naturalization certificate, parent's job records, their own school records, bills, bank statements and other documentation proving they were under 18 when parent became a citizen and that's how derived citizen became a citizen. It may be easy now, but imagine 40 years later.

 

Here's good thread discussing why:

 

So it's not like only fools pay $1300 for useless paper. It's super valuable.

 

Also, until derived citizen gets their certificate of citizenship, they are not recorded as citizens in USCIS database. They are recorded as LPRs.

Thank you @OldUser  for this reference, it is very interesting and left my head spinning, there are very good points on both sides.

For those who's main concern is the expense of the N-600, get your kid a US passport and stamp in his head the need to spend over $1300 on the CoC as soon as he/she starts working. They can apply for it any time after they turn 18. as far as the requirements are met before they turned 18.

I read another article which basically says the rules change  depending on the bitrth date, I thought rules or laws for these purposes are superseded by the lastest one.

Here is the article: https://citizenpath.com/form-n-600-guide/

Edited August 7 by Frankjavir

[Frankjavir 122]

21 minutes ago, Frankjavir said:

Thank you @OldUser  for this reference, it is very interesting and left my head spinning, there are very good points on both sides.

For those who's main concern is the expense of the N-600, get your kid a US passport and stamp in his head the need to spend over $1300 on the CoC as soon as he/she starts working. They can apply for it any time after they turn 18. as far as the requirements are met before they turned 18.

I read another article which basically says the rules change  depending on the bitrth date, I thought rules or laws for these purposes are superseded by the lastest one.

Here is the article: https://citizenpath.com/form-n-600-guide/

Correction: I misread it, the latest law applies.

[An Alien 44]

Noob question.

 

After becoming a citizen. Do we have to register with the Selective Service System?

 

I am over 44 years old.

[Crazy Cat 45,162]

4 minutes ago, An Alien said:

Noob question.

 

After becoming a citizen. Do we have to register with the Selective Service System?

 

I am over 44 years old.

No, you will not.  Registration is required for all citizens and Green card holders between 18 and 26. 

Edited August 8 by Crazy Cat

[Frankjavir 122]

On 8/5/2025 at 8:37 PM, Magi Stark said:

Am I the last one from February still not done with the process? I still haven't received my oath date! 😭

Did you get your Oath Ceremony date yet? I have been praying for you.

[Magi Stark 84]

2 hours ago, Frankjavir said:

Did you get your Oath Ceremony date yet? I have been praying for you.

Nope. 😭 Maybe that's why. Who you praying to? Jesus and I don't really like each other...hahahaha 

Edited August 12 by Magi Stark

[An Alien 44]

 

Timeline:

Feb 13 – Submitted case online,

Feb 13 – Received NOA1 with case #,

Feb 13 – Received biometric reuse letter.

May 27 - Interview Scheduled for 15 July 2025 (PDF copy in USCIS account)

July 15 - Approved - Ceremony letter was handed to me on the spot. 

Aug 5 - Ceremony completed.

Aug 6 - Expedited application for passport submitted.
 

[Frankjavir 122]

On 8/12/2025 at 10:03 PM, An Alien said:

 

Timeline:

Feb 13 – Submitted case online,

Feb 13 – Received NOA1 with case #,

Feb 13 – Received biometric reuse letter.

May 27 - Interview Scheduled for 15 July 2025 (PDF copy in USCIS account)

July 15 - Approved - Ceremony letter was handed to me on the spot. 

Aug 5 - Ceremony completed.

Aug 6 - Expedited application for passport submitted.
 

Just for future reference, Tucson has a Passport Agency with same day expedited service.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/western.html

Edited August 14 by Frankjavir

[OldUser 10,349]

8 minutes ago, Frankjavir said:

Just for future reference, Tucson has a Passport Agency with same day expedited service.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/western.html

One must have a good reason and proof why urgent passport is needed (trip in under 14 days).

 

I personally applied at USPS with expedited fees. The passport came very quick. Could I book a refundable ticket and get passport same or next day at passport agency? Sure. But I thought I'm not going to take a spot for somebody who may have a life and death situation and needs passport very urgently.

[Frankjavir 122]

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

One must have a good reason and proof why urgent passport is needed (trip in under 14 days).

 

I personally applied at USPS with expedited fees. The passport came very quick. Could I book a refundable ticket and get passport same or next day at passport agency? Sure. But I thought I'm not going to take a spot for somebody who may have a life and death situation and needs passport very urgently.

 

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

One must have a good reason and proof why urgent passport is needed (trip in under 14 days).

 

I personally applied at USPS with expedited fees. The passport came very quick. Could I book a refundable ticket and get passport same or next day at passport agency? Sure. But I thought I'm not going to take a spot for somebody who may have a life and death situation and needs passport very urgently.

Yes, you need to prove international travel within 14 days, that's it, no questions asked and very easy to obtain without actually purchasing a ticket. There are plenty of spots, so no need to worry about displacing someone with urgent needs. The option is there if you are close to a passport Agency, it cost the same as the 3 week expedited service.