Applicability of N-600 Application for Certificate of Citizenship

[rouguewave 7]

Hi,

     I am a US Citizen by birth.

     My (now) wife immigrated from Philippines under a K-1 visa (by me) with 3 children (K-2 visas) in 2008.

     We married, went through Change of Status, Removal of Conditions for her and kids normally and without problems.

     Wife and eldest child (who aged out) received US Citizenship and US Passports through Naturalization process, receiving US Certificates of Citizenship at that time. (2016 timeframe)

      2 younger children (underage at 2016 timeframe) received US Passports through application by their mother. 

     Do the 2 younger children need to apply for Certificate of Citizenship using N-600?

           Confusion for me: What does the CoC provide that possession of Passport not?

                  Thanks in Advance.

 

[OldUser 8,904]

21 minutes ago, rouguewave said:

Do the 2 younger children need to apply for Certificate of Citizenship using N-600?

They're not required, but it's highly recommended.

 

21 minutes ago, rouguewave said:

Confusion for me: What does the CoC provide that possession of Passport not?

                  Thanks in Advance.

 

In short: undeniable proof they are US citizens. There are some instances when US passport alone is not enough to prove US citizenship. Many years later, could be when parents no longer around, children may be asked to reprove how they became US citizens... It would be very easy with certificate and not so easy without it.

 

Here are reasons to get certificate:

 

 

Here's somebody in trouble because they didn't have certificate:

 

 

Edited April 29 by OldUser

[mam521 2,415]

Adding to what @OldUser mentioned, the passports are issued by the Department of State.  However, the information isn't registered with USCIS and USCIS is the ultimate issuing authority for citizenship.  So, yeah...that's why you want the CoC.  It's a weird one...kinda like pictures or it didn't happen - get the CoC or it didn't happen, irrespective of a passport. 

 

If the passport is lost or stolen after the age of 18, the kids will need proof of citizenship to replace it. 

[Mike X Man 39]

On 4/29/2025 at 12:00 PM, OldUser said:

They're not required, but it's highly recommended.

 

In short: undeniable proof they are US citizens. There are some instances when US passport alone is not enough to prove US citizenship. Many years later, could be when parents no longer around, children may be asked to reprove how they became US citizens... It would be very easy with certificate and not so easy without it.

 

Here are reasons to get certificate:

 

 

Here's somebody in trouble because they didn't have certificate:

 

 

100% facts. There is an older gentleman in Florida or Tennessee who learned this lesson the very hard way after his parents were deceased when he applied for his social security benefits after paying for them for 60+ years. Better be safe than sorry. This particular case, he was born in Canada to US parents and they never really finished the required paperwork to solidify his US citizenship. It was inferred and he got caught up after the Real ID laws went into effect.  I believe they actually refused to renew his driver's license where he lived. He was also a veteran. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g5JNlzg7zM

Edited 13 hours ago by Mike X Man