My Step Sons Citizenship Status after Mom becomes a U.S. Citizen - Spend the $1200.USD? I dont think so!

[roadrunnericu 7]

Big news—my wife and stepson officially became U.S. citizens today! Hooray and Halelu-Yah!

But here’s where things get interesting… A friend of mine claims my stepson is technically without proof of status unless I spend $1,200 to get a specific document that shows he met all the legal custody requirements before turning 18—just in case he ever loses his passport after 18.

Now maybe the rules have changed with the rollout of biometric IDs (even though they've been issuing those for years), but I’ve read the law myself. It says clearly that a photocopy of a valid U.S. passport, as long as it includes all the required information listed in the statute, along with a $165 fee, is sufficient. No $1,200 needed.

Still, my friend insists—based on paid legal advice—that spending the $1,200 fusd for this document now, is critical "just in case" for future protection.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 03:17 AM by roadrunnericu
needed it for better clarification

[roadrunnericu 7]

I  think he must be including his legal fees in the 1200 usd too.  i dont see any fees like that but perhaps someone here can explain that.  all real evidence is appreciated, so feel free to lay it out.  thanks   note; he told me he was also adviced to this expensive route here as well.

 

[Boiler 47,524]

$1,385

 

https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?topic_id=97356

[WeekendPizzaiolo 127]

If the child does not have a CBRA, a certificate of naturalization, or a certificate of citizenship to prove their status, it is a good idea to file an N-600 ($1385). This could be used to prove citizenship for whatever purpose (e.g. a US passport). Otherwise, the evidence needed for a US passport is more involved.

[Dashinka 25,898]

Filing for a naturalization certificate (CoN) is up to you, or eventually your son after he turns 18.  There is no requirement to submit an N600, and having a US passport and/or a US Passport card is fine for proving USC status.  There might be some jobs working for the government that may still require a CoN, but other than that there is no reason to spend money for a piece of paper that will essentially sit in a safe.  I would suggest getting him both the passport book and the card.

 

Good Luck!

[Moda25 71]

I think it’s up to you. I’ve read about instances where the kids grow and are unable to show proof of their citizenships. The passport alone is okay until the proof is needed especially, when both parents are not there to provide the necessary documentation.

[Crazy Cat 44,598]

9 hours ago, roadrunnericu said:

but I’ve read the law myself. It says clearly that a photocopy of a valid U.S. passport, as long as it includes all the required information listed in the statute, along with a $165 fee, is sufficient. No $1,200 needed.

An N-600 will ensure that USCIS has a record that individual has become a US citizen.  A Passport is a DOS document.

[mam521 2,571]

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

no reason to spend money for a piece of paper that will essentially sit in a safe

I'd argue the same is true for a naturalization certificate.  Why not just give new citizens a US passport instead of said certificate that essentially sits in a safe?  Alas, that's not how it works.  

 

11 hours ago, roadrunnericu said:

photocopy of a valid U.S. passport

This is where people run into issues.  They are over 18, don't realize their passport has expired and are out of luck because they have no proof of citizenship.  Simple oversight wreaks havoc.  Or, they decide to go on a beach vacation somewhere in their early 20's and lose their passport abroad.  Now what?  Did they actually order a passport card and keep it in a safe place?  If not...kinda screwed.  Are there ways to potentially prove one had the passport?  Sure, but if you're stuck abroad, do you have that time?  

 

Think of it this way, if your kid lives till they are 80 - $1385/62 = $22.34 per year for reassurance that their status is never in question.  $1.86 a month, less than a cup of coffee and won't ever be subject to fee increases because it's in your child's possession after 18.  The document has no expiration, unlike a passport.  It's cheap insurance, relatively speaking.  

[OldUser 10,043]

23 minutes ago, mam521 said:

I'd argue the same is true for a naturalization certificate.  Why not just give new citizens a US passport instead of said certificate that essentially sits in a safe?  Alas, that's not how it works.  

 

This is where people run into issues.  They are over 18, don't realize their passport has expired and are out of luck because they have no proof of citizenship.  Simple oversight wreaks havoc.  Or, they decide to go on a beach vacation somewhere in their early 20's and lose their passport abroad.  Now what?  Did they actually order a passport card and keep it in a safe place?  If not...kinda screwed.  Are there ways to potentially prove one had the passport?  Sure, but if you're stuck abroad, do you have that time?  

 

Think of it this way, if your kid lives till they are 80 - $1385/62 = $22.34 per year for reassurance that their status is never in question.  $1.86 a month, less than a cup of coffee and won't ever be subject to fee increases because it's in your child's possession after 18.  The document has no expiration, unlike a passport.  It's cheap insurance, relatively speaking.  

Couldn't agree more, CoC is underrated.

[Dashinka 25,898]

13 minutes ago, mam521 said:

I'd argue the same is true for a naturalization certificate.  Why not just give new citizens a US passport instead of said certificate that essentially sits in a safe?  Alas, that's not how it works.  

 

This is where people run into issues.  They are over 18, don't realize their passport has expired and are out of luck because they have no proof of citizenship.  Simple oversight wreaks havoc.  Or, they decide to go on a beach vacation somewhere in their early 20's and lose their passport abroad.  Now what?  Did they actually order a passport card and keep it in a safe place?  If not...kinda screwed.  Are there ways to potentially prove one had the passport?  Sure, but if you're stuck abroad, do you have that time?  

 

Think of it this way, if your kid lives till they are 80 - $1385/62 = $22.34 per year for reassurance that their status is never in question.  $1.86 a month, less than a cup of coffee and won't ever be subject to fee increases because it's in your child's possession after 18.  The document has no expiration, unlike a passport.  It's cheap insurance, relatively speaking.  

Personally I am not buying or selling following the N600 process.  I am curious as to how losing a passport while abroad will be solved by having a CoN back home in a safe?  Are you traveling with the CoN?  Also, the DoS has a basis for issuing anyone a US passport, in my case it was a poor copy of my BC, and in the case of a minor that derives USC status through their parents naturalization it is the CoN of the naturalized parent.  Does the DoS lose that basis if someone regularly renews their passport?  I tend to agree, the cost of the N600 is outrageous, why not just let the minor child go through the N400 process themselves, it is cheaper.  

[Boiler 47,524]

18th birthday present?

 

Just do it

 

 

[mam521 2,571]

13 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Personally I am not buying or selling following the N600 process.  I am curious as to how losing a passport while abroad will be solved by having a CoN back home in a safe?  Are you traveling with the CoN?  Also, the DoS has a basis for issuing anyone a US passport, in my case it was a poor copy of my BC, and in the case of a minor that derives USC status through their parents naturalization it is the CoN of the naturalized parent.  Does the DoS lose that basis if someone regularly renews their passport?  I tend to agree, the cost of the N600 is outrageous, why not just let the minor child go through the N400 process themselves, it is cheaper.  

You're well aware once you turn 18, the parental derived citizenship is no more.  Retaining and keeping a passport valid - most people try, lots of people fail.  The number of people that are in a panic last minute because they didn't bother to check before booking travel astounds me.  The number of people that don't keep digital copies of their documents also kinda makes me shake my head. 

 

The cost of the N-600 is ridiculous, full stop. It makes zero sense, considering the cost of the N-400.  I 100% cannot argue with that.  

 

As for waiting until a kid turns 18 - an example of why we didn't wait was eligibility for certain university scholarships, tuition breaks and now, since Kid1 has chosen to go "home", not having to file for a reentry permit and it's associated cost, or worry about coming back during studies for a naturalization interview, for a swearing in ceremony and then rushing to get a passport so she could return to her studies.  The difference in cost between the I-131 and the N-400 versus the N-600 would have been consumed and then some with all that stress and rigamarole.  

[Dashinka 25,898]

53 minutes ago, mam521 said:

You're well aware once you turn 18, the parental derived citizenship is no more.  Retaining and keeping a passport valid - most people try, lots of people fail.  The number of people that are in a panic last minute because they didn't bother to check before booking travel astounds me.  The number of people that don't keep digital copies of their documents also kinda makes me shake my head. 

 

The cost of the N-600 is ridiculous, full stop. It makes zero sense, considering the cost of the N-400.  I 100% cannot argue with that.  

 

As for waiting until a kid turns 18 - an example of why we didn't wait was eligibility for certain university scholarships, tuition breaks and now, since Kid1 has chosen to go "home", not having to file for a reentry permit and it's associated cost, or worry about coming back during studies for a naturalization interview, for a swearing in ceremony and then rushing to get a passport so she could return to her studies.  The difference in cost between the I-131 and the N-400 versus the N-600 would have been consumed and then some with all that stress and rigamarole.  

You need to be careful with the first sentence, you are suggesting that a minor that naturalizes as a derivative of a naturalizing parent is no longer a valid USC when they turn 18.  That of course is not true by any means, the child retains their citizenship and the DoS has the basis for that citizenship along with copies at USCIS.  Think of this scenario, a person is a minor (let's say 10 yrs old) when their parent naturalizes, but the parents do not apply for a US passport or a CoN.  When that person turns 18 and decides to get a passport, what proof will they use?  I believe they can still use the parents CoN even though they are now over 18. 

 

As to your second sentence, would you expect these types of folks to treat a CoN any differently?  The long and short of it is for many folks the thought of paying close to $1400 for a piece of paper when a passport book or card are considerably less (~$200) is an easy decision.

 

In the end it is up to the parents (if the person is still a minor) or the person themself when they turn 18.

Edited 22 hours ago by Dashinka

[Ontarkie 14,951]

I never did the N600 for my two that were under 18. They both got their US passports and both renewed their expired passports without issue. They were expired for years, one had the 5 yr passport and did have to apply as a new passport vs simple renewal. But that would have been the same as any USC born child. 

Edited 22 hours ago by Ontarkie

[mam521 2,571]

2 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

You need to be careful with the first sentence, you are suggesting that a minor that naturalizes as a derivative of a naturalizing parent is no longer a valid USC when they turn 18.  That of course is not true by any means, the child retains their citizenship and the DoS has the basis for that citizenship along with copies at USCIS.  Think of this scenario, a person is a minor (let's say 10 yrs old) when their parent naturalizes, but the parents do not apply for a US passport or a CoN.  When that person turns 18 and decides to get a passport, what proof will they use?  I believe they can still use the parents CoN even though they are now over 18. 

 

As to your second sentence, would you expect these types of folks to treat a CoN any differently?  The long and short of it is for many folks the thought of paying close to $1400 for a piece of paper when a passport book or card are considerably less (~$200).

 

In the end it is up to the parents (if the person is still a minor) or the person themself when they turn 18.

If you want to be pedantic, the N-600 results in a CoC, not a CoN.  There are some subtle differences between them.  

 

I also did not say that a minor who turns 18 isn't a valid USC.  However, they do not have any physical proof of such status unless they have a VALID passport and in the event that is stolen, lost or unintentionally expired, they have to try and track down records from the DoS.  How many people here actually find the DoS an easy, simple, fun group to deal with?  

 

If one has access to their parent's CoN, have at 'er.  I'm not saying what's good for the goose is always what's good for the gander.  What I am saying is individual proof, irrespective of what a parent does or does not do, may well be the best course of action to ensure a USC child has what they require.  I'm in the weeds with this right now.  I couldn't imagine having to send my kid my CoN to replace a passport, especially 20 years from now when she's off living her own life.  $1385 to provide her with her own documentation that she can take wherever she goes in the world, independent of myself, was a good investment for our situation.  Same for Kid2.  Now they don't have to worry about where my CoN is and how it pertains to them, ever.  They have their own CoC's and just get on with it.  

 

27 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

I never did the N600 for my two that were under 18. They both got their US passports and both renewed their expired passports without issue. They were expired for years, one had the 5 yr passport and did have to apply as a new passport vs simple renewal. But that would have been the same as any USC born child. 

IIRC your kids have stayed in the US, correct?  My oldest is unlikely to stay.  That one's a global steward, just waiting to leave her mark.  She may return later, but it won't be for a minute and it won't be under this administration.