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

[Ontarkie 14,951]

1 hour ago, mam521 said:

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.  

 

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.  

Yes all 6 in the US. 

[roadrunnericu 7]

On 7/29/2025 at 11:05 PM, WeekendPizzaiolo said:

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.

a photo copy of the old one and a normal id meets all of the requirements to replace a lost passport.

[roadrunnericu 7]

15 minutes ago, roadrunnericu said:

a photo copy of the old one and a normal id meets all of the requirements to replace a lost passport.

there wont be any problem obtaining a passport or dual citizenship

 

[roadrunnericu 7]

10 minutes ago, roadrunnericu said:

 

all you need is a photocopy of the old one and 165 usd

[roadrunnericu 7]

a prior U.S. passport, even if expired, is generally accepted as full proof of citizenship by the U.S. Department of State unless there’s reason to doubt its validity.

---

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS AN EXPIRED PHOTOCOPY AND 165USD

📘 Legal Authority:

Per the Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR § 51.43):

"A passport issued by the Department to the bearer as a citizen of the United States shall be evidence of the bearer’s United States citizenship, unless the Department determines that the passport was obtained illegally, fraudulently, or erroneously."

So unless:

• The original passport was fraudulent

• Or issued in error

• Or obtained by false representation

...then the expired passport = sufficient proof of U.S. citizenship.

[roadrunnericu 7]

a prior U.S. passport, even if expired, is generally accepted as full proof of citizenship by the U.S. Department of State unless there’s reason to doubt its validity.

---

📘 Legal Authority:

Per the Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR § 51.43):

"A passport issued by the Department to the bearer as a citizen of the United States shall be evidence of the bearer’s United States citizenship, unless the Department determines that the passport was obtained illegally, fraudulently, or erroneously."

So unless:

• The original passport was fraudulent

• Or issued in error

• Or obtained by false representation

...then the expired passport = sufficient proof of U.S. citizenship.

[roadrunnericu 7]

what matters is whether they had a green card at the time the following conditions were met:

1. One parent was a U.S. citizen,

2. The child was under age 18,

3. The child was a lawful permanent resident (even if the green card is now expired),

4. The child was living in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent.

✅ Once those conditions are all true at the same time, citizenship is automatically conferred. It cannot be revoked just because the green card expired later.

[roadrunnericu 7]

Just now, roadrunnericu said:

what matters is whether they had a green card at the time the following conditions were met:

1. One parent was a U.S. citizen,

2. The child was under age 18,

3. The child was a lawful permanent resident (even if the green card is now expired),

4. The child was living in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent.

✅ Once those conditions are all true at the same time, citizenship is automatically conferred. It cannot be revoked just because the green card expired later.

Ok, so you need to save 2 things.   no need for the mama and daddy stuff anymore either if you keep a photocopy of the green card  or even the origional card in the safe too.

[roadrunnericu 7]

 

Edited 11 hours ago by roadrunnericu

[roadrunnericu 7]

13 hours ago, mam521 said:

 

🔁 REPLACING A LOST CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP  this sounds easier to who?

📝 Required Form:

• Form N-565 — Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document
  (Used for lost, stolen, destroyed, or incorrect certificates)

💵 Cost:

• $555 USD filing fee (as of 2025)

⏳ Processing Time:

• 6 to 12 months on average

• No expedited option unless you meet rare emergency or military exceptions

📄 Documents You'll Need:

1. Proof of identity (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)

2. Copy of the lost certificate (if available — even a photocopy helps)

 

 

[roadrunnericu 7]

I appreciate all of the inputs and debate.  thank you for all the points shared.

[WeekendPizzaiolo 127]

47 minutes ago, roadrunnericu said:

a photo copy of the old one and a normal id meets all of the requirements to replace a lost passport.

I do not believe that is correct. If a passport is lost, a new passport must be applied for in person. You present an original and a photocopy of your citizenship evidence. See: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html

 

I did not make an absolute statement that a CoC is required. Many have already chimed in that a certificate may make the child's bureaucratic life easier years or decades later for different reasons. One should consider N-600 when they have the funds. I never assume my loved ones will have the same tolerance for bureaucracy and forms that I have.

 

The list of secondary evidence is quite involved:

Quote

I became a U.S. citizen through my parent who naturalized or through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000

If you were born outside the United States and got U.S. citizenship through the naturalization of your parent(s), submit:

• Your foreign birth certificate listing your parent(s)
• Evidence of your parent’s U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), or naturalization certificate
• Evidence of your permanent residence status. Examples include:
  • Permanent Resident Card/Green Card
  • Foreign passport with the original I-551 visa entry stamp
• Your parents' marriage certificate (if your parents were married when you legally entered the U.S. and before your 18th birthday) 
• Documentation of legal custody when you entered the United States, if your parents were not married at that time. If your parents divorced after you entered the United States, provide documentation of legal custody at the time of your parent’s naturalization 
• Evidence that you resided in the United States in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent. Your residence is the primary place in which you live. Entering the United States or temporarily visiting the country - even if on an immigrant visa - usually does not meet the requirement to reside in the United States. As such, legal permanent residence cards alone are not evidence of residing in the United States.
• You need proof of residing in the United States with your U.S. citizen parent. Please provide at least two of these documents:
  • School or day care records
  • Utility bills
  • Employment records
  • Automobile registrations
  • Deeds or property rental leases
  • Medical records
  • Passport stamps             
• Evidence of your legitimation (if your parents were not married at the time of your birth). Legitimation means a father – whose child was born when he was not married – establishes a full legal relationship to his child. Establishing this relationship gives the father the same rights and obligations as if his child had been born while married to the child’s mother.
• Examples of legitimation include:
  • Your parents' marriage certificate dated after your birth
  • Certified court order of legitimation 

Please see U.S. Citizenship Laws & Policy for more information.

U.S. Citizenship through Adoption

If you were born outside the United States and got your citizenship after you were adopted, please see our Child Citizenship Act webpage for more information.

 

[mam521 2,573]

Food for thought, for those interested in reading.  It's a couple of years old and is more pertaining to the fee of the N-600, but also talks about WHY one may like to fork over the bucks.  The references are listed and there are a lot of footnotes accompanying the references.  

 

https://www.nyulawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NYULawReview-Volume-95-Issue-4-Bedoya.pdf

 

 

 

[roadrunnericu 7]

22 hours 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) 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.

there is no need to keep it current. even an expired passport is proof of citizenship.  you dont need any of that mumbo jumbo to get a us passport, you can prove citizenship with documents alone.  for the certification it requires adjudication if you loose that, and will take 6-12 months to replace it.  you can replace a lost, expired, or stolen passports in 2-3 weeks for 160 USD and for another 60 they will expedite that.  expedition is not even available when replacing a lost certificate. it now becomes a matter of which documents you want to keep in a safe deposit box forever and ever.

[roadrunnericu 7]

8 hours ago, WeekendPizzaiolo said:

I do not believe that is correct. If a passport is lost, a new passport must be applied for in person. You present an original and a photocopy of your citizenship evidence. See: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html

 

I did not make an absolute statement that a CoC is required. Many have already chimed in that a certificate may make the child's bureaucratic life easier years or decades later for different reasons. One should consider N-600 when they have the funds. I never assume my loved ones will have the same tolerance for bureaucracy and forms that I have.

 

The list of secondary evidence is quite involved:

Here’s how your listed documents stack up:

---

✅ DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE:

1. Photocopy of your lost, expired passport

   • Very helpful: proves prior passport issuance and likely citizenship.

   • Not officially listed as primary evidence, but often accepted if readable and shows the passport number and identifying info.

2. Old Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)

   • Shows you were a lawful permanent resident.

   • Helps prove that you met the requirements for automatic citizenship under INA §320 (derivative citizenship).

3. Real ID Driver’s License

   • Sufficient proof of identity, required for Form DS-11.

   •  

 

8 hours ago, WeekendPizzaiolo said: