Naturalization for Stepson

[amorapotter 2]

On 1/28/2026 at 6:25 PM, Dashinka said:

Moved to the US Citizenship Case Filing and Progress Reports Forum

 

As to your questions, your stepchild will automatically become a citizen when your wife becomes one assuming he is under the age of 18.  No need to file a separate N400 for him, he can obtain a U.S. Passport using your wife’s naturalization certificate.  You should consider filing the N600 for him after he becomes a USC so he can obtain his own certificate of citizenship, but that does not need to be done immediately.

 

I am not sure about name changes in the case of derived USC through your wife.  You may be able to do that via the N600 filing, but I am uncertain of that.  As to last name changes, I think you would need a legal adoption for that.

 

You can look into getting an expedited passport for both through a U.S. passport agency in Washington DC immediately after the oath ceremony.  Research this and you may be able to schedule an appointment accordingly.  I believe you can get a same day passport if you have immediate travel plans.

 

Good Luck!

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/washington.html Cool Games Free

Thank you, Dashinka!

Just to clarify, if my stepson is under 18 and living with us overseas under my government assignment, does he still automatically acquire citizenship the moment my wife naturalizes under 319(b), even though we’re not physically residing in the U.S.?

[Crazy Cat 46,284]

****Thread has been split from existing topic***

[Dashinka 26,583]

2 hours ago, amorapotter said:

Thank you, Dashinka!

Just to clarify, if my stepson is under 18 and living with us overseas under my government assignment, does he still automatically acquire citizenship the moment my wife naturalizes under 319(b), even though we’re not physically residing in the U.S.?

I expect so as long as he meets the requirements to derive citizenship when your wife naturalizes.  I would research the links below.

 

Good Luck!

 

Note: Children of U.S. citizen military members residing outside the United States may complete the entire process from abroad. For more information, see our Military Citizenship for Family Members page.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/i-am-the-child-of-a-us-citizen

https://www.uscis.gov/military/citizenship-for-military-family-members