The Complete Guide to USCIS Form N-600

What is the N-600 Form?

Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, is used in the United States to get a Certificate of Citizenship. This form is filed by people who are already U.S. citizens through their parent(s) but need to prove their citizenship. This form is especially for those who were born in another country to U.S. citizen parents or became citizens automatically when their parents became citizens before they turned 18 years old.

The Certificate of Citizenship they get when Form N-600 is approved is an official document that confirms their U.S. citizenship status. The certificate can be used to get a U.S. passport, prove citizenship for jobs, or to vote. The form is sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and requires showing evidence like the citizenship of the parent and how the child is related to them.

Who Files the N-600

The N-600 form is filed by people who are already U.S. citizens by their birth to U.S. citizen parents or through their parents' naturalisation and need to obtain official documentation of their citizenship status. You fill it out and submit it yourself if you are an adult or your parent or legal guardian fills it out on your behalf if you are a minor. Scenarios where you might file form N-600 could be: 

1. If you were born abroad to U.S. citizen parents: You may automatically get U.S. citizenship at birth but still need the Certificate of Citizenship as proof.
    
2. If you automatically become a U.S. citizen: This includes those who were not born in the U.S. but automatically became citizens because their parent(s) naturalised while they were under 18 and living in the U.S. under the legal custody of the U.S. citizen parent.
    
3. If you were adopted: If you automatically became a citizen after being adopted, you can use this form to confirm your citizenship.

Who Should Not File a Form N-600? 

Form N-600 is for people who already have U.S. citizenship through their parents, either by birth or after birth but before turning 18. It is intended only for confirming citizenship status for those who automatically acquired it through their parents, not for people who want to change their status or are seeking citizenship through naturalisation. People who should not file Form N-600 include:

1. Non-citizens seeking U.S. citizenship: If you are looking to become a U.S. citizen through naturalisation, you should not use Form N-600. Instead, you need to file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
    
2. Permanent residents (Green Card holders) without a U.S. citizen parent: If you are a permanent resident who does not automatically qualify for citizenship through a parent, you must seek naturalisation after meeting the necessary residency and other requirements.
    
3. People looking for a replacement for a lost or stolen Certificate of Citizenship: You should file Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, instead of N-600.
    
4. People who need to confirm their derivative citizenship status: If you derived citizenship after turning 18 (such as through the naturalisation of a parent while being over 18), you cannot use Form N-600.

What Documents Are Required to File an N-600 Form?

• Two passport-sized photos.
• Birth certificate or birth record.
• Birth certificate of your U.S. citizen parent.
• Proof of your parent's U.S. citizenship (e.g. passport).

Additional Documents (If applicable):

• Proof that you are physically living with a parent who is a U.S. citizen.
• The marriage certificate of the parent who is a U.S. citizen.
• Proof that their previous marriage(s) was lawfully terminated.
• Proof that your birth was legitimised if you were born out of wedlock.
• Proof of custody (If your parents were legally separated, divorced, or you were adopted).
• Proof of your status as a permanent resident of the U.S., such as a Green Card.
• Proof of any legal name changes.
• Copy of your complete and final adoption decree.

Any non-English document must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Always provide the original documents, the certified translation of the original document and an affidavit by the translator that confirms the translation’s accuracy. 

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What if Some Documents Aren’t Available?

If some documents required for your Form N-600 application are not available, you can:

1. Provide a written explanation, typed or printed, stating why the required documents are unavailable.

2. Submit Secondary Evidence such as:

• Baptismal certificates showing your place and date of birth, as well as your parents' names.
• School records, showing your date of admission, place of birth, and your parents' names.
• Census records listing your name, place of birth, and date of birth or age.
• Affidavits from two people who have direct knowledge of the event (like your birth), explaining how they know about the event and confirming its details. These people should provide their full legal name, address, relationship to you, and detailed knowledge of the event.
  When a primary document (like a birth certificate) is unavailable, USCIS allows you to submit secondary evidence.

3. Request a Certification of Non-Availability from a relevant authority (such as a foreign government office or a state vital records office) stating that the primary document does not exist or cannot be obtained.

4. Check for alternative documents. For instance, if a foreign birth certificate is unavailable, you might use immigration documents, medical records, or other government-issued IDs that verify your identity and nationality.

How to Complete and File Form N-600

There are two ways to file form N-600. You can do this online or by mail. To file online, you have to create an account. If you are applying by mail, you can either download the form and fill it out by hand or type out your answers on a computer before you print. To properly complete Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship you should: 

1. Use the most recent version of Form N-600 from the USCIS website.
    
2. Type or print your responses legibly in black ink. 
    
3. Provide accurate information by selecting the box that best describes why you are eligible in part 1 and by filling out all the required information about yourself in part 2. 
    
4. Attach all the necessary documents we listed above that support your application. Make sure they are well-translated by a USCIS-certified translator. 
    
5. If you need more space to complete any item, additional space is provided in Part 11 of the form. You can also attach a separate sheet of paper. Include your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) at the top of each extra sheet, and specify the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers. Sign and date each sheet. 
    
6. Your application must be signed and dated, or if you are under 14 years old, your parent or legal guardian should sign it. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not accepted.
    
7. USCIS may need you to appear for an interview or provide biometrics to verify your identity and conduct background and security checks.
    
8. Pay the filing fees of about $1,385 through your preferred channel such as cheque, money order or credit card, payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”. 
    
9. If you are using the mail service, you can find where to file form N-600 and all supporting documents after you have completed them on the USCIS website.
    
10. Keep copies of the form and all documents submitted for your records.

Note that:

• For questions that do not apply to you, answer them as “N/A” (Not Applicable), unless otherwise specified.
• For questions requiring numeric responses, write “none” if it does not apply to you unless specified otherwise.

How Much Does it Cost to File Form N-600?

How to Pay When Filing Form N-600

• Use a cheque or money order from a U.S. bank and make sure it is in U.S. dollars.
   
• Write the check or money order to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Don't shorten it to "USDHS" or "DHS."
   
• If you live outside the U.S., contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for how to pay.
   
• If your application is not accepted, USCIS will usually send back your full payment and the application if you provide a mailing address.

What is the N-600 Processing Time?

N-600 processing times range from six months to over a year depending on factors like the USCIS centre handling your application or the completeness of your documents. If you've filed your application online or have an online account with USCIS, you can log in to check the status of your application and view any updates or requests for additional information. After filing, you will receive a receipt notice from USCIS with a receipt number. This number can be used to check your USCIS Case Status online.

Do I Need To File N-600 For My Child?

Filing form N-600 for your child is necessary for several reasons. While having a Certificate of Citizenship is not necessary for a child to be recognised as a U.S. citizen, it provides a formal government-issued document proving citizenship, which can be helpful for applying for a U.S. passport, enrolling in school or college or establishing their eligibility for certain government benefits.

If your child has a U.S. passport, that passport can also serve as proof of citizenship. The passport is generally sufficient for all purposes that require proof of citizenship. If the child does not yet have a passport, applying for one could be a simpler way to establish citizenship since it requires fewer documents and involves a shorter processing time compared to the N-600.

Also, if your child was adopted from another country and became a U.S. citizen under the Child Citizenship Act, filing Form N-600 can be beneficial to obtain formal recognition of their citizenship status.
 

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