Instructions For Form N-600 - Application For Certificate Of Citizenship printable pdf download

Instructions for Application for

Certificate of Citizenship

USCIS

Form N-600

Department of Homeland Security

OMB No. 1615-0057

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Expires 12/31/2018

What Is the

Purpose of Form

N-600?

Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, is an application for a Certificate of Citizenship.

Who Should File

Form

N-600?

You should file this application if:

1. You are requesting a Certificate of Citizenship because you were born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen

parent; or

2. You are requesting a Certificate of Citizenship because you automatically became a citizen of the United States after

birth, but before you turned 18 years of age. (A parent or legal guardian can also file Form N-600 on behalf of a

minor child.)

Citizenship law has changed over the years and different laws apply to determine whether you automatically became

a U.S. citizen at birth, or after birth but before you turned 18 years of age. If you are claiming U.S. citizenship based

on your birth abroad to U.S. citizen parents, the law in effect on the date of your birth applies. For purposes of these

provisions, you must be the biological child of your U.S. citizen parent, and different provisions apply depending on

whether you were born in wedlock or out-of-wedlock.

If you are claiming U.S. citizenship after birth, but before you reached 18 years of age, the law in effect when the last

qualifying condition was met is the law that applies to you. Generally, the conditions are listed below.

These conditions must be met before you turn 18 years of age:

1. Your parent must be a U.S. citizen;

2. You must be the biological child of that U.S. citizen parent;

3. You must be lawfully admitted to the United States for lawful permanent residence; and

4. You must be living in the United States in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent.

You can file Form N-600 at any time if you became a U.S. citizen at birth or after birth, but before you turned 18 years

of age. Filing this application is NOT a request to become a U.S. citizen. Filing this application is ONLY a request to

obtain a Certificate of Citizenship which recognizes that you became a citizen on a particular date.

Adopted Child

An adopted child may also acquire U.S. citizenship through his or her adoptive U.S. citizen parent depending on the law

being applied. Currently, an adopted child can acquire U.S. citizenship through his or her U.S. citizen parent. However,

step children CANNOT acquire U.S. citizenship under this provision.

NOTE: If you are now 18 years of age, but all of the above conditions apply to you before your 18th birthday and you

were under 18 years of age on February 27, 2001 (the date the law took affect), you may file this application to obtain

a Certificate of Citizenship. However, if you were under 18 years of age on February 27, 2001, BUT not all of the

conditions noted above were met prior to your 18th birthday, you must qualify for U.S. citizenship in your own right.

Form N-600 Instructions 02/13/17 N

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Instructions For Form N-600 - Application For Certificate Of Citizenship

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