hello citizen path , my mom is a us citizen and she was born in US an lived here her entire life . She never lived outside USA . she was on vacation in Mexico when I was born abroad (due to me coming 1 month early , bad timing I know 😢) but she brought me over illegally after birth cuz she was young and didn’t understand how to help me become a citizen at the time and I lived here in USA my whole entire life after that but undocumented . She never filed any paperwork for me sadly and now I am trying to find out if I can become a us citizen through her . my record is clean in USA and I never been to mexico after birth . I was born in 1997 and I am currently 27years of age and I finally want to clean this mess up . She still has my original birth certificate from Mexico but I’m not sure if I’m eligible for citizenship or what to do if I am or what is the proper paperwork I need to fill out to become a legal us citizen ? can i legally become a us citizen ? If so can u help me and give me the proper steps I need to take please ? 🙏🏽
You already are a US citizen; you just don't have proof. To resolve your situation, you need to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. Please review citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/ as it will describe this in more detail. If you need help, you can use CitizenPath to prepare Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.
My mom's (who is 52, born in 1972) dad was a Nigerian citizen and then became a u.s citizen, but he is now late. Can my mom still file for U.S citizenship?
Based on the information you provided, it is difficult to know if you mother can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. It's possible that she is a US citizen. I would recommend that you have an attorney review it. It is more complicated given the time that has passed. If your mother gets serious about it, she would have to relocate to the United States before filing the application. There are appointments and interviews. She would need to file Form N-600 while present here. Please have an immigration attorney review her situation before proceeding.
I have a question did the law for the child care act that went effect in feb 2001 thay affects children born between 1983 and after pretty much what if u derived citizenship in 1999 when u were 15 can i derive based off the law prior to the child care act? My problem is one law just needs legal custody the cca needs legal and physical. I qualify for one but not the other.
We're having trouble understanding your question. But it's true. The law has changed a lot over the years. You can only apply the law that was in effect at the time of the child's birth.
Asking for a friend : Born outside the US in 2002 to non-US citizen parents. Father naturalized as a US citizen in 2013. Entered the US in 2017 as a lawful permanent resident. Obtained a US passport soon after and left the US after 2 months . Visited the US every 1-2 years for 1-2 weeks but never stayed longer. US passport renewed in 2022.Have SSN and regularly pay taxes . Applied for N-600 in 2022 and was denied due to not residing in the US.Am I still a citizen? Recently traveled to the US and renewed state ID. Planning to stay permanently in the US after graduation abroad and sponsor future spouse. Worried about N-600 denial affecting my passport or spouse sponsorship?
Based on the issuance of a US passport, it's likely your friend is a US citizen. It is not acceptable to file Form N-600 unless the applicant is physically residing in the US. That is a possible reason that N-600 was denied. So it's likely this person continues to be a US citizen. Please note that this is not legal advice and your friend should have their specific situation reviewed by an immigration attorney for more definitive answers.
Hello ! I have a question , I’m 30 years old , my mom is a us citizen by birth and has always lived in the us but I was born in Guatemala and I do not know if my mom submitted any papers . I have never been in the states and I want to know what I need to do
You are likely a U.S. citizen. You can review your situation here: citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. In order to obtain proof of your citizenship, you would need to applying for a Certificate of Citizenship using Form N-600 (citizenpath.com/form-n-600-guide/). However, you would need to be inside the United States in order to file this application and complete the process. Even if you used a B visitor visa to enter the U.S., you can do it as a visitor.
Hi, I have a green card and my mother became a naturalized citizen when I was 16. When I applied for my first passport, state department needed my foreign birth certificate which don't have. Is there any other way to go around it? I could try to get certificate of citizenship by filling N-600 but its too costly and the USCIS stated on their website saying I do not need one since I automatically became a citizen when she naturalized.
Either way, you'll need your birth certificate. I would recommend that you try to recover it. This article can help you request a new birth certificate from your country of birth: citizenpath.com/civil-records-immigration/. Then, you have some options. From our experience, most people eventually need the Certificate of Citizenship at some point. There are advantages to the certificate that you can't get from a US passport: citizenpath.com/us-passport-limitations/
both my mom and dad are US citizens but live in canada my mom is a dual citizen and my dad is a permanent resident in canada. I am over the age of 18 and live in canada but would like to get my US citizenship. what is needed to do this?
Based on the information you provided, it's not clear if you think you're already a US citizen. Depending on several factors, you may already be a US citizen. For help determining this, you can check citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. If you are a citizen, you would need to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship with Form N-600. To file this application, you must be in the United States. You could use your Canadian passport to enter the United States to apply and wait out this process.
I was just curious if im eligible for a US passport. My father was born and raised in the US. He then married my mom and had me but didn't go to the US consulit to register me.( My mom is South African and i was born in south Africa. My mom and father are still married and live together in south Africa.) Im now 21 and am looking to try apply for my passport. Would it be possible?
It's possible you are US citizen through your father. This would give you a path to a Certificate of Citizenship. With a Certificate of Citizenship, you could obtain a US passport. However, to file Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship), you would need to be in the United States. You could potentially do this as a nonimmigrant visitor.
@@dragonbeats3154 Generally you must attend several appointments in the United States such as biometrics, interview and oath ceremony. This requires you to be physically present in the U.S. for several months.
Hi there, so my dad is a US citizen through naturalization and I got a permanent resident when I was 15 yrs old does that mean I’m a us citizen already? I’m 22 yrs old now can I also apply for a us passport without a n600 form ?
If you were a permanent resident who lived with your citizen father in the US before the age of 18, you are likely a US citizen. But you'll generally need the Certificate of Citizenship in order to get the American passport. Review this page to make sure you qualify: citizenpath.com/how-to-become-a-citizen-us/. The Certificate of Citizenship documents "when" you acquired your citizenship. As you mentioned, you can obtain the certificate by filing Form N-600.
Hi @citizenpath! I'm a US citizen and I stayed in Ohio up until 7th grade middle school. My mother moved me to the Philippines. So, I've been in the US for a total of around 12 years but wasn't able to go back after I was 14 years old because my parents wanted me to go to school and university here. I had a baby on Jan. 31, 2023. Can I tranmit my citizenship to her? Thank you.
Hi. If one parent is a US citizen and the other is a foreign national, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the US or its outlying possessions for five (5) years, at least two (2) of which were after age 14. Based on your brief explanation, it doesn't sound like your child is a US citizen. Check with an attorney to be sure. Even if your child isn't a citizen, you do have the ability to return to the United States. Before doing so, you could petition your child for permanent resident status. Upon entering the US as a child (under 18) and residing with you, the child would automatically become a US citizen.
I was born outside of the US in 1980. My parents brought me illegally to Puerto Rico (US) when I was 6 months old, but they adopted me when I was 14 years old in 1994. My father's US citizenship appears on my birth certificate as my biological father (in my country), but he is not, so they adopted me in the US. I have been trying to get my passport, but they keep denying it. Can i Apply for N-600? Thank you
Unfortunately, there's not an easy answer to your question. Your situation is complicated. Adoption plus the unlawful entry require legal analysis. We recommend that you work with an immigration attorney to sort through your situation and determine if the N-600 is worthwhile.
Hello, my daughter was born outside The US before I became a citizen and she still resides abroad and is under 18, is she a citizen immediately? Thank You for your help.
The video provides an explanation at 1:34. Your child would need to be residing with you in the United States as a permanent resident. Once all things on the list are true at the same time, the child becomes a citizen. She would be able to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship at this point.
What happens if i turn 18 2 weeks after my parent’s naturalization test (i have a green card and i live with them). Would I still get it through them or would I have to apply for myself and do the whole adult process.
Unfortunately, a permanent resident child must be under the age of 18 when a parent naturalizes in order to automatically obtain citizenship through parents. It's likely that you parent's citizenship date will actually be a little later than the interview. The date citizenship is granted is the date of the oath ceremony. Although it is possible that the oath ceremony could be the same day, it is typically scheduled a few weeks after the interview. If you turn 18 before the oath ceremony, you'll likely need to apply for citizenship on your own. As you mentioned, you would apply just like your parent. File Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and go through the same process. Good luck!
My father was a us citizen and he served as a doctor in us for 30+ years and he was a us citizen at the time I was born but he died 3 years ago and we were kids at that time so he never took us to USA. I am from pakistan and my father was born and raised in Pakistan I have all his documents his passport his Ssn , old closed debit cards statements when he send money to Pakistan from us and my birth certificate my father Pakistani passport and national I'd card everything and I am 17 years old turning 18 in July 2024 can I apply for citizenship on the behalf of my dead father Please reply
Based on your brief description, it is possible that you could be a citizen based on the requirements outline at citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/#at-birth-child. You should address this immediately. You may be able to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) before the age of 18. Proving your father's years of residence in the United States will be more difficult now that he has passed. However, this will be easier if it can be done before you turn 18. I don't think your situation is something that we can help you with. If you are serious about this, I recommend that you contact an immigration attorney to review your situation and help you get it the CRBA.
You didn't provide many details. If you believe that you may have been born a US, we have information at citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. Even if you are not a US citizen, you father can likely petition you for permanent residence (green card). He would need to file Form I-130 and submit proof that you are his adult child. You can learn about this at citizenpath.com/consular-processing-green-card/.
@@CitizenpathImmigration my father moved to the US as an asylum seeker and he had my name registered in the system as his son during the process before going to the US and when the time came for him to go to the US, I was not with him. So what's required and how long can the process take???
@@EmmanuelPhiri-rh6pb A US citizen may petition a child, but you may have some challenges if your father is not listed on the birth certificate or can't show legitimation (such as child support payments) to help raise you. It doesn't sound like you are a citizen. I recommend that you speak to an immigration attorney about your specific situation.
It sounds like you have a complicated situation. An immigration attorney really needs to analyze your specific situation for you to get an accurate answer.
Yes, it does add a degree of difficulty. But if the father has maintained a relationship with the child (generally financial and nurturing), it's still possible for the child to establish citizenship. The applicant must father this evidence of "legitimation."
@@CitizenpathImmigration this is my problem LEGETIMATION I'm good with everything except legitimation my father cooperates with everything but legitimation brings us to dead end.
What would be evidence of legitimation? What would I have to do exactly to prove a child born abroad outside of marriage was mine and a citizen of the United States because the child is mine and I was born in the USA?
hello citizen path , my mom is a us citizen and she was born in US an lived here her entire life . She never lived outside USA . she was on vacation in Mexico when I was born abroad (due to me coming 1 month early , bad timing I know 😢) but she brought me over illegally after birth cuz she was young and didn’t understand how to help me become a citizen at the time and I lived here in USA my whole entire life after that but undocumented . She never filed any paperwork for me sadly and now I am trying to find out if I can become a us citizen through her . my record is clean in USA and I never been to mexico after birth . I was born in 1997 and I am currently 27years of age and I finally want to clean this mess up . She still has my original birth certificate from Mexico but I’m not sure if I’m eligible for citizenship or what to do if I am or what is the proper paperwork I need to fill out to become a legal us citizen ? can i legally become a us citizen ? If so can u help me and give me the proper steps I need to take please ? 🙏🏽
You already are a US citizen; you just don't have proof. To resolve your situation, you need to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. Please review citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/ as it will describe this in more detail. If you need help, you can use CitizenPath to prepare Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.
@@CitizenpathImmigrationthank you so much
My mom's (who is 52, born in 1972) dad was a Nigerian citizen and then became a u.s citizen, but he is now late. Can my mom still file for U.S citizenship?
Based on the information you provided, it is difficult to know if you mother can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. It's possible that she is a US citizen. I would recommend that you have an attorney review it. It is more complicated given the time that has passed. If your mother gets serious about it, she would have to relocate to the United States before filing the application. There are appointments and interviews. She would need to file Form N-600 while present here. Please have an immigration attorney review her situation before proceeding.
I have a question did the law for the child care act that went effect in feb 2001 thay affects children born between 1983 and after pretty much what if u derived citizenship in 1999 when u were 15 can i derive based off the law prior to the child care act? My problem is one law just needs legal custody the cca needs legal and physical. I qualify for one but not the other.
We're having trouble understanding your question. But it's true. The law has changed a lot over the years. You can only apply the law that was in effect at the time of the child's birth.
Asking for a friend :
Born outside the US in 2002 to non-US citizen parents. Father naturalized as a US citizen in 2013. Entered the US in 2017 as a lawful permanent resident. Obtained a US passport soon after and left the US after 2 months . Visited the US every 1-2 years for 1-2 weeks but never stayed longer. US passport renewed in 2022.Have SSN and regularly pay taxes . Applied for N-600 in 2022 and was denied due to not residing in the US.Am I still a citizen?
Recently traveled to the US and renewed state ID.
Planning to stay permanently in the US after graduation abroad and sponsor future spouse. Worried about N-600 denial affecting my passport or spouse sponsorship?
Based on the issuance of a US passport, it's likely your friend is a US citizen. It is not acceptable to file Form N-600 unless the applicant is physically residing in the US. That is a possible reason that N-600 was denied. So it's likely this person continues to be a US citizen. Please note that this is not legal advice and your friend should have their specific situation reviewed by an immigration attorney for more definitive answers.
Hello ! I have a question , I’m 30 years old , my mom is a us citizen by birth and has always lived in the us but I was born in Guatemala and I do not know if my mom submitted any papers . I have never been in the states and I want to know what I need to do
You are likely a U.S. citizen. You can review your situation here: citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. In order to obtain proof of your citizenship, you would need to applying for a Certificate of Citizenship using Form N-600 (citizenpath.com/form-n-600-guide/). However, you would need to be inside the United States in order to file this application and complete the process. Even if you used a B visitor visa to enter the U.S., you can do it as a visitor.
Hi, I have a green card and my mother became a naturalized citizen when I was 16. When I applied for my first passport, state department needed my foreign birth certificate which don't have. Is there any other way to go around it? I could try to get certificate of citizenship by filling N-600 but its too costly and the USCIS stated on their website saying I do not need one since I automatically became a citizen when she naturalized.
Either way, you'll need your birth certificate. I would recommend that you try to recover it. This article can help you request a new birth certificate from your country of birth: citizenpath.com/civil-records-immigration/. Then, you have some options. From our experience, most people eventually need the Certificate of Citizenship at some point. There are advantages to the certificate that you can't get from a US passport: citizenpath.com/us-passport-limitations/
both my mom and dad are US citizens but live in canada my mom is a dual citizen and my dad is a permanent resident in canada. I am over the age of 18 and live in canada but would like to get my US citizenship. what is needed to do this?
Based on the information you provided, it's not clear if you think you're already a US citizen. Depending on several factors, you may already be a US citizen. For help determining this, you can check citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. If you are a citizen, you would need to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship with Form N-600. To file this application, you must be in the United States. You could use your Canadian passport to enter the United States to apply and wait out this process.
I was just curious if im eligible for a US passport. My father was born and raised in the US. He then married my mom and had me but didn't go to the US consulit to register me.( My mom is South African and i was born in south Africa. My mom and father are still married and live together in south Africa.) Im now 21 and am looking to try apply for my passport. Would it be possible?
It's possible you are US citizen through your father. This would give you a path to a Certificate of Citizenship. With a Certificate of Citizenship, you could obtain a US passport. However, to file Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship), you would need to be in the United States. You could potentially do this as a nonimmigrant visitor.
@@CitizenpathImmigration would it not be possible to do it in my home country South Africa?
@@dragonbeats3154 Generally you must attend several appointments in the United States such as biometrics, interview and oath ceremony. This requires you to be physically present in the U.S. for several months.
Hi there, so my dad is a US citizen through naturalization and I got a permanent resident when I was 15 yrs old does that mean I’m a us citizen already? I’m 22 yrs old now can I also apply for a us passport without a n600 form ?
If you were a permanent resident who lived with your citizen father in the US before the age of 18, you are likely a US citizen. But you'll generally need the Certificate of Citizenship in order to get the American passport. Review this page to make sure you qualify: citizenpath.com/how-to-become-a-citizen-us/. The Certificate of Citizenship documents "when" you acquired your citizenship. As you mentioned, you can obtain the certificate by filing Form N-600.
Hey did u got ur citizenship I am in same situation as you are
Hi @citizenpath! I'm a US citizen and I stayed in Ohio up until 7th grade middle school. My mother moved me to the Philippines. So, I've been in the US for a total of around 12 years but wasn't able to go back after I was 14 years old because my parents wanted me to go to school and university here.
I had a baby on Jan. 31, 2023.
Can I tranmit my citizenship to her?
Thank you.
Hi. If one parent is a US citizen and the other is a foreign national, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the US or its outlying possessions for five (5) years, at least two (2) of which were after age 14. Based on your brief explanation, it doesn't sound like your child is a US citizen. Check with an attorney to be sure. Even if your child isn't a citizen, you do have the ability to return to the United States. Before doing so, you could petition your child for permanent resident status. Upon entering the US as a child (under 18) and residing with you, the child would automatically become a US citizen.
I see. I was in the US for 12 years before 14 though. This doesn't count?
Question... if the father was naturalized US citizen died more than 5 years ago, and the son is above 18 years old, is it still possible?
Please review citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. You'll see it doesn't matter if the parent is now deceased.
I was born outside of the US in 1980. My parents brought me illegally to Puerto Rico (US) when I was 6 months old, but they adopted me when I was 14 years old in 1994. My father's US citizenship appears on my birth certificate as my biological father (in my country), but he is not, so they adopted me in the US. I have been trying to get my passport, but they keep denying it. Can i Apply for N-600? Thank you
Unfortunately, there's not an easy answer to your question. Your situation is complicated. Adoption plus the unlawful entry require legal analysis. We recommend that you work with an immigration attorney to sort through your situation and determine if the N-600 is worthwhile.
Hello, my daughter was born outside The US before I became a citizen and she still resides abroad and is under 18, is she a citizen immediately? Thank You for your help.
The video provides an explanation at 1:34. Your child would need to be residing with you in the United States as a permanent resident. Once all things on the list are true at the same time, the child becomes a citizen. She would be able to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship at this point.
What happens if i turn 18 2 weeks after my parent’s naturalization test (i have a green card and i live with them). Would I still get it through them or would I have to apply for myself and do the whole adult process.
Unfortunately, a permanent resident child must be under the age of 18 when a parent naturalizes in order to automatically obtain citizenship through parents. It's likely that you parent's citizenship date will actually be a little later than the interview. The date citizenship is granted is the date of the oath ceremony. Although it is possible that the oath ceremony could be the same day, it is typically scheduled a few weeks after the interview. If you turn 18 before the oath ceremony, you'll likely need to apply for citizenship on your own. As you mentioned, you would apply just like your parent. File Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and go through the same process. Good luck!
My father was a us citizen and he served as a doctor in us for 30+ years and he was a us citizen at the time I was born but he died 3 years ago and we were kids at that time so he never took us to USA. I am from pakistan and my father was born and raised in Pakistan I have all his documents his passport his Ssn , old closed debit cards statements when he send money to Pakistan from us and my birth certificate my father Pakistani passport and national I'd card everything and I am 17 years old turning 18 in July 2024 can I apply for citizenship on the behalf of my dead father
Please reply
Based on your brief description, it is possible that you could be a citizen based on the requirements outline at citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/#at-birth-child. You should address this immediately. You may be able to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) before the age of 18. Proving your father's years of residence in the United States will be more difficult now that he has passed. However, this will be easier if it can be done before you turn 18. I don't think your situation is something that we can help you with. If you are serious about this, I recommend that you contact an immigration attorney to review your situation and help you get it the CRBA.
Hello, my father is a US citizen living in The US, he moved to the USA in 2016 but i remained behind and i am over 18 can i join him now???
You didn't provide many details. If you believe that you may have been born a US, we have information at citizenpath.com/citizenship-through-parents/. Even if you are not a US citizen, you father can likely petition you for permanent residence (green card). He would need to file Form I-130 and submit proof that you are his adult child. You can learn about this at citizenpath.com/consular-processing-green-card/.
@@CitizenpathImmigration my father moved to the US as an asylum seeker and he had my name registered in the system as his son during the process before going to the US and when the time came for him to go to the US, I was not with him. So what's required and how long can the process take???
@@EmmanuelPhiri-rh6pb A US citizen may petition a child, but you may have some challenges if your father is not listed on the birth certificate or can't show legitimation (such as child support payments) to help raise you. It doesn't sound like you are a citizen. I recommend that you speak to an immigration attorney about your specific situation.
What if i was 18 my father was us citizen since 1995 but the marriage may not be valid to us laws but were valid in country of birth
It sounds like you have a complicated situation. An immigration attorney really needs to analyze your specific situation for you to get an accurate answer.
So complicated if your not married and are a man who’s child is born outside the United States
Yes, it does add a degree of difficulty. But if the father has maintained a relationship with the child (generally financial and nurturing), it's still possible for the child to establish citizenship. The applicant must father this evidence of "legitimation."
@@CitizenpathImmigration this is my problem LEGETIMATION I'm good with everything except legitimation my father cooperates with everything but legitimation brings us to dead end.
Same here
😢
What would be evidence of legitimation? What would I have to do exactly to prove a child born abroad outside of marriage was mine and a citizen of the United States because the child is mine and I was born in the USA?