US Citizenship for Children Form N-600K

Form N-600K is used to obtain US citizenship for children of a US citizen who permanently resides outside the United States. The child must meet all the requirements to receive a certificate of citizenship:

• Be under 18 years of age.
• Unmarried.
• Have a US citizen parent (biological or adoptive) who has legal and physical custody of the child.
• Permanently reside outside the US.
• The US citizen parent must have been physically present in the US for a minimum of 5 years, at least 2 of which were after the age of 14. If the parent does not meet this requirement, one of the US citizen parent’s parents (the child’s grandparents) must meet it.
• Attend an interview.

After explaining the basic eligibility requirements, this article will detail how to complete the form and answer frequently asked questions on the topic: Who can file Form N-600K on behalf of children eligible for US citizenship? What documents need to be submitted with Form N-600K? What does biometric data collection for the application entail? What happens during the interview with USCIS (US immigration authorities)? How long does it take to obtain US citizenship for children of US citizens?

Who can file Form N-600K on behalf of a child eligible for US citizenship?

The following individuals can file the form to obtain citizenship on behalf of a child of a US citizen:

• A US citizen parent who has legal and physical custody of the child.
• If the US citizen parent is deceased, the US citizen grandparent with legal and physical custody of the child.
• A legal guardian who is a US citizen – if the child’s qualifying parent is deceased, the guardian can file the form within 5 years of the parent’s death. The legal guardian does not need to meet the physical presence requirements mentioned above, but these requirements must be met by the deceased parent or the child’s grandparent.

What documents are needed to file Form N-600K?

If you have determined, based on the above, that your child is eligible for US citizenship and the issuance of a certificate of citizenship, it’s time to proceed and start the actual application. To do this, you will need to gather the required documents (if any document is written in a foreign language, a complete English translation must be submitted along with a signed certification from the translator confirming that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language to English). These documents include:

• A copy of the child’s birth certificate and the US citizen parent’s birth certificate.
• Two identical passport photos. The photos must be recent and in color, taken no more than 30 days before the application.
• Proof of physical presence – proof that the US citizen parent meets the physical presence requirement (or the grandparents, if the parent does not meet the requirement). Documents may include school records, employment records, rent receipts, tax returns, or other relevant documents.
• Proof of the parent’s (or grandparents’) citizenship: This includes a copy of the passport, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship.

Depending on specific circumstances, you may need to provide additional supporting documents, such as:

• A copy of marriage certificates.
• Divorce certificates, if applicable.
• Proof of the legal relationship between the child and the US citizen father. If the child was born out of wedlock and is eligible based on the US citizen father, evidence of the blood relationship may be required, such as DNA test results or other supporting documents.
• Proof of custody or legal guardianship – if the child is in the custody of someone other than the US citizen parent, documents proving custody or legal guardianship may need to be provided, such as court orders, adoption orders, or custody agreements.
• Name change documentation. If any involved parties, such as the child or the US citizen parent, have changed their name, legal documentation of these name changes may need to be provided.
• Any other relevant court orders.

How to fill out Form N-600K?

Once all the necessary documents are ready, the next step is to complete and submit Form N-600K. The form must be legible and printed in black ink.

Answer all parts of Form N-600K. If a question is not applicable in this case, write “N/A” (not applicable), unless otherwise instructed on the form.

Form N-600K is divided into several sections, which must be completed as detailed below:

• Information on the child’s eligibility. In this section, select the box indicating why the child is eligible for citizenship under section 322 of the INA (Immigration and Nationality Act).
• Information about the eligible child:
  • Current name. Indicate the name on the birth certificate, unless it was changed due to legal actions such as marriage, adoption, or a court order.
  • Name as it appears on the Permanent Resident Card. Please indicate the child’s name exactly as it appears on the green card (even if it is misspelled).
  • Other names used since birth. Include nicknames, if relevant.
  • US Social Security Number.
  • USCIS online account number. This item is relevant if the child has previously filed an application or petition using the USCIS online filing system.
  • Date of birth. Use eight numbers to display the date of birth in the standard US format. For example, April 30, 2010, must be written as 04/30/2010.
  • Country of birth. Name of the country as it was when the child was born, even if the name has changed or the country no longer exists.
  • Country of the child’s citizenship. If the country no longer exists or the child is stateless, provide the name of the country of citizenship or nationality where the child was last a citizen. If the child is a citizen of more than one country, list the name of the country that issued the last passport.
  • Gender.
  • Height in imperial units (feet and inches).
  • Mailing address.
  • The physical address of the child at the time of application.
  • Marital status. The child’s status as of the date of submitting Form N-600K.
  • Information on the child’s immigration process to the US. Do not complete this item number – these questions will be asked and completed in the interview with a USCIS officer (see below).
  • Has the child (or anyone on their behalf) previously applied for US citizenship or a US passport? If yes, explain what happened with that application and whether a passport was issued.
  • Information about adoption.
  • Were the child’s parents married to each other when the child was born or adopted? If the child was born out of wedlock, write “No”, even if the parents married later. If the child was adopted, clarify whether the adoptive parents were married to each other at the time of adoption.
• Information on the child’s US citizen parent:
  • Current name of the US citizen parent. The name should match the birth certificate name unless it was changed after birth by legal actions such as marriage, adoption, or a court order.
  • Date of birth of the US citizen parent. US format, as detailed above.
  • Country of birth of the US citizen parent. Name of the country as it was at the time of birth, even if the name has changed or the country no longer exists.
  • US Social Security Number.
  • Physical address. The address where the parent currently resides. Not a PO Box unless it is the only mailing address. Note: If residing outside the US, enter the city name again in this box.
  • Phone numbers.
  • Email address.
  • US citizenship. Provide all relevant information regarding how the parent became a US citizen.
  • Has the US citizen parent ever lost US citizenship or taken any action that would cause the loss of US citizenship? If the answer is yes (regardless of whether the citizenship was regained since), use the additional space provided in the previous section to detail.
  • Marital history. State how many times the qualifying parent has been married, including marriages declared invalid by law. Also, state the marital status of the parent at the date of submitting Form N-600K. If the US citizen parent is currently married, provide details about the current spouse and whether the spouse is also a biological or adoptive parent. If they are not, the authorities may request information about previous spouses of the US citizen parent.
  • Is the US citizen parent a member of the US armed forces?
• Information on the qualifying US citizen grandparent of the child. Complete this part only if the child’s US citizen parent has not been physically present in the country for five years, two of which after the age of 14 (see eligibility requirements above). The items in this part are similar to section 3 and should be completed in the same manner.
• Physical presence in the US, from birth to the submission of Form N-600K.
  • State whether the information refers to the US citizen parent or the qualifying grandparent.
  • Physical presence of the child’s biological or adoptive US citizen parent, grandparent, or grandparents in the US. Provide all dates when they were in the US, from their birth to the present.
• Information on the legal guardian. This section is relevant only if the child has a legal guardian filing Form N-600K on their behalf.
• Preferred interview location and date for the child and the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian. Since the child must complete the application process and take the Oath of Allegiance before their 18th birthday, and since USCIS will need a minimum of 90 days to review the form and documentation – make sure to provide a preferred interview date at least 90 days before the child turns 18. Also, specify the USCIS office where you wish to be interviewed if it is different from where the application was sent. However, transferring the interview to a different office may delay processing.
• Applicant’s declaration, certification, and signature.
• Contact information, certification, and signature of the interpreter. If you needed a translation to complete Form N-600K, the interpreter must complete this section.
• Contact information, declaration, and signature of the person who prepared this application. Complete this part if the preparer is not the applicant.
• Additional information. Use this part of Form N-600K if you need more space for the application. If you need even more space than provided in the “Additional Information” section, make copies of this part and write the child’s name and A-number (if received) at the top of each sheet. Indicate the page number, part number, and item number your answer refers to; sign and date each sheet.
• Affidavit. Do not complete this part, it will be completed during the interview with a USCIS officer.
• USCIS officer’s report and recommendation. Do not complete this part, it is for USCIS use only.

It is essential to ensure that the form is completed correctly, without errors or omissions, as it can affect the outcome of the application. The fee for submitting the application is $1170, which is non-refundable. The next step is the biometric data collection by USCIS.

What is biometric data collection?

After submitting Form N-600K, a biometric data collection appointment letter will be sent (“fingerprint appointment”): the information will include your fingerprint, photograph, and signature. The process is usually quick and straightforward and includes the following:

• Appointment: After processing the application, you will receive a notification with the date, time, and location of the appointment. This notification is usually sent to the address specified in the application.
• Actual data collection.
• Receipt: After collecting the data, you will receive a receipt indicating that your biometric information was taken. Keep the receipt in a safe place, as you may need to present it in the future.
• Further processing: After collecting the information, a background check – including a review of criminal records held by the FBI – will be conducted before a decision is made regarding your application.

Biometric data collection is a crucial step in the application process, as it allows the authorities to verify your identity and conduct necessary checks before making a decision. The next step is the interview with USCIS.

What is a USCIS interview regarding Form N-600K?

The next step is for the child and the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian to receive an interview appointment notice for a personal interview with a USCIS officer.

During the interview, the immigration officer will ask all interviewees questions about the application, background, and the child’s eligibility for citizenship. Review the application and prepare well before the interview. The officer will review the documents submitted with the application and may request clarification or additional evidence if necessary.

The final step – Oath of Allegiance

If your child is over 14 years old, the final step before issuing the certificate of citizenship is the Oath of Allegiance. If your child is under 14, USCIS may not require them to take the oath.

How can consulting an immigration lawyer assist you in applying for citizenship using Form N-600K?

An experienced US immigration lawyer can review your circumstances and determine if your child meets the eligibility criteria for obtaining US citizenship by submitting Form N-600K. An American immigration lawyer has up-to-date information on how to complete the form and can save you time, effort, and money by submitting a legally appropriate application, thus avoiding application denial due to errors or missing documents. A professional and experienced American immigration lawyer can also help you and your child prepare for the interview with a USCIS officer, which is a significant part of the application.

The team members of Decker, Pex, Levi, one of the leading immigration law firms in Israel, will be happy to assist you with Form N-600K.

This article was written in collaboration with attorney Adam Johnson.

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