On January 29, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the following two immigration forms available for online filing [PDF version]:
Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322
The Form N-600 is used to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for two classes of individuals. First, it is used to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for an individual who was born outside the United States but automatically derived citizenship at birth through one or both parents under statute [see article]. Second, it is used to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for an individual who automatically obtained U.S. citizenship after birth but before turning 18 years of age [see article]. The Form N-600 can be filed by an individual to obtain the Certificate of Citizenship for him or herself or on behalf of a minor son or daughter.
The Form N-600K is used to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for a child who regularly resides abroad claiming citizenship under section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act through a U.S. citizen parent whom he or she is in the legal and physical custody of. However, the Form N-600K cannot be processed until the applicants are lawfully admitted into the United States.
The USCIS website provides portals for the applicant to complete the Form N-600 or N-600K and includes all necessary evidence. Attorneys and accredited representatives may also submit the Form N-600 or N-600K on behalf of a client.
Individuals with questions about the rules for derivation of citizenship and for obtaining proof of citizenship should consult with an experienced immigration attorney. An experienced attorney will be able to assess each individual case and assist clients in obtaining any documentation to which they may be entitled.
To learn more about citizenship and naturalization generally, please see our growing collection of articles on the subject on site [see category].
