US passports for father and son

[maya62 7]

We are so looking forward to my husband's oath ceremony next Friday! I have a few questions about applying for passports.

Looking ahead, we would like to get US passports for my husband and our son (my stepson). Our son is about to turn 16 in February. From reading here and on the USDOS website, it doens' t look like there's substantial difference between applying for a 15 year old and applying for a 16 year old, except that the former will result ina 5 year passport and the latter will result in a 10 year passport. Can anyone think of a reason to rush and get the apps in before he turns 16? We have no immediate travel plans.

It looks like we have to apply in person because they are both first-time US passport applicants. It also looks like my husband's Certificate of Citizenship is proof for both of them of US citizenship (along with birth certificate and translation for our son, as well as proof of legal entry, which I assume is his cancelled visa in his Nepali passport) . So should we just hand it over at the post office and hope that all the info stays together??? I am so nervous about giving them the originals of all of those documents, including his foreign passport!!

Are they reliable about returning this stuff?? I can't imagine trying to replace his Nepali birth certificate or passport. We'd probably be soaked for beaucoups bribes.

Last question: they want permission from both parents. Our son's biological mother is in a remote village in Nepal. We have a letter from her stating that she wants her son to go live with his father in the US, but it is not official in any way. Nepal is not party to the Hague Convention. But I have met her and it is clear that we have her blessing to have him here with us. The USDOS says you should/can write an explanation about why the other parent is not present, but I wonder if anyone has submitted such a thing, and if so, what did it say?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer!

Maya

[aleful 1,905]

you don't mention if he is a LPR.

[aaron2020 11,651]

We are so looking forward to my husband's oath ceremony next Friday! I have a few questions about applying for passports.

Looking ahead, we would like to get US passports for my husband and our son (my stepson). Our son is about to turn 16 in February. From reading here and on the USDOS website, it doens' t look like there's substantial difference between applying for a 15 year old and applying for a 16 year old, except that the former will result ina 5 year passport and the latter will result in a 10 year passport. Can anyone think of a reason to rush and get the apps in before he turns 16? We have no immediate travel plans.

It looks like we have to apply in person because they are both first-time US passport applicants. It also looks like my husband's Certificate of Citizenship is proof for both of them of US citizenship (along with birth certificate and translation for our son, as well as proof of legal entry, which I assume is his cancelled visa in his Nepali passport) . So should we just hand it over at the post office and hope that all the info stays together??? I am so nervous about giving them the originals of all of those documents, including his foreign passport!!

Are they reliable about returning this stuff?? I can't imagine trying to replace his Nepali birth certificate or passport. We'd probably be soaked for beaucoups bribes.

Last question: they want permission from both parents. Our son's biological mother is in a remote village in Nepal. We have a letter from her stating that she wants her son to go live with his father in the US, but it is not official in any way. Nepal is not party to the Hague Convention. But I have met her and it is clear that we have her blessing to have him here with us. The USDOS says you should/can write an explanation about why the other parent is not present, but I wonder if anyone has submitted such a thing, and if so, what did it say?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer!

Maya

Where is your stepson living? Is he an LPR? If he is not an LPR, he cannot get a US passport when his father naturalize.

Your stepson can only apply for a US passport if he is a US citizen. He can only derive US citizenship from his US citizen father. He must be admitted to the US as an LPR in order to qualify for US citizenship derived from his father.

LPR son under age 18 living with US citizen father --> LPR son becomes US citizen when his father naturalizes --> US citizen son can apply for a US passport.

Son is not an LPR --> Father becoming US citizen does not give son any benefit.

Look up the Child Citizenship Act to see when a child can derive US citizenship when a parent naturalize.

Edited January 9, 2012 by aaron2020

[nwctzn 55]

You mention that your stepson has a cancelled visa in his passport. Is he a legal permanent resident in the US?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Maya,

as you have learned from the previous posters, your post lacks some essential information, but I will simply assume that your husband was a Green Card holder and your step son was one as well. If that's not the case, ignore everything I write from hereon.

If your husband is a naturalized U.S. citizen, he doesn't have a Certificate of Citizenship. Instead, he has a Certificate of Naturalization. Big difference. If your husband would file an N-600 for his son, the son would eventually get a Certificate of Citizenship. Unlike your husband, your son would not go through the process of naturalization. He would not have to pass any tests. He would not have to take the Oath of Allegiance.

Right now, your step son is a U.S. citizen. Without a Certificate of Citizenship, he can't prove it though. So therefore I would actually suggest for him to get at least a passport card. For all practical purposes except international air travel, it's perfectly acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship. Keep it as safe as the irreplaceable heirloom from your great grandmother. Don't let him keep it safe, you do it for him.

Your husband doesn't need the mother's permission in order to get a passport if she lives in Nepal. For all practical purposes, she could live in a galaxy far, far away, and that aside, she already has given written permission for her son to immigrate to the U.S. Your husband needs to submit an additional form at the passport office, form DS-3053, that's all.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds3053/ds3053_846.html

[maya62 7]

Sorry our situation was not clearly stated in my original post!

My husband and stepson immigrated together in fall of 2005. They are both LPR's and my stepson lives with us full-time. My husband is about to take the oath of citizenship next Friday. My stepson will turn 16 less than 2 weeks after my husband becomes a USC. We will be applying for passports for both as we travel back and forth to Nepal every couple of years.

Aaron thanks for the info, and Brother H, thank you for the info and the link. It looks like it applies only if we submit passport applications before my stepson turns 16. So we'll just wait. Interesting though, that kids over 16 do not need this form.

Has anyone ever had trouble getting originals back from DOS when submitting them for a passport application??

And since the one Certificate of Naturalization applies to both passport applications, is it advisable to do them A) together or B) father first, then son (when we get the Certificate back from the first application process)?

Thanks!

Maya

[nwctzn 55]

Sorry our situation was not clearly stated in my original post!

My husband and stepson immigrated together in fall of 2005. They are both LPR's and my stepson lives with us full-time. My husband is about to take the oath of citizenship next Friday. My stepson will turn 16 less than 2 weeks after my husband becomes a USC. We will be applying for passports for both as we travel back and forth to Nepal every couple of years.

Aaron thanks for the info, and Brother H, thank you for the info and the link. It looks like it applies only if we submit passport applications before my stepson turns 16. So we'll just wait. Interesting though, that kids over 16 do not need this form.

Has anyone ever had trouble getting originals back from DOS when submitting them for a passport application??

And since the one Certificate of Naturalization applies to both passport applications, is it advisable to do them A) together or B) father first, then son (when we get the Certificate back from the first application process)?

Thanks!

Maya

They are usually good in returning everything. Make photocopies of everything you send. Seems to make sense to file them together.

You might want also to consider to file for N-600 Certificate of Citizenship for your stepson at a later time. This way, he will have his own separate proof of citizenship and will not depend on his dad's certificate.

[NickD 202]

Yeah, 16 years old is the magic number for no longer needing permission from that other biological parent. Under 18 is the magic number for a child tailgating his parent when naturalized, but still 600 bucks extra to get it done with a certificate as opposed to 680 for the full interview with the USCIS.

Only way to get around sending in all the original documentation is to buy an airline ticket and within two weeks of that flight, make an appointment at one of the DOS service centers. We are all concerned about getting that documentation back. Never received my birth certificate back, but what the heck, only cost be five bucks for another being born here.

With the N-600, can send in photocopies just like on their interview, but have to bring in your originals at the interview. N-600 stands for 600 bucks. But with the DOS, still have to send in the original Certificate of Naturalization. Did Captain Ewok change the name of this section from citizenship to naturalization yet? Was a panic getting back my wife's and stepdaughter's certificate back. For whatever strange reason, can't put that in that large cardboard envelop I had to sign for, instead, comes back in a plain brown envelop with untraceable first class postage. But they both came back.

In our case, our clerk of court was the best choice in our area, she has been doing passports for 20 years and we get to sit down in her lush government office. Several here had problems with the USPS. In ours, no privacy and always long lines. Would even go to the next county if we didn't have a qualified person here. Stepdaughter went to the county where her university is located at. Were very friendly to her.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

"Normally" father and son go at the same time. A new passport costs $135, a card only $30 and a Certificate of Citizenship costs $600. You do the math what makes more sense for you.

[MIBEN 83]

Submitting the original documents can be nerve wrecking but I have done it for my children and I a few times in the past and never had any problems. I always got everything back but I only use their expedite service I cannot afford to wait up to 6 weeks to get the documents back.

[NickD 202]

"Normally" father and son go at the same time. A new passport costs $135, a card only $30 and a Certificate of Citizenship costs $600. You do the math what makes more sense for you.

Ha, we still go around in circles on this issue, but that 600 bucks for that kid closes the door with the USCIS for him forever.

[nwctzn 55]

Ha, we still go around in circles on this issue, but that 600 bucks for that kid closes the door with the USCIS for him forever.

Good point and I agree! I know the N-600 costs $600, but it is really good if the child has her/his own certificate for future reference and as you said it finalizes things with the USCIS. Say the passport is lost later during the child's adulthood and the parent who has the naturalization certificate cannot be reached. The child can then apply with her/his own certificate for a passport without the need of her/his parent's naturalization certificate.

Edited January 13, 2012 by nwctzn