US Certificate of Citizenship, Document Details

[NickD 202]

Was curious of what this document looked like, hey I am new to this and don't even have one as a USC.

In searching the web, did find a 3KB *.jpg of one, blew it up and tried to sharpen the image to read the print.

Did read, "It is Punishable by US Law to Copy, Print, or Photograph this Certificate Without Lawful Authority."

Which probably explains why you cannot find a clear copy of one on the web. Was going to post it here, but don't have lawful authority. Also don't have one of those Hollywood programs they say the CIA has where you can click an image to get a razor sharp picture. It it ain't there, I can't get it.

Judging by the photo size appears to be a single sheet of paper about 9 inches wide and seven inches high and appears to be a form that would be hand written.

Above the photo the date of birth, sex, height, marital status, and former country.

On the right is the signature of the person on the top line,

a printed name of the person on the second line,

location of the US District Court and date on the third line

And an authorized signature at the bottom.

Does this seem correct for those that have received one? Seen some photos on the web where this certificate was folded into thirds and wonder how the photo is attached. Assume that is the photo we supplied with the application.

Certainly not very much information and quick to fill out, and doesn't appear very robust for an important document, but does carry a rather steep fee for a replacement.

[Mononoke28 135]

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Here's the only "good" picture I found in Google.

Diana

Edited July 28, 2008 by Mononoke28

[Saddle Bronc 124]

There is also embossing within the (original) document which makes it somewhat harder to counterfeit.

[moonhunt 1]

Sometimes I'm curious about this, too.

It mentioned "Lawful Authority".

Which "Law"?

When we submit the certificate of Naturalization to Social Security Administration office for Social Security Number status upate, if SSA decide to keep the copy of "the certificate of Naturalization", is that lawful?

"Lawful Authorigy" means under immigration law or all laws by any mean?

Does this "lawful authority" include any "home-use" backup copy, too?

Probably it is me having too much thought.

But I couldn't help myself. ^^

Was curious of what this document looked like, hey I am new to this and don't even have one as a USC.

In searching the web, did find a 3KB *.jpg of one, blew it up and tried to sharpen the image to read the print.

Did read, "It is Punishable by US Law to Copy, Print, or Photograph this Certificate Without Lawful Authority."

Which probably explains why you cannot find a clear copy of one on the web. Was going to post it here, but don't have lawful authority. Also don't have one of those Hollywood programs they say the CIA has where you can click an image to get a razor sharp picture. It it ain't there, I can't get it.

Judging by the photo size appears to be a single sheet of paper about 9 inches wide and seven inches high and appears to be a form that would be hand written.

Above the photo the date of birth, sex, height, marital status, and former country.

On the right is the signature of the person on the top line,

a printed name of the person on the second line,

location of the US District Court and date on the third line

And an authorized signature at the bottom.

Does this seem correct for those that have received one? Seen some photos on the web where this certificate was folded into thirds and wonder how the photo is attached. Assume that is the photo we supplied with the application.

Certainly not very much information and quick to fill out, and doesn't appear very robust for an important document, but does carry a rather steep fee for a replacement.

[moonhunt 1]

Here is another example.

So you may have some idea what kind of info will be written.

http://www.***removed***/citizenship/sample...ralization.html

I think it will be regular frame size for any kind award certificate thing. ^^

[lucyrich 20]

Lucy's is still in the mail, since we sent it out with the passport application.

But going from memory, everything posted is pretty much correct. Except that I believe it's letter sized, or at least pretty close to 8.5 x 11 inches.

I believe the photo on the certificate is the actual photo you sent in with the N-400. It gets an embossed seal that would make it very hard to take one photo off and replace it with another. If I'd known they were going to use the actual photo we sent, I would have taken the photos to a good photo store and had them printed on real photo paper. Instead, I sent a photo quality inkjet print with the N-400. The inkjet print is very high quality, but I'm afraid it may fade in a few decades, more quickly than a properly printed photograph. Oh well, at least the certificate will be stored in a cool dark place where fading will be at a minimum.

In contrast, current US Passport process is to scan the photo you send in, and then print it into the bio data page of your passport. The actual piece of paper that you submit doesn't get put inside your passport.

At Lucy's naturalization oath ceremony, a guy from the USCIS explained a bit about how to treat the certificate. He said the only time it should leave your personal possession is that first time you mail it off to get your first US passport. After that, you use your old passport as evidence to get a new passport. If the Social Security or other government agency needs it, you can mail them a photocopy, and perhaps show them the certificate in person, but you don't let them keep the certificate. If you have future dealings with the USCIS, such as petitioning for relatives, don't under any circumstances mail your original certificate to them. The fastest way to lose something is to send it to the USCIS (he actually said that, as a joke, but not many people laughed). He said it's OK for you to make copies of the certificate if you have a legitimate business reason for doing so. But you can't just run off a bunch of copies and hand them out to your friends. He also said not to carry the certificate around with you, and not to fold it up. Find a secure place to keep it at home or in a safe deposit box. If you lose it, you can get a new copy, but that would involve giving still more money to the USCIS, and he said that the USCIS has already taken enough of your money.

[moonhunt 1]

With all money we paid, I think USCIS needs to hand out "the Ceritificate of Naturalizaion" with nice photo-frame, so you can hang it over the wall in living room or bed room to remember all the pains you went through. ^^

[NickD 202]

Lucy's is still in the mail, since we sent it out with the passport application.

But going from memory, everything posted is pretty much correct. Except that I believe it's letter sized, or at least pretty close to 8.5 x 11 inches.

I believe the photo on the certificate is the actual photo you sent in with the N-400. It gets an embossed seal that would make it very hard to take one photo off and replace it with another. If I'd known they were going to use the actual photo we sent, I would have taken the photos to a good photo store and had them printed on real photo paper. Instead, I sent a photo quality inkjet print with the N-400. The inkjet print is very high quality, but I'm afraid it may fade in a few decades, more quickly than a properly printed photograph. Oh well, at least the certificate will be stored in a cool dark place where fading will be at a minimum.

In contrast, current US Passport process is to scan the photo you send in, and then print it into the bio data page of your passport. The actual piece of paper that you submit doesn't get put inside your passport.

At Lucy's naturalization oath ceremony, a guy from the USCIS explained a bit about how to treat the certificate. He said the only time it should leave your personal possession is that first time you mail it off to get your first US passport. After that, you use your old passport as evidence to get a new passport. If the Social Security or other government agency needs it, you can mail them a photocopy, and perhaps show them the certificate in person, but you don't let them keep the certificate. If you have future dealings with the USCIS, such as petitioning for relatives, don't under any circumstances mail your original certificate to them. The fastest way to lose something is to send it to the USCIS (he actually said that, as a joke, but not many people laughed). He said it's OK for you to make copies of the certificate if you have a legitimate business reason for doing so. But you can't just run off a bunch of copies and hand them out to your friends. He also said not to carry the certificate around with you, and not to fold it up. Find a secure place to keep it at home or in a safe deposit box. If you lose it, you can get a new copy, but that would involve giving still more money to the USCIS, and he said that the USCIS has already taken enough of your money.

I assume then that the certificate is thin enough to be folded without any kind of cardboard backing? The Department of State wouldn't fold it and send it back in a #10 envelop, or would they?

I never really looked at my passport photo closely until you pointed it out, it is me with a whole series of wavy light blue line running horizontally, counted seven stars on my face, but can't see those when I look in a mirror, and a bunch of fine engravings running all over the sides of my face and is a printed image and not the photo that I sent to them.

That guy from the USCIS that informed you of behind the scenes of the USCIS is my kind of guy in tell you the way it is.

[lucyrich 20]

I assume then that the certificate is thin enough to be folded without any kind of cardboard backing? The Department of State wouldn't fold it and send it back in a #10 envelop, or would they?

We got the certificate back in this afternoon's mail. They mailed it in a big manilla envelope (about 9x12) without folding anything.

It's a thin paper certificate with no cardboard backing, and they could fold it, but they don't. The passport people deal with those things every day, and they know that those certificates are important to people.

[NickD 202]

I assume then that the certificate is thin enough to be folded without any kind of cardboard backing? The Department of State wouldn't fold it and send it back in a #10 envelop, or would they?

We got the certificate back in this afternoon's mail. They mailed it in a big manilla envelope (about 9x12) without folding anything.

It's a thin paper certificate with no cardboard backing, and they could fold it, but they don't. The passport people deal with those things every day, and they know that those certificates are important to people.

That is comforting news, now you can say that your journey is finally over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been ten days for us since the interview, just received more bills and junk in the mailbox yesterday, was kind of hoping on being lucky like some of you and getting that oath notice. Maybe today, maybe next week, month, or year, maybe even four years. Have to remember that a watched pot never boils.

Ah, ceremonies, wife and I spent two long days, least for me with all Spanish, watching her son graduate in Venezuela as a professional architect, was quite a long struggle for him taking nine years for a six year course last year. But the poor guy hasn't been able to find a job since then except building shacks for the poor. What a beautiful country, Venezuela is, wonderful people, ideal climate, and really has potential. Too bad it has to be ruined by a terrible government that seems to be the downfall of many nations. Wonder why the 90% of us let stuff like this happen?