Applying for US Passport - Certificate of Citizenship

[smileyDandelion 0]

I'm applying for a us passport in person. It requires Certificate of Citizenship to be submitted with Form DS-11.

Can I submit a photocopy of Certificate of Citizenship or it needs to be an original document?

Since I'm applying in person which means I have to show the original document to the officer anyway, can I submit the photocopy after showing the original ?

When I received the Certificate of Citizenship at the oath ceremony, I was told not to lose it otherwise it would cost a lot of money & take a long time to get a new one.

It's been such a long process to get this certificate. I'm trying to avoid any chance to lose it at all cost. If I submit the original one and it gets lost somehow.. who will be responsible for it ?

Thank you for your help!

Edited November 28, 2009 by smileyDandelion

[Goran 2]

Yes, you need to submit the original if you apply for your passport through a post office or via mail. If mail, I strongly recommend to certify your mail. Copies are not accepted.

If you have a ticket that says you're traveling within 14 days, you can request same-day processing at one of the very few Passport Agencies across the country. One is in Washington, D.C. Anyway, you will need to setup an appointment via phone, and then you need to bring your certificate with you to your appointment. You will get it back the same day.

Hope this helps,

goran

[raymaga 25]

Unfortunately, even if you apply in person, you will have to give your original certificate to them with your application.

They will return it to you, sometimes it will come with the passport, other times it will come separately, so don't be alarmed if you receive your passport first, without your certificate in the same envelope. It will arrive shortly thereafter.

[lucyrich 20]

At our oath ceremony, the speaker told everyone that applying for the first US passport should be the only time your naturalization certificate leaves your immediate possession. To renew your passport, you can submit your old passport. Any other requirements for proof of citizenship can be handled by a passport, or by showing the naturalization certificate in person and taking the certificate back in person. In particular, the speaker said, NEVER send your original naturalization certificate to the USCIS, because that's the most effective way to lose it! Yes, he's a USCIS employee and he said that, and got a bit of a laugh at the ceremony. If you need to supply proof of citizenship to the USCIS in support of a future petition or whatever, you should send a photocopy of your passport or a photocopy of your naturalization certificate, but not that original naturalization certificate.

But as has been said, for that first passport, you have to send that precious naturalization certificate away. But take comfort, you're not sending it to the USCIS, but you're sending it to the Department of State passport agency, an agency that serves citizens. Native born citizens send their original birth certificates (or similar valuable proof of citizenship) off to this same agency when they get their passports. They'll take care of it.

[NickD 203]

At our oath ceremony, the speaker told everyone that applying for the first US passport should be the only time your naturalization certificate leaves your immediate possession. To renew your passport, you can submit your old passport. Any other requirements for proof of citizenship can be handled by a passport, or by showing the naturalization certificate in person and taking the certificate back in person. In particular, the speaker said, NEVER send your original naturalization certificate to the USCIS, because that's the most effective way to lose it! Yes, he's a USCIS employee and he said that, and got a bit of a laugh at the ceremony. If you need to supply proof of citizenship to the USCIS in support of a future petition or whatever, you should send a photocopy of your passport or a photocopy of your naturalization certificate, but not that original naturalization certificate.

But as has been said, for that first passport, you have to send that precious naturalization certificate away. But take comfort, you're not sending it to the USCIS, but you're sending it to the Department of State passport agency, an agency that serves citizens. Native born citizens send their original birth certificates (or similar valuable proof of citizenship) off to this same agency when they get their passports. They'll take care of it.

Dos has some odd 9,000 certified agents throughout the USA, we even have two of them in our small dinky town. While they trust them to give you the oath, check over your application, make sure the photos you supplied meet DOS standards of you, they do not trust them to determine if your certificate is true and original, make a copy of it, and send that in. If they don't send in your original certificate, you will not get your passport. That simple. If you pay for expedient service, will send your passport back in a nice overnight heavy cardboard envelop, I had to sign for both my wife's and mine. But the certificate came in a cheap thin brown envelop with a first untraceable first class stamp on it. But at least her certificate did come back in one piece, don't even write on the envelop, do not fold or bend. Since I have a street rural type mail box, I installed a large one so it wouldn't have to be bent. They did lose my birth certificate, but wasn't worth fighting as that only cost me eight bucks so I got another. But was very concerned about her 400 buck certificate, but fortunately, that came back.

I did put hers in one of those notebook type thick plastic sleeves, fortunately it was returned still in that sleeve.

I did question our city clerk that I have known for years why they trusted her in everything except verifying the originality of my wife's certificate, she even verified it before putting it in the envelop with the application and photos. She didn't know why, it's just a procedure established by the DOS. Then I asked her about the liability for replacement cost if it was lost, she said in her years, not one was lost, did tell her they lost my birth certificate, but she guesses we would have to hire an attorney to sue for liability, that would cost more than the replacement certificate. Ours did come in three days later.

I wrote both my senator and congressman about this, something about a war in Iraq, who gives a damn about Iraqi's, we have enough problems here.

Also considered taking a trip to Chicago where you just show your certificate, but that would also cost us more than replacing it. Can only say, it's crazy, so we took the risk and fortunately, it did come back just like we sent it. Also criminal that the USCIS charges that much for a replacement and they insist that you send in a copy of your certificate

From looking at my wife's certificate, looks like the added data to it was printed into a computer program and printed out with a laser, takes about a minute, and they doing do a very good job of aligning the fields. Her photograph was ours and just pasted on, but they half stamped her face and the certificate with a rubber stamp with the USCIS seal on it. Pretty poor job for the price we paid. Apparently, the USCIS does not keep a record of your certificate.

[antda 13]

Hi SmileyDandelion and Everyone,

Unfortunately, when applying for a US Passport, the ORIGINAL (no copies) of the Naturalization Certificate has to be submitted.

I agree, it isn't fair to get the certificate, and then have to risk losing it to the passport officials (lol..and then have to worry about the replacement for that...$400+ and gosh knows how many months....not good...).

Sigh, why can't they be satisfied with a photocopy or certified/notarized copy, instead of the original, despite applying for a passport in-person? Surely they can trust an in-person application, right? Other agencies are ok with that, so what gives with the passport agency?

It's one thing to lose a $30 birth certificate, that can be replaced in a few weeks....It's another to lose a $400+ certificate of naturalization, that takes a few months to replace...

Someone should file a complaint about this....Seriously!

So if you apply for a US passport, it is a risk there, as to if the certicate will be returned.....

If it is lost though, depending on who lost it, it can be the fault of many parties..For example, if it is lost by the passport agency, it is their fault. If it is lost by the USPS or other postal agency, it is their fault. And if you lose it by misplacing it, it is your fault (place it in a safe place!).

Whoever loses the certificate it is their fault. And whoever is at fault should pay for a replacement...

Lol..Because of all this, I'm not taking that risk, and decided not to apply for a US Passport after all. Instead, I'm applying for an Enhanced License...which works just as well for me for travel....Can't risk losing the orignal certificate at all!

Congrats on being a citizen. And good luck with your passport application, if you decide on such...Happy travels!

Ant

I'm applying for a us passport in person. It requires Certificate of Citizenship to be submitted with Form DS-11.

Can I submit a photocopy of Certificate of Citizenship or it needs to be an original document?

Since I'm applying in person which means I have to show the original document to the officer anyway, can I submit the photocopy after showing the original ?

When I received the Certificate of Citizenship at the oath ceremony, I was told not to lose it otherwise it would cost a lot of money & take a long time to get a new one.

It's been such a long process to get this certificate. I'm trying to avoid any chance to lose it at all cost. If I submit the original one and it gets lost somehow.. who will be responsible for it ?

Thank you for your help!

Edited November 29, 2009 by Ant+D+A