N 400 Citizenship application

[Verne Blaise 0]

Please I have a family of 5 (husband and wife with 3 kids) who are preparing to file for citizenship. Kids are still under 18 years of age. We have the following questions:

- I know the family has to sent two applications (husband and wife), can they mail all in one package with check for both?

- Do they have to sent the pictures do they have to include those for the kids? Will the kids be granted citizenship at the same time as parents.

Thank you in advance for your help

[aleful 1,905]

Please I have a family of 5 (husband and wife with 3 kids) who are preparing to file for citizenship. Kids are still under 18 years of age. We have the following questions:

- I know the family has to sent two applications (husband and wife), can they mail all in one package with check for both?

- Do they have to sent the pictures do they have to include those for the kids? Will the kids be granted citizenship at the same time as parents.

Thank you in advance for your help

the kids will be granted citizenship after the parents become USC, not before.

each parent will file the N400. what pictures, the passport photo? no need to send anything of the children.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The children will derive their citizenship from you when you becomes citizens. You will need to obtain separate proof of their citizenship, however. You can do that by filing the N-600 or by using your citizenship certificate with a passport application for each child. Their US passport will then be proof of their citizenship.

[v333k 59]

You need to mail one application for the LPR spouse. Biometrics fee is also for the spouse. The children will be listed on the application only. I am assuming you are asking about passport pictures - then no, only the LPR spouse pictures need to be mailed with the form. Also, you need to include a single check for $680 ($595 and $85 biometric fee).

That's it.

[NickD 203]

Please I have a family of 5 (husband and wife with 3 kids) who are preparing to file for citizenship. Kids are still under 18 years of age. We have the following questions:

- I know the family has to sent two applications (husband and wife), can they mail all in one package with check for both?

- Do they have to sent the pictures do they have to include those for the kids? Will the kids be granted citizenship at the same time as parents.

Thank you in advance for your help

First post I recall reading where both spouses have to apply for US citizenship, must be two green card holders by other means than marriage to come here. If so, would be the five year only option to get your citizenship. If this is the case and both of you are applying for US citizenship would definitely invest in two envelops and keep your applications separate. Marriage no longer counts with the five year, and to send them together will confuse the agent that opens that one envelop causing more delays.

Again on the assumption both of you are applying for US citizenship, only one US citizen is required for the kids. Yes they are automatically US citizens under 18 years of age, but with no proof. Much easier if they are your own kids, no permission proof from an unknown parent somewhere else in the world that is required if under 16 years of age.

If you want good information, have to give more specifics about your immigration history.

[Verne Blaise 0]

here's more details about their immigration situation. Husband and wife got into the US through the DV lottery hence they were both issued green cards. They've been here for 5 years and hence are preparing to file for their citizenship.

Wish to know if it ok to sent in just one package containing two separate applications with kids information included on both applications and a check for $1360 ($680 x 2)?

They were also confuse regarding the pictures. Will they need pictures for their kids. The consensus from previous replies is pictures for kids are not required.

Thank you

[aleful 1,905]

here's more details about their immigration situation. Husband and wife got into the US through the DV lottery hence they were both issued green cards. They've been here for 5 years and hence are preparing to file for their citizenship.

Wish to know if it ok to sent in just one package containing two separate applications with kids information included on both applications and a check for $1360 ($680 x 2)?

They were also confuse regarding the pictures. Will they need pictures for their kids. The consensus from previous replies is pictures for kids are not required.

Thank you

one packet, separate everything else, 2 checks each with their own paperwork and envelopes. 2 passport photos, no picture of kids.

copy of front and back of their GC.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

here's more details about their immigration situation. Husband and wife got into the US through the DV lottery hence they were both issued green cards. They've been here for 5 years and hence are preparing to file for their citizenship.

Wish to know if it ok to sent in just one package containing two separate applications with kids information included on both applications and a check for $1360 ($680 x 2)?

They were also confuse regarding the pictures. Will they need pictures for their kids. The consensus from previous replies is pictures for kids are not required.

Thank you

It's perfectly fine to use one envelope for both applications. Please remember that the applications are separate and will be processed separately. Create separate files. Send in separate checks. DO NOT SEND A SINGLE CHECK FOR BOTH CASES. SEPARATE CASES = SEPARATE CHECKS.

Pictures of the children are unnecessary because they are not filing for naturalization. Only you and your spouse are filing for naturalization.

Once one of the biological parent is a US citizen, your children will automatically acquire US citizenship if they meet the 4 requirements of the Child Citizenship Act; 1) have a US citizen parent, 2) live with the US citizen parent, 3) is under age 18, and 4) child is an LPR. You do not need to file any form to gain citizenship because it is automatic. You may want to acquire proof of citizenship for the children. A child who automatically derives US citizenship can either file Form N-600 for a Certificate of Citizenship (cost $600 for each child) or you can file for a US passport (cost $105). Either is sufficient to prove US citizenship. DO NOT FILE FOR EITHER UNTIL A PARENT TAKES THE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP. THE PARENT'S CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THE CHILD'S CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP OR US PASSPORT.

[MarkandLada 0]

Quick question...what happens if the parent files and the child turns 18 in the middle of the process?

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Quick question...what happens if the parent files and the child turns 18 in the middle of the process?

The child who turns 18 while a parent is in the process of naturalizing can not derive US citizenship from the parent. The parent acquires US citizenship at the end of the process. When the parent acquires US citizenship, the child is already 18 or older and can not derive US citizenship from the parent.

Edited September 13, 2011 by Jojo92122

[NickD 203]

here's more details about their immigration situation. Husband and wife got into the US through the DV lottery hence they were both issued green cards. They've been here for 5 years and hence are preparing to file for their citizenship.

Wish to know if it ok to sent in just one package containing two separate applications with kids information included on both applications and a check for $1360 ($680 x 2)?

They were also confuse regarding the pictures. Will they need pictures for their kids. The consensus from previous replies is pictures for kids are not required.

Thank you

Five year is easy, application, copy of green card, two passport photos, although I don't know why, taking photos at biometrics now, and check. This is strictly between the applicant and the USCIS and family is not part of the USCIS's vocabulary. Would consider it more of a disadvantage to send both applications together. Did use a large brown envelop for my stepdaughter so we didn't have to fold the application. Don't even know why I did that, everything we get from the USCIS is folded. But that cost me two first class stamps instead of one, but that is all I had to save a trip to the post office and spend five bucks on gas to save something like 13 cents. Still the fastest way to get your application processed.

Never met anyone that won that lottery before, did they have to lay out big bucks and get cross examined with tons of proof to get their green cards?

And what about the three kids, did they get green cards too, or were they born here? Hey, know people that were married for five years and have five kids already, this is only three. If any where born here, already US citizens. Lots of immigrants came here and had babies, they were way ahead of their parent with immigration.

Just more missing details. Ha, maybe I should have had my wife and her daughter sign up for the lottery, could have been lucky for once. The route I took cost a huge fortune with tons of evidence.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

There is no "middle" of the naturalization process.

A foreigner stays a foreigner until he or she becomes a U.S. citizen. They become a US citizen on one particular day, after having taken the Oath of Allegiance. If the child turns 18 on that very day, the train has left the station and the little one needs to file their own N-400.