N400 Help

[jrod0125 0]

Hello everyone,

new guy here. I'm currently filling out my citizenship application and I've got a couple of questions. I got my green card through my step-dad (US citizen) after he and my mother married back in 2001. He petitioned for me after they married and got my green card in 2003 when I was 14. He never adopted me, so when the application is asking if your parents were married before your 18th birthday and are US citizens, are they asking about my biological father and mother being married or my stepfather being married to my mother? What makes this difficult is that I have not heard from my biological father for years. I know for a fact that he was a permanent resident the last time I heard of him.

Thanks for the help!

Edited February 11, 2015 by jrod0125

[JoRu16 7]

They are asking about your biological parents. And since you said you were never adopted, that makes it easier to answer the question.

[JimmyHou 611]

Hello everyone,

new guy here. I'm currently filling out my citizenship application and I've got a couple of questions. I got my green card through my step-dad (US citizen) after he and my mother married back in 2001. He petitioned for me after they married and got my green card in 2003 when I was 14. He never adopted me, so when the application is asking if your parents were married before your 18th birthday and are US citizens, are they asking about my biological father and mother being married or my stepfather being married to my mother? What makes this difficult is that I have not heard from my biological father for years. I know for a fact that he was a permanent resident the last time I heard of him.

Thanks for the help!

I know this isn't part of your original question, but did your mom become a US citizen? If so, you might be able to save yourself some money depending on when she naturalized.

You will need to answer whether or not your dad is a US citizen... this is because they will want to know that you did not automatically become a US citizen when he naturalized, which would make you ineligible to apply for an N400. It's unlikely that this would come up, but just in case, be ready to show that you were not living with your biological father until you turned 18. The law says that if you were living in his custody and you had a green card before you turned 18, then you would have become a citizen on the day he became one. But if you were in your mom's custody, then this would not apply. Like I said, this is not likely to be an issue, but I just wanted to let you know that you might be asked about it.

The more important thing is what to say on the question about citizenship... if there's any way you can find out if he became a citizen, it will save you time.

[jrod0125 0]

I know this isn't part of your original question, but did your mom become a US citizen? If so, you might be able to save yourself some money depending on when she naturalized.

You will need to answer whether or not your dad is a US citizen... this is because they will want to know that you did not automatically become a US citizen when he naturalized, which would make you ineligible to apply for an N400. It's unlikely that this would come up, but just in case, be ready to show that you were not living with your biological father until you turned 18. The law says that if you were living in his custody and you had a green card before you turned 18, then you would have become a citizen on the day he became one. But if you were in your mom's custody, then this would not apply. Like I said, this is not likely to be an issue, but I just wanted to let you know that you might be asked about it.

The more important thing is what to say on the question about citizenship... if there's any way you can find out if he became a citizen, it will save you time.

My mother hasn't become a citizen yet and don't have any way to contact him. Could I put "unknown" on the application in regards to his citizenship and explain it on a separate sheet of paper?

[JimmyHou 611]

My mother hasn't become a citizen yet and don't have any way to contact him. Could I put "unknown" on the application in regards to his citizenship and explain it on a separate sheet of paper?

That's probably the only honest thing to do.

Note that if you don't answer Yes to the question about your father being a US citizen, the form won't let you type in his information.

So you may need to write it in pen after you print the form.

Maybe someone else has a suggestion on your case, but that's what I would do if I were in your situation; leave the question blank, fill in his information, and attach an explanation.