Valid Canadian Passport

[Cdnwmn 0]

My son (16 years old) and I are eligible to apply for citizenship next month. Our passports however expire in June. Is a valid passport required to apply for citizenship? I read that the fees are supposedly going up in June and didn't want to put off applying for citizenship after that month. Just can't afford to pay for both citizenship and new passports right now.

Thanks!

[YuAndDan 153]

Valid passport is not required, save your $$ and apply for an American one after you naturalize.

[Cdnwmn 0]

Valid passport is not required, save your $$ and apply for an American one after you naturalize.

Thanks!

[MJA 0]

Valid passport is not required, save your $$ and apply for an American one after you naturalize.

Thanks!

If your son is under 18, you do not need to apply for his citizenship. When you become a U.S. Citizen, all of your children who are under 18 automatically become U.S. citizens and you can apply for their U.S. passports .

[Marilyn. 340]

I was just reading this ..... a Guide to Naturalization and on page 48 they have the document checklist... it doesn't mention anywhere that you need your foreign passport when you are applying for Naturalization...

Edited March 26, 2007 by MarilynP

[Marilyn. 340]

i found this on page 14 of the guide I mentioned earlier....

If I am a U.S. citizen, is my child a U.S. citizen?

A child who is born in the United States, or born abroad to a U.S. citizen(s) who lived in

(or came to) the United States for the required period of time prior to the child's birth, is

generally considered a U.S. citizen at birth.

A child who is:

* Born to a U.S. citizen who did not live in (or come to) the United States for the

required period of time prior to the child's birth, or

* Born to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent or two alien parents who

naturalize after the child's birth, or

* Adopted (stepchildren cannot derive or acquire citizenship through their stepparents)

14 and is permanently residing in the United States can become a U.S. citizen by action of

law on the date on which all of the following requirements have been met:

* The child was lawfully admitted for permanent residence*; and

* Either parent was a United States citizen by birth or naturalization**; and

* The child was still under 18 years of age; and

* The child was not married; and

* The child was the parent's legitimate child or was legitimated by the parent before

the child's 16th birthday (children born out of wedlock who were not legitimated

before their 16th birthday do not derive United States citizenship through their

father); and

* If adopted, the child met the requirements of section 101( B )(1)(E) or ( F ) of the

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and has had a full and final adoption; and

* The child was residing in the United States in the legal custody of the U.S. citizen

parent (this includes joint custody); and

* The child was residing in the United States in the physical custody of the U.S.

citizen parent.

If you and your child meet all of these requirements, you may obtain a U.S. passport for the

child as evidence of citizenship. If the child needs further evidence of citizenship, you may

submit an "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" (Form N-600) to USCIS to obtain a

Certificate of Citizenship. (NOTE: A child who meets these requirements before his or her

18th birthday may obtain a passport or Certificate of Citizenship at any time, even after he or

she turns 18.)

*NOTE - Children who immigrated under the "IR-3" or "IR-4" categories must have had an

immigrant petition filed on their behalf before their 16th birthday; see answers to Question

26. All adoptions for any other type of immigration benefit, including naturalization, must

be completed by the child's 16th birthday, with one exception: A child adopted while under

the age of 18 years by the same parents who adopted a natural sibling who met the usual

requirements.

**NOTE - The "one U.S. citizen parent" rule applies only to children who first fulfilled the

requirements for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or after February 27,

2001. In order to qualify for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or before

February 26, 2001, both of the child's parents must have been United States citizens either

at birth or through naturalization - both parents if the child had two parents; the surviving

parent if a parent had died; the parent with legal custody if the parents were divorced or

legally separated; or the mother only, if the child had been born out of wedlock and the child's

paternity had not been established by legitimation.

Edited March 26, 2007 by MarilynP

[MJA 0]

i found this on page 14 of the guide I mentioned earlier....

If I am a U.S. citizen, is my child a U.S. citizen?

A child who is born in the United States, or born abroad to a U.S. citizen(s) who lived in

(or came to) the United States for the required period of time prior to the child's birth, is

generally considered a U.S. citizen at birth.

A child who is:

* Born to a U.S. citizen who did not live in (or come to) the United States for the

required period of time prior to the child's birth, or

* Born to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent or two alien parents who

naturalize after the child's birth, or

* Adopted (stepchildren cannot derive or acquire citizenship through their stepparents)

14 and is permanently residing in the United States can become a U.S. citizen by action of

law on the date on which all of the following requirements have been met:

* The child was lawfully admitted for permanent residence*; and

* Either parent was a United States citizen by birth or naturalization**; and

* The child was still under 18 years of age; and

* The child was not married; and

* The child was the parent's legitimate child or was legitimated by the parent before

the child's 16th birthday (children born out of wedlock who were not legitimated

before their 16th birthday do not derive United States citizenship through their

father); and

* If adopted, the child met the requirements of section 101( B )(1)(E) or ( F ) of the

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and has had a full and final adoption; and

* The child was residing in the United States in the legal custody of the U.S. citizen

parent (this includes joint custody); and

* The child was residing in the United States in the physical custody of the U.S.

citizen parent.

If you and your child meet all of these requirements, you may obtain a U.S. passport for the

child as evidence of citizenship. If the child needs further evidence of citizenship, you may

submit an "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" (Form N-600) to USCIS to obtain a

Certificate of Citizenship. (NOTE: A child who meets these requirements before his or her

18th birthday may obtain a passport or Certificate of Citizenship at any time, even after he or

she turns 18.)

*NOTE - Children who immigrated under the "IR-3" or "IR-4" categories must have had an

immigrant petition filed on their behalf before their 16th birthday; see answers to Question

26. All adoptions for any other type of immigration benefit, including naturalization, must

be completed by the child's 16th birthday, with one exception: A child adopted while under

the age of 18 years by the same parents who adopted a natural sibling who met the usual

requirements.

**NOTE - The "one U.S. citizen parent" rule applies only to children who first fulfilled the

requirements for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or after February 27,

2001. In order to qualify for automatic citizenship (other than at birth abroad) on or before

February 26, 2001, both of the child's parents must have been United States citizens either

at birth or through naturalization - both parents if the child had two parents; the surviving

parent if a parent had died; the parent with legal custody if the parents were divorced or

legally separated; or the mother only, if the child had been born out of wedlock and the child's

paternity had not been established by legitimation.

I forgot to mention in my post above that children who are under 18 and also are permanent residents fall in this category.

[Cdnwmn 0]

Thanks for everyone's help. I appreciate it.