Anyway to get a copy of parent's naturalization certificate?

[sndj1974 1]

My mother naturalized when I was 12 years old. She never filed for my certificate or passport. So I'm still an LPR through her. Now I want to file for naturalization. Found out that I might not need to do, since I'm eligible for derivative citizenship through her. Unfortunately my mother passed away a few years ago and we no longer have her original naturalization certificate. All I have is her last U.S passport, a photocopy of her petition for naturalization and records indicating when and where she was naturalized. (found by searching a genealogy site). 

 

Is there any way I can request a copy of her naturalization certificate?   I've looked online and on the USCIS site. So far have not found any clues to how I can go about requesting it.   Any help would be appreciated.

 

thanks

Edited January 24, 2018 by sndj1974

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  Does your copy of her petition include her alien number ? 

[nightingalejules 678]

It looks like you should be able to get it here

https://www.uscis.gov/genealogy

[deezwho 7]

Per USCIS to qualify for citizenship through immigrant parents:

The child was residing as a Green Card holder in the U.S. and both parents naturalized before the child’s 18^th birthday; OR

• If one parent died, that the surviving parent naturalized before the child turned 18.
• If the parents legally separated, that the parent maintaining legal and physical custody naturalized before the child turned 18.
• If the child was born out of wedlock and paternity has not been established by legitimation, the mother naturalized before the child turned 18.

NOTE:  The order in which the child meets the conditions does not matter so long as the child meets all the conditions before his or her 18^th birthday.

 

If you meet this criteria you can just apply for a certificate of citizenship. 

 

 

EDIT ... just realized that the N600 form requires the naturalization certificate number for your parents and I assume a copy will have to get sent to USCIS...

Edited January 24, 2018 by deezwho

[sndj1974 1]

9 hours ago, NigeriaorBust said:

  Does your copy of her petition include her alien number ? 

 

The petition I found on the genealogy site does have the Alien registration #.   The problem is , is a image copy of the petition good enough as proof?

 

[sndj1974 1]

6 hours ago, deezwho said:

Per USCIS to qualify for citizenship through immigrant parents:

The child was residing as a Green Card holder in the U.S. and both parents naturalized before the child’s 18^th birthday; OR

• If one parent died, that the surviving parent naturalized before the child turned 18.
• If the parents legally separated, that the parent maintaining legal and physical custody naturalized before the child turned 18.
• If the child was born out of wedlock and paternity has not been established by legitimation, the mother naturalized before the child turned 18.

NOTE:  The order in which the child meets the conditions does not matter so long as the child meets all the conditions before his or her 18^th birthday.

 

If you meet this criteria you can just apply for a certificate of citizenship. 

 

 

EDIT ... just realized that the N600 form requires the naturalization certificate number for your parents and I assume a copy will have to get sent to USCIS...

 

Reading what you posted regarding eligibility - does it matter that I'm now in my late 30s and have been living in the U.S as an LPR all of these years ? I came here based on my mother sponsoring me when I was 17. About a year shy of the USCIS requirements for eligibility.

 

I could just file an N400. But I'm worried that it might be rejected based on the above. Yet, I have very little to prove my eligibility based on the above requirements.

[Gboree 67]

your best bet is to reach out to immigration attorney, since this is a complicated issue. The opinions found on this forum are that of individual applicants just like yourself.

 

PS:You can also request an infopass to your local immigration office and inquire.

Edited January 24, 2018 by Gboree

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

What does a dog have to do to become a dog?

 

You are a US citizen, so you can't file for naturalization, as a US citizen cannot naturalize to become a US citizen. What you need to do is prove that you are a US citizen. After such a long time of procrastination, an invalid Green Card, and a deceased parent, your only path to that is filing an N-600 to the tune of $1,369.

 

Congratulations.

 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2018 by Brother Hesekiel

[sndj1974 1]

5 hours ago, Brother Hesekiel said:

What does a dog have to do to become a dog?

 

You are a US citizen, so you can't file for naturalization, as a US citizen cannot naturalize to become a US citizen. What you need to do is prove that you are a US citizen. After such a long time of procrastination, an invalid Green Card, and a deceased parent, your only path to that is filing an N-600 to the tune of $1,369.

 

Congratulations.

 

 

 

Not sure how my Green card would be invalid. Considering that I came here on a green card and renewed that green card twice in the last 20 years.  Wasn't really about procrastination.  I had no idea that my mother had naturalized before my 18th birthday until recently.  I don't have the necessary documents to file an N600. So proving my citizenship will be harder than it seems.  Hence my post here for some type of guidance. Hoping someone has had experience with similar situation.

[deezwho 7]

17 hours ago, sndj1974 said:

 

Reading what you posted regarding eligibility - does it matter that I'm now in my late 30s and have been living in the U.S as an LPR all of these years ? I came here based on my mother sponsoring me when I was 17. About a year shy of the USCIS requirements for eligibility.

 

I could just file an N400. But I'm worried that it might be rejected based on the above. Yet, I have very little to prove my eligibility based on the above requirements.

Based on my understanding, as long as you were under 18 at the time it should be ok because the idea is you instantly became a US citizen at that point in time, you just dont have the proof of it yet. Also based on the above it would have to be the case that your parents were divorced or one was deceased unless your father was already a us citizen.

 

You will probably still need to get your hands on the old certificate of naturalization  ... as mentioned by another user you may have to use the USCIS genealogy service or check the national archives for the region she was naturalized in (which it sounds like you know that part already)

 

 

I would recommend getting a lawyer to assist with all of this, especially since your case is a bit more complicated than typical ....

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by deezwho

[deezwho 7]

2 hours ago, sndj1974 said:

Not sure how my Green card would be invalid. Considering that I came here on a green card and renewed that green card twice in the last 20 years.  Wasn't really about procrastination.  I had no idea that my mother had naturalized before my 18th birthday until recently.  I don't have the necessary documents to file an N600. So proving my citizenship will be harder than it seems.  Hence my post here for some type of guidance. Hoping someone has had experience with similar situation.

The other guy is incorrect ... in fact if you are able to locate your parents certificate of naturalization, and your green card is not expired, you can apply for a passport without the certificate of citizenship ... its a hell of a lot cheaper too!

 

Again, both parents must have been citizens or separated/widowed if only 1 parent before you were 18...

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

On 1/24/2018 at 7:51 PM, sndj1974 said:

Not sure how my Green card would be invalid. Considering that I came here on a green card and renewed that green card twice in the last 20 years.  Wasn't really about procrastination.  I had no idea that my mother had naturalized before my 18th birthday until recently.  I don't have the necessary documents to file an N600. So proving my citizenship will be harder than it seems.  Hence my post here for some type of guidance. Hoping someone has had experience with similar situation.

 

That changes things.

Normally, it is not  possible for a US citizen (you) to obtain a Green Card, except through means of fraud. Clearly, somebody at the USCIS f*cked up.

If I were in your shoes, I'd try these two approaches first:

 

1) Make an Infopass Appointment with the USCIS and discuss with the I.O. Most likely, he or she will suggest to file an N-600

2) Get a USCIS printout of your mom's file based on the Freedom of Information Act. It should show when your mom naturalized, and that would open the door straight to a passport.

[pm5k 129]

This is very simple.  You just need to submit a FOIA request for your parent's "A-FILE" or "ALIEN FILE".  If they are alive, they can submit it.  If they have passed away, you just need to submit proof of death (death certificate) and submit the request.  The A-file will have all of their immigration records in it, including the certificate of naturalization. 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

On 11/2/2020 at 5:40 PM, pm5k said:

This is very simple.  You just need to submit a FOIA request for your parent's "A-FILE" or "ALIEN FILE".  If they are alive, they can submit it.  If they have passed away, you just need to submit proof of death (death certificate) and submit the request.  The A-file will have all of their immigration records in it, including the certificate of naturalization. 

Hopefully OP has already figured out a solution sometime during the almost 3 years since she posted the query

[milimelo 4,508]

Topic locked.