Citizenship evidence for passport of child after naturalization of parent - what does this mean exactly?

[Wouter 141]

I recently became a US citizen and want to apply for a US passport for my 12 year old son.

I looks like this can be done without the need for a Citizenship Certificate (N600), by showing other citizenship evidence.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html

Under "U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization of a Parent" it says:

* Your parents' marriage certificate (if your parents were married when you legally entered the U.S. and before your 18th birthday

What do they mean by "when you legally entered the US"?

I was married to his mother when we entered on L-1/L-2 visas in 2012 and still married when we adjusted status to a Green Card in 2015.

We divorced in 2018. He has left the US once with his mother after the divorce, so the last time he legally (re-)entered the US we were not married.

So do they mean: the last time he entered the US after being abroad, which was 2019,  in which case his parents were not married.

Or first time he ever entered the US which was in 2012? Or first time he entered the US on his Green Card, which was 2016.

Any help with this ambiguous requirement is much appreciated.

 

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

I’m not sure why it’s phrased that way on the website. The requirements as listed on the DS11 passport form are more accurate. The need for the marriage certificate is if parents are still married - as that is accepted as proof of custody (required for acquiring citizenship under ina320). If you are no longer married to the mother, the marriage certificate is not necessary, but you will need legal documentation to show at least joint custody (is she also a citizen now btw? If you’re both citizens the custody issue becomes moot)
 

From page 2 of the DS11:

If you claim citizenship through naturalization of parent(s) Submit the Certificate(s) of Naturalization of your parent(s), your foreign birth certificate (and official translation if the document is not in English), proof of your admission to the United States for permanent residence, and your parents' marriage/certificate and/or evidence that you were in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent, if applicable.

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by SusieQQQ