n-600 wait times, SSA won't issue SS card without naturalization certificate

[R&OC 371]

I am in this, what feels like a never ending, immigration journey for my kids.

 

We are still trying to get their social security card and their naturalization certificate. While we applied for their n-600 in 01/2022, we applied via consulate in Frankfurt for their socials security card twice now. Its July 2022 and we are still nowhere near getting the social security card. We are leaving for the US next months and won't be able to sign up the kids for school, drivers license, health insurance etc or even file our taxes at this point. The kids do have a US passport at this point.

 

My first question is about the wait times for n-600 applications? We have been waiting since 01/2022 and didn't even get an invite for a biometrics appointment so far. And secondly, what can I do to get their SS cards without the naturalization certificate? I don't think we can wait that long.

 

I am getting somewhat impatient and called our soon-to-be local SSA office. My husband is already in the US, so we do have a US address. However, the gentleman on the phone said that kids with a five year US passport are only temporary citizens and not "real" US citizens. Every real US citizen has a 10 year passport. I mentioned several times that both kids are minors and below 16 to which I just heard that I would need to address my concern with the State department.

 

Point is, our local SSA office wants to see the naturalization certificate to issue their SS card. We are in day 174 of waiting for a USCIS response on the naturalization certificate and we are nowhere near any response. Why can the SSA office not issue a SS card based on my children's previous LPR status before they naturalized unter the Citizenship Act 2000 upon being admitted to the US? What is the hold up and is there any help or advice you may have? Is a naturalization under the Citizenship Act THAT RARE?

 

PS: We applied for the kids SS card via the US consulate general in Frankfurt twice now. The first application got lost but getting an appointment is a real challenge and almost 4-6 months wait time to get an appointment. I am not sure what the status of the second application is at this point, its been a couple weeks and the expedited application doesn't seem processed yet.

Edited July 10, 2022 by R&OC

[arken 4,197]

Some misunderstandings here and some suggestions:

1. You applied for certificate of citizenship (not naturalization certificate) for your kids. They are already US citizens through some means i assume through a parent.

2. The N600 processing times could be well over 1 year or so, it's just 6 months in your case. Check uscis processing time for your locality.

3. At this time just apply in person for SSN for your kids once everyone in the US. Passports will do. May be you talked about pending naturalization certificate and the SSA rep said you need that. Don't worry about the person you talked on the phone. The actual persons checking and working over there have better knowledge.

4. You can enroll your kids in school without a SSN.

Edited July 10, 2022 by arken

[JeanneAdil 6,494]

Seriously ,  the person did not know that kids under 16 have only a 5 year US passport

print out the following immigration site and take to SS office 

 

All children under age 16 must apply for a passport in person with two parents or guardians using Form DS-11. You cannot renew your child's passport using Form DS-82. Passports for children under age 16 are only valid for 5 years.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html#:~:text=All%20children%20under%20age%2016,only%20valid%20for%205%20years.

 

And 

[R&OC 371]

35 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Seriously ,  the person did not know that kids under 16 have only a 5 year US passport

print out the following immigration site and take to SS office 

 

All children under age 16 must apply for a passport in person with two parents or guardians using Form DS-11. You cannot renew your child's passport using Form DS-82. Passports for children under age 16 are only valid for 5 years.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html#:~:text=All children under age 16,only valid for 5 years.

 

And 

I felt as if I am in a weird movie while talking to this gentleman. He made comments such as "I don't know in what strange way your kids got the US citizenship"... when I was referring to the Children's Citizenship Act.

[JeanneAdil 6,494]

9 minutes ago, R&OC said:

I felt as if I am in a weird movie while talking to this gentleman. He made comments such as "I don't know in what strange way your kids got the US citizenship"... when I was referring to the Children's Citizenship Act.

you have now discovered we have many people here that are short of training and knowledge to what their job requirements are

they think of work as a job not a career

[arken 4,197]

6 hours ago, R&OC said:

He made comments such as "I don't know in what strange way your kids got the US citizenship"

I'd say its wrong input = wrong output case. I assume you mentioned to them that you had applied for your kids' naturalization certificates and are still in process. Since one with pending naturalization certificate/process can never get a US passport without first getting naturalization certificate, he probably said so how in the world they got the citizenship/passport and likely gave his lecture of not so true temporary citizenship. That's a big difference between Certificate of Citizenship that you actually applied for vs Naturalization Certificate that you mentioned.

[R&OC 371]

9 hours ago, arken said:

I'd say its wrong input = wrong output case. I assume you mentioned to them that you had applied for your kids' naturalization certificates and are still in process. Since one with pending naturalization certificate/process can never get a US passport without first getting naturalization certificate, he probably said so how in the world they got the citizenship/passport and likely gave his lecture of not so true temporary citizenship. That's a big difference between Certificate of Citizenship that you actually applied for vs Naturalization Certificate that you mentioned.

This could be totally true as well. I seem to confuse those two. I did mention the Citizenship Act but perhaps my terminology got all mixed up. I will be more cautious when going over there in person.

[arken 4,197]

3 hours ago, R&OC said:

This could be totally true as well. I seem to confuse those two. I did mention the Citizenship Act but perhaps my terminology got all mixed up. I will be more cautious when going over there in person.

When applying in person, just apply using the passport. You don't even need to mention the pending Certificate of Citizenship as it's optional.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from US Citizenship Progress Reports to What To Do Now That You Are a USC -- N-600 is for applicants who are already USCs ***