State Department Has Not Returned My Certificate of Naturalization

[Gaps0214 67]

Hello everyone, 

 

I would like to get your suggestion on what I can do to follow up the return of my original Certificate of Naturalization from the State Department.

 

I received my passport last March 2023 and now it has been 2 months since and there is no sign of the CON in the mail whatsoever.

 

I think we deserve to have our original CON document back not only for all the financial resources we had to invest to obtain it but also its value and importance as the culmination of our long and significant journey and proof of our commitment to the United States .

 

I wrote to NPIC@state.gov and the reply I got is:

 

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center. All  the information you need about current passport operations and services is conveniently located on our website at travel.state.gov. 

 

Note: If you are sending this e-mail to cancel your appointment at a passport agency, we will cancel it immediately. Thank you for making it available to another customer.

 

This is the only reply you will receive to your email.

 

It's almost unbelievable to note the absurdity of their auto-reply. Not very helpful at all.

 

Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.

 

Cheers,

G&A

 

 

 

 

[discoverusa 258]

Contact your senator. 

[SalishSea 17,819]

28 minutes ago, Gaps0214 said:

Hello everyone, 

 

I would like to get your suggestion on what I can do to follow up the return of my original Certificate of Naturalization from the State Department.

 

I received my passport last March 2023 and now it has been 2 months since and there is no sign of the CON in the mail whatsoever.

 

I think we deserve to have our original CON document back not only for all the financial resources we had to invest to obtain it but also its value and importance as the culmination of our long and significant journey and proof of our commitment to the United States .

 

I wrote to NPIC@state.gov and the reply I got is:

 

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center. All  the information you need about current passport operations and services is conveniently located on our website at travel.state.gov. 

 

Note: If you are sending this e-mail to cancel your appointment at a passport agency, we will cancel it immediately. Thank you for making it available to another customer.

 

This is the only reply you will receive to your email.

 

It's almost unbelievable to note the absurdity of their auto-reply. Not very helpful at all.

 

Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.

 

Cheers,

G&A

 

 

 

 

Why in the world did you send the original???

[Gaps0214 67]

11 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Why in the world did you send the original???

I don't know about you but to apply for a US passport as a naturalized citizen you have to submit the original Certificate of Naturalization together with your application form.

 

Thanks for your comment, I'd welcome a more helpful one though. So thanks, but no thanks.

[Gaps0214 67]

26 minutes ago, discoverusa said:

Contact your senator. 

Excellent idea 😀 I just did that with Patty Murray. 

 

Do you think I should write to the other one as well?

 

We all get two US senators to ask for help. Have you had any experience getting help from them with your immigration issues with federal agencies?

 

Thanks again.

[Adventine 3,196]

In fairness to OP, the state.gov instructions and application form do state that originals should be submitted and will be returned: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html

 

"Separate mailings: You may receive your newly issued U.S. passport book and/or card and your citizenship evidence in two separate
mailings. If you are applying for both a book and card, you may receive three separate mailings: one with your returned evidence, one
with your newly issued book, and one with your newly issued card. All documentary evidence that is not damaged, altered, or
forged will be returned to you. Photocopies will not be returned."

 

There's a phone number to call on the passport application form. Talking to a human would be better at this point.

 

If all else fails, file N-565: https://www.uscis.gov/n-565

 

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by Adventine

[SalishSea 17,819]

9 minutes ago, Gaps0214 said:

I don't know about you but to apply for a US passport as a naturalized citizen you have to submit the original Certificate of Naturalization together with your application form.

 

Thanks for your comment, I'd welcome a more helpful one though. So thanks, but no thanks.

Per the site's TOS, anyone may comment.

 

It is VERY unusual that an original document of any type would be required.  Even natural born USCs applying for passports send certified copies of birth certificates.  If, however, that was required, then it sounds like they have no standard means of returning them to the thousands of people who do the same thing, so you'd be out of luck.

Edited May 30, 2023 by SalishSea

[discoverusa 258]

12 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Per the site's TOS, anyone may comment.

 

It is VERY unusual that an original document of any type would be required.  Even natural born USCs applying for passports send certified copies of birth certificates.  If, however, that was required, then it sounds like they have no standard means of returning them to the thousands of people who do the same thing, so you'd be out of luck.

It is required for initial passport application. I remember my Cetrtificate arrived few days after my paspport. 

 

Later, when renewing you will have to send your original passport with passport application. 

[discoverusa 258]

18 minutes ago, Gaps0214 said:

Excellent idea 😀 I just did that with Patty Murray. 

 

Do you think I should write to the other one as well?

 

We all get two US senators to ask for help. Have you had any experience getting help from them with your immigration issues with federal agencies?

 

Thanks again.

I only dealt with one at the time. 

[Mike E 11,739]

53 minutes ago, Gaps0214 said:

I received my passport last March 2023 and now it has been 2 months since and there is no sign of the CON in the mail whatsoever.

Apparently this is the director of the passport agency:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-l-rivera-a0917242  

 

I would try writing that person or Secretary Blinken. I would also try calling the passport agency phone number and request to speak to a manager.

 

says the passport agency will pay for a replacement.

 

[manyfudge 291]

This what the DOS says,

 

 

[Gaps0214 67]

42 minutes ago, manyfudge said:

This what the DOS says,

 

 

Thank you for this information. I will contact my passport processing center as indicated in the website.

 

Cheers,

G&A

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

5 hours ago, Gaps0214 said:

Hello everyone, 

 

I would like to get your suggestion on what I can do to follow up the return of my original Certificate of Naturalization from the State Department.

 

I received my passport last March 2023 and now it has been 2 months since and there is no sign of the CON in the mail whatsoever.

 

I think we deserve to have our original CON document back not only for all the financial resources we had to invest to obtain it but also its value and importance as the culmination of our long and significant journey and proof of our commitment to the United States .

 

I wrote to NPIC@state.gov and the reply I got is:

 

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center. All  the information you need about current passport operations and services is conveniently located on our website at travel.state.gov. 

 

Note: If you are sending this e-mail to cancel your appointment at a passport agency, we will cancel it immediately. Thank you for making it available to another customer.

 

This is the only reply you will receive to your email.

 

It's almost unbelievable to note the absurdity of their auto-reply. Not very helpful at all.

 

Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.

 

Cheers,

G&A

 

 

 

 

Did you call any of those numbers?

 

Ask them for a tracking number of your Certificate.

 

https://passportstatus.state.gov/

 

Need Help?

Status Checks

1-877-487-2778 or
1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY)

General Questions

NPIC@state.gov

Technical Issues

PassportWeb@state.gov

[Calicolom 266]

12 hours ago, Gaps0214 said:

I don't know about you but to apply for a US passport as a naturalized citizen you have to submit the original Certificate of Naturalization together with your application form.

 

Thanks for your comment, I'd welcome a more helpful one though. So thanks, but no thanks.

Original is required for passport.

[Mike E 11,739]

53 minutes ago, Calicolom said:

Original is required for passport.

In general.

 

But then there is this well documented counter example:

 

 

Edited May 31, 2023 by Mike E