Parents often ask whether a child born outside the United States needs to “become” a citizen or simply prove citizenship already acquired. A certificate of U.S. Citizenship simply proves citizenship your child already has. A certificate of naturalization is issued after someone is naturalized through the N-400 process.
Automatic citizenship for children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent
If your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth through a U.S.-citizen parent, the primary way to document it is through the State Department: apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA/FS-240) and/or a U.S. passport. These are sufficient proof of citizenship. A USCIS Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) is optional evidence in this scenario — helpful for certain records or agencies, but not required if your child already has a CRBA or U.S. passport.
Automatic acquisition after birth (derivative citizenship – not the same as “born a citizen”)
Some children become citizens after birth under the Child Citizenship Act. To qualify, a child must (1) be under 18, (2) be a lawful permanent resident, (3) be in the legal and physical custody of a U.S.-citizen parent, and (4) reside in the United States. If your child meets these four conditions, you may request a Certificate of Citizenship using Form N-600 as evidence of status.
How to file and what to expect
- Form N-600: Many applicants may file online, but some must file by mail — for example, applicants abroad, those requesting a fee waiver, or certain military filings.
- Biometrics: USCIS generally captures fingerprints, photograph, and signature at an Application Support Center if required; you typically do not upload passport photos for N-600.
- Forms and fees: USCIS updates form editions and fees periodically and may reject outdated filings. Always check the current edition and fee before submitting.
Replacing or correcting a certificate
Use Form N-565 to replace a lost/damaged certificate or correct an error. When the mistake is USCIS’ clerical error, no filing fee is required; include proof of the correct data.
If you are unsure whether your child acquired citizenship at birth or derived citizenship after birth contact the law office of Gurnani & Gurnani located in Edison, New Jersey, serving clients throughout the U.S.A.