Instructions for Application for

Certificate of Citizenship USCIS

Form N-600
Department of Homeland Security OMB No. 1615-0057
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Expires 02/28/2027

What Is the Purpose of Form N-600?

Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, is an application for a Certificate of Citizenship.
NOTE: You are not required to obtain evidence of your U.S. citizenship. If you want evidence of your U.S. citizenship
you may submit Form N-600 to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship from USCIS, or you may apply for a U.S. passport with
the Department of State. See travel.state.gov for more information.

Who Should File Form N-600?

You should file this application if:

1. You are requesting a Certificate of Citizenship because you were born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen
parent; or
2. You are requesting a Certificate of Citizenship because you automatically became a citizen of the United States after
birth, but before you turned 18 years of age. (A parent or legal guardian can also file Form N-600 on behalf of a
minor child.)
To file this application, you must be the child of a U.S. citizen parent. USCIS recognizes the following parent-child
relationships for citizenship purposes:
• The biological child of a U.S. citizen parent. (Your U.S. citizen parent must also be your legal parent. If the U.S.
citizen parent is your biological father, you will generally have to establish that you were born in wedlock or
legitimated. In some cases, you may be able to provide a court order establishing paternity or evidence that your
father acknowledged paternity in writing under oath instead of legitimation.)
• The adopted child of a U.S. citizen parent.
• The child of a non-genetic gestational U.S. citizen parent (person who carried and gave birth to the child) who is
also your legal parent.
• The child of a U.S. citizen parent who was married to your genetic or gestational parent at the time of your birth
(even if no genetic or gestational relationship exists with the U.S. citizen parent) and both of your parents are also
your legal parents.
NOTE: Stepchildren CANNOT acquire U.S. citizenship unless adopted.
Citizenship law has changed over the years and different laws apply to determine whether you automatically became a
U.S. citizen at birth. If you are claiming U.S. citizenship based on your birth outside the United States to a U.S. citizen
parent, the law in effect on the date of your birth applies. Different provisions may apply depending on whether you were
born in wedlock or out-of-wedlock.
If you are claiming U.S. citizenship after birth, but before you reached 18 years of age, the law that applies to you is the
law in effect when the last qualifying condition was met. Generally, the conditions are listed below:
These conditions must be met before you turn 18 years of age:
1. Your parent must be a U.S. citizen;
2. You must establish one of the parent-child relationships listed in Part 1., Item Number 2. of Form N-600;
3. You must be lawfully admitted to the United States for lawful permanent residence; and

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4. You must be living in the United States in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent.
NOTE: If you are the child of: (1) a U.S. government employee; (2) a spouse of a U.S. government employee; (3) a
member of the Armed Forces of the United States; or (4) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States,
and your parent is stationed outside of the United States, you may be exempt from the requirement to be living in the
United States if you meet the conditions described in Section 320(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
You can file Form N-600 at any time if you became a U.S. citizen at birth or before you turned 18 years of age. Filing this
application is NOT a request to become a U.S. citizen. Filing this application is ONLY a request to obtain a Certificate of
Citizenship which recognizes that you became a citizen on a particular date.

Adopted Child
An adopted child may also acquire U.S. citizenship through his or her adoptive U.S. citizen parent depending on the law
being applied. Currently, an adopted child can acquire U.S. citizenship through his or her U.S. citizen parent.
NOTE: If you are now over 18 years of age, but all of the above conditions apply to you before your 18th birthday and
you were under 18 years of age on February 27, 2001 (the date the law took effect), you may file this application to obtain
a Certificate of Citizenship.
You may file this application if:
1. You claim to have acquired U.S. citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent and are now over 18 years of age; or
2. You are the U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian who has legal and physical custody of child (under 18 years of age).

Law in Effect at the Time of Your Birth or While Under Age 18

To determine if you were born a U.S. citizen, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must look at the law
that was in effect at the time of your birth. To determine if you acquired citizenship after birth, USCIS generally must
look at the law in effect before you turned 18. The law currently in effect, the Child Citizenship Act (CCA), applies only
to those children born on or after February 27, 2001, or those who were under 18 years of age as of that date.

Who Should Not File Form N-600?

You should not file this application if:

1. You do not have at least one U.S. citizen parent;
2. Your parent-child relationship does not satisfy one of the categories listed in Part 1., Item 2. of Form N-600;
3. You are seeking to replace a certificate you lost or that was stolen. Refer to Form N-565, Application for Replacement
Naturalization/Citizenship Document, for information to replace a lost or stolen certificate; or
4. You already filed Form N-600 and received a decision from USCIS on that previously filed Form N-600. USCIS will
reject (not accept) any subsequently filed Form N-600. Review your Form N-600 denial notice for more information.
NOTE: If you are under 18, are the child of a U.S. citizen parent, you regularly reside outside the United States, and you
did not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth under INA sections 301 or 309, your U.S. citizen parent, U.S. citizen grandparent,
or U.S. citizen legal guardian may need to file Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate
Under Section 322, instead of Form N-600. Please review the Instructions for Form N-600K to determine whether you
should file that form instead of Form N-600. If you are over 18, do not file Form N-600K.

Form N-600 Instructions 01/20/25 Page 2 of 12

 General Instructions

We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet
access, you may call the USCIS Contact Center and ask that we mail a form to you.
Signature. You (or your signing authority) must properly complete your application. USCIS will not accept a stamped
or typewritten name in place of a signature on this application. If you are under 14 years of age, your parent or legal
guardian may sign the application on your behalf. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If
your application is not signed, or if the signature is not valid, we will reject your application. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A).
If USCIS accepts a request for adjudication and determines that it has a deficient signature, USCIS may deny the request.

Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original, handwritten signature
as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink
signature.

Filing Fee. See Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/forms, for specific information about the fees applicable to
this form.

Evidence. When you file your application, you must submit all evidence and supporting documents listed in the What
Evidence Must You Submit and/or Specific Instructions sections of these Instructions.

Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require you (the applicant/child) to appear for an interview or provide
biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature) at any time to verify your identity, obtain additional information,
and conduct background and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on your application or petition. If we determine that a biometric
services appointment is necessary, we will send you an appointment notice with the date, time, and location of your
appointment. If you are currently overseas, your notice will instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or
USCIS office outside the United States to schedule an appointment.

At your biometrics appointment, you must sign an oath reaffirming that:

1. You provided or authorized all information in the application;
2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your application; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.
If you do not attend your biometric services appointment, we may deny your application.
If you are a U.S. citizen filing this form on behalf of a child under the age of 14, you may provide your signature at the
ASC, instead of your child signing for themselves.
Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to
submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an
original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original.

NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after we
receive them.

Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full english
translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and
that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must also include the
translator’s signature, printed name, the signature date, and the translator’s contact information.

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USCIS Contact Center. For additional information on the application and Instructions about where to file, change of
address, and other questions, visit the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter or call at 800-375-5283
(TTY 800-767-1833). The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish.

Disability Accommodations/Modifications. To request a disability accommodation/modification, follow the instructions

on your appointment notice or at www.uscis.gov/accommodationsinfo.

How To Complete Form N-600

1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this application, use the space provided in Part 11. Additional
Information or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name and Alien Registration Number
(A- Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which
your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been
married and the question asks, “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A” unless otherwise
directed. If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many
children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None” unless
otherwise directed.
4. Provide your A-Number (if any) on the top right corner of each page. Your A-Number is located on your Permanent
Resident Card (also known as the Alien Registration or “Green” Card). The A-Number on your card consists of seven
to nine numbers, depending on when your record was created. If the A-Number on your card has fewer than nine
numbers, place enough zeros before the first number to make a total of nine numbers on Form N-600. For example,
type or print number A1234567 as A001234567 or type or print number A12345678 as A012345678.

Specific Instructions

This application is divided into Parts 1. - 13.

Part 1. Information About Your Eligibility

Item Numbers 1. - 2. Indicate if you are the child or the parent or legal guardian filing the form. Select only one box
describing the relationship between the child and their U.S. citizen parent. USCIS will reject your Form N-600 if you
select more than one box.

Part 2. Information About You (Child of a U.S. Citizen)

You must provide complete information about yourself if you are the person seeking a Certificate of Citizenship. If you
are the U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian applying for a Certificate of Citizenship on behalf of your minor child (or
in the case of a legal guardian, the minor child under your guardianship), provide information relating to the minor child
you are filing on behalf of.
Item Number 1. Current Legal Name. Provide your legal name. This should be the name on your birth certificate
unless it has been changed after birth by legal action such as marriage, adoption, or court order. Do not provide a
nickname.
Item Number 2. Your Name Exactly As It Appears On Your Permanent Resident Card (if different from above).
Type or print your name exactly as it appears on the card, even if it is misspelled. Type or print “N/A” if you do not have
a permanent resident card.
Item Number 3. Other Names You Have Used Since Birth. Type or print any other names you have ever used,
including aliases, maiden name, and nicknames. If you need extra space to complete this item number, use the space
provided in Part 11. Additional Information.

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Item Number 4. U.S. Social Security Number. Provide your U.S. Social Security number. If you do not have a U.S.
Social Security number, type or print “N/A.”
Item Number 6. Date of Birth. Provide your date of birth in mm/dd/yyyy format.
Item Number 7. Country of Birth. Provide the name of the country where you were born. Type or print the name of
the country where you were born even if the country’s name has since changed or the country no longer exists.
Item Number 8. Country of Prior Citizenship or Nationality. Provide the name of the country of your citizenship or
nationality before you became a U.S. citizen. If the country no longer exists or you were stateless, provide the name of
the foreign country where you were last a citizen or national. If you were a citizen or national of more than one country,
provide the name of the foreign country that issued your latest passport.
Item Number 9. Sex. Indicate whether you are male or female as provided on your birth certificate issued at the time of
birth or issued closest to the time of birth or in secondary evidence you provided to USCIS, if applicable.
Item Number 11. Current Mailing Address. Provide the address where you would like to receive written
correspondence regarding your application. Provide “In Care Of Name” information, if any. You must type or print
something in every box, except an apartment, suite, or floor number or “In Care Of Name” if you do not have one, within
“Mailing Address.”
NOTE: USCIS may not be able to contact you if you do not provide a complete and valid address. If USCIS rejects your
application, USCIS may not be able to return the filing fee for Form N-600 to you if you do not provide a complete and
valid address. If USCIS cannot return the filing fee, USCIS will cash your check.

Item Number 12. Current Physical Address (Do not provide a PO Box in this space unless it is your ONLY address).
Provide your physical address if it is different from your mailing address.
Item Number 13. Current Marital Status. Select the marital status you have on the date you file this application.
Select “Other” if your marriage was otherwise legally terminated and explain the circumstances.
Item Number 14. U.S. Armed Forces. Indicate if you are a member or veteran of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Item Number 15. Information About Your Admission Into the United States and Immigration Status.
Item A. Provide information about where you entered the United States and what name you used when you entered.
Item B. Provide information about what documents you presented to enter the United States. Provide your passport
or travel document number and date of issuance, if known.
Item C. and Item D. If you have ever been a lawful permanent resident, answer “Yes” to Item C. and provide the
information requested in Item D. If you have never been a lawful permanent resident, answer “No” to Item C. and
skip Item D.
Item Number 16. Permanent Resident Status Abandonment. Indicate if you have ever abandoned or lost your lawful
permanent resident status.
Item Numbers 17. - 18. Previous Application for Certificate of Citizenship or U.S. Passport. If you previously
applied for a Certificate of Citizenship or a U.S. Passport (or you are a U.S. citizen parent who previously applied for a
Certificate of Citizenship or U.S. Passport for your minor child), explain in the space provided what happened with that
application and whether the Certificate of Citizenship and/or U.S. Passport was or was not issued. If you need extra space
to complete this item number, use the space provided in Part 11. Additional Information.
Item Number 19. Legal and Physical Custody. Indicate whether you were in the physical and legal custody of your
U.S. citizen parent at the time you met the other requirements for U.S. citizenship.

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Item Number 20. Information on Adoption. If you were adopted, answer “Yes” and provide the date and place of
the adoption, indicate the dates when the U.S. citizen parent began to have legal and physical custody, and whether the
adoption was considered full, final, and complete in Items A. - E. For additional information on full, final and complete
adoptions, see www.uscis.gov/adoption.
Item Number 21. Recognition of Foreign Adoption in the United States. Indicate if you obtained recognition of a
foreign adoption in the U.S. For additional information on full, final and complete adoptions, see www.uscis.gov/adoption.
(See the What Evidence Must You Submit section of these Instructions for more information.)
Item Number 22. Re-Adoption in the United States. Indicate if you have been re-adopted in the United States. Please
provide the place of re-adoption and indicate the dates when the U.S. citizen parent began to have legal and physical
custody in Items A. - D.
Item Number 23. Marital Status of Your Parents At Time of Birth. If you are not adopted, indicate whether your
parents were married to each other at the time of your birth. If you were born out-of-wedlock, indicate “No” even if your
parents subsequently married.
NOTE: If you are a U.S. citizen parent applying on behalf of your minor child, indicate whether you were married to the
child’s other parent at the time of your minor child’s birth (or adoption). If your minor child was born out-of-wedlock,
indicate “No” even if you subsequently married your child’s other parent.
Item Number 24. Marital Status of Your Parents After Birth. Indicate whether your parents married after your birth.
Item Number 25. Absences from the United States. This information is needed only for persons born before October
10, 1952, who are claiming U.S. citizenship at the time of birth. Provide information for every trip abroad that you have
taken since you first arrived in the United States. Begin with the most recent trip.

Part 3. Information About Your U.S. Citizen Mother or Father

Item Numbers 1. - 10. Provide your U.S. citizen mother’s or father’s full legal name, date of birth, whether this parent is
your mother or father, his or her country of birth, physical address, information about U.S. citizenship, and marital history
in the spaces provided.
Provide information about yourself if you are a U.S. citizen mother or father applying for a Certificate of Citizenship on
behalf of your minor child where information is requested about the U.S. citizen mother or father.

Part 4. Information About Your Other Mother or Father

Item Numbers 1. - 11. Provide information about your other mother or father, including his or her full legal name, date
of birth, whether this parent is your mother or father, country of birth, country of citizenship or nationality, physical
address, information about U.S. citizenship, and marital history in the spaces provided.

Part 5. Information About a Legal Guardian Applying on Behalf of a Child

Provide information about yourself if you are a legal guardian applying for a Certificate of Citizenship on behalf of a
minor child.

Part 6. Physical Presence in the United States from U.S. Citizen Mother’s or Father’s Birth Until Child’s Birth
Item Numbers 1. - 2. Physical Presence. If you were born outside the United States and claim to have been born a U.S.
citizen, you are required to provide all the dates when your U.S. citizen mother or father resided in the United States.
Include all dates from the U.S. citizen mother’s or father’s birth until the child’s birth.
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. government employees, or employees of qualified international
organizations, as well as their dependent unmarried sons and daughters, may be considered to be physically present
in the United States during periods when they were stationed outside the United States.

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Part 7. Information About Military Service of U.S. Citizen Parents (Applicable only if you are claiming U.S.
citizenship at the time of your birth outside the United States.)
Item Numbers 1. - 4. Provide the requested information if your U.S. citizen parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Part 8. Applicant’s, Parent’s, or Legal Guardian’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
Item Numbers 1. - 6. Select the appropriate box to indicate whether you, the applicant (or parent or legal guardian, if
filing on behalf of a minor child), read this application yourself or whether you had an interpreter assist you. If someone
assisted you in completing the application, select the box indicating that you used a preparer. Further, you must sign and
date your application and provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number (if any), and email address
(if any). Every application MUST contain the signature of the applicant (or parent or legal guardian, if applicable). A
stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable.

Part 9. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

Item Numbers 1. - 7. If you used anyone as an interpreter to read the Instructions and questions on this application to
you in a language in which you are fluent, the interpreter must fill out this section; provide his or her name, the name and
address of his or her business or organization (if any), his or her daytime telephone number, his or her mobile telephone
number (if any), and his or her email address (if any). The interpreter must sign and date the application.

Part 10. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than
the Applicant, Parent, or Legal Guardian
Item Numbers 1. - 8. This section must contain the signature of the person who completed your application, if other than
you, the applicant, or the applicant’s parent or legal guardian. If the same individual acted as your interpreter and your
preparer, that person should complete both Part 9. and Part 10. If the person who completed this application is associated
with a business or organization, that person should complete the business or organization name and address information.
Anyone who helped you complete this application MUST sign and date the application. A stamped or typewritten name in
place of a signature is not acceptable. If the person who helped you prepare your application is an attorney or accredited
representative, he or she may also need to submit a completed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or
Accredited Representative, with this application. Members of the Armed Forces applying outside the United States for
a Certificate of Citizenship under INA section 320 may file Form G-28I, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney In
Matters Outside the Geographical Confines of the United States, with this application, if applicable.

Part 11. Additional Information

Item Numbers 1. - 6. If you need extra space to provide any additional information within this application, use the space
provided in Part 11. Additional Information. If you need more space than what is provided in Part 11., you may make
copies of Part 11. to complete and file with your application, or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name
and A-Number (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which
your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet.

We recommend that you review your copy of your completed application before you go to your biometric services
appointment at a USCIS ASC. At your appointment, USCIS will allow you to complete the application process only
if you are able to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that all of the information in your application is complete, true, and
correct. If you are not able to make that attestation in good faith at that time, we will require you to return for another
appointment.

Part 12. Affidavit (At the time of Interview)

Do NOT complete this part unless instructed to do so AT THE INTERVIEW.

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Part 13. Officer Report On Application for Certificate of Citizenship
For USCIS use ONLY.

What Evidence Must You Submit?

You must submit all evidence requested in these Instructions with your application. If you fail to submit required
evidence, USCIS may reject or deny your application in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(1) and these Instructions.
Unless specifically noted otherwise, you must submit each of the documents listed below for you and your U.S.
citizen parent through whom you are claiming U.S. citizenship at the time of filing to avoid delays in processing
your Form N-600. USCIS may require verification for any or all information provided with Form N-600.
Additionally, if you are scheduled for an interview with USCIS, you must bring in documentation if information has been
updated or has changed after filing.
NOTE: “You” and “your” in this section refers to the individual for whom a Certificate of Citizenship is sought.
“You” and “your” do NOT refer to the applicant’s parent or legal guardian who may apply on the minor child’s
behalf.
1. Photographs. If you reside in the United States, USCIS may request that you attend an appointment at an ASC to
have your photograph taken. If you reside outside the United States, you must provide two identical color passport-
style photographs of yourself taken recently. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be printed on
thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and unretouched.
The photos must be 2 by 2 inches with a full face, frontal view. Head height should measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches from
the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin, and eye height should measure between 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the
top of your eyes to the bottom of the photo. Your head must be bare, unless you are wearing headwear as required by
your religious denomination. Use a pencil or felt pen to lightly print your name and A-Number (if any) on the back of
the photos.
2. Your Birth Certificate. You must submit a birth certificate or record issued and certified by a civil authority in the
country of birth. If applicable, provide an amended birth certificate including if there was a final adoption in the
United States.
3. Birth Certificate or Record of Your U.S. Citizen Parent. You must submit a birth certificate or record of your U.S.
citizen parent issued and certified by a civil authority in the country of birth.
4. Marriage Certificates of Your U.S. Citizen Parent (if applicable). You must submit all marriage certificates issued
and certified by a civil authority in the state or country of marriage.
5. Your Marriage Certificates (if applicable). You must submit all marriage certificates issued and certified by a civil
authority in the state or country of marriage.
6. Documents Showing the Marriage Termination (if applicable). If you or your U.S. citizen parent(s) have ever had
a marriage terminate by divorce, death, or annulment, you must submit a certified divorce decree, death certificate, or
annulment document showing how each marriage terminated.
7. Proof of Your U.S. Citizen Parent’s U.S. Citizenship. Examples of this are birth certificates showing birth in the
United States; a Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization; a Form N-560, Certificate of Citizenship; a Form FS-240,
Report of Birth Abroad of United States Citizen; or a valid unexpired U.S. passport.
8. Proof of Your U.S. Citizenship (if applicable). Examples of this are a Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth
Abroad of United States Citizen; or a valid unexpired U.S. passport.
9. Proof of Status as U.S. National (only required if you are claiming U.S. citizenship as described below).
If you were born outside the United States or its outlying possessions, you are born a U.S. citizen if your parents met
the following conditions:

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 A. Your U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a
continuous period of one year prior to your birth; and
B. Your other parent was a national, but not a U.S. citizen.
NOTE: If you have a U.S. citizen parent and an alien parent who is not a national, your U.S. citizen parent
must have met the physical presence requirements prior to your birth.

10. Proof of Legitimation (only required if you who were born out-of-wedlock and your father is your U.S. citizen
parent).
For information regarding legitimation see the USCIS Policy Manual at
www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartH.html.
Provide legitimation documentation from the country or state in which you were legitimated. Legitimation can be
established according to the laws of your father’s residence or your residence. If you were born out of wedlock and
are claiming citizenship at birth through your U.S. citizen father, instead of proving legitimation, you may provide
proof that your father acknowledged paternity of you in writing under oath, or your paternity has been established by
adjudication of a competent court.
11. Proof of Legal and Physical Custody. Proof of legal custody is only required for applicants whose U.S. citizen
parents divorced or legally separated and for applicants who are adopted or legitimated. Proof of legal and physical
custody is generally not required for applicants claiming U.S. citizenship at birth. In general, for adopted children, an
adoption order is sufficient for legal custody.
12. Copy of Your Permanent Resident Card or Other Evidence of Permanent Resident Status (only required if you
are claiming U.S. citizenship after birth through a U.S. citizen parent).
13. Proof of Your U.S. Citizen Parent’s Required Residence or Physical Presence In the United States (only required
if you are claiming U.S. citizenship at birth through a U.S. citizen parent). Any document that proves the U.S. citizen
parent’s residence or physical presence in the United States prior to your birth. This proof may include, but is not
limited to the following:
A. School, employment, or military records;
B. Deeds, mortgages, or leases showing residence;
C. Attestations by churches, unions, or other organizations;
D. U.S. Social Security quarterly reports; and
E. Affidavits of third parties having knowledge of the residence and physical presence.
14. Copy of Full, Final Adoption Decree (only required for adopted applicants).
15. Re-adoption or Recognition of Adoption in the United States. If you had to be re-adopted in the United States
because your foreign adoption was not full, final and complete, submit your U.S. state adoption decree. If your U.S.
state of residence recognizes your foreign adoption decree as full and final, submit evidence establishing this under
State law together with your foreign adoption decree.
16. Evidence of All Legal Name or Date of Birth Changes. If you legally changed your name or date of birth, submit
evidence such as a document issued and certified by the court that authorized the changes.

What If a Document Is Unavailable?

You must provide a typed or printed explanation of the reasons a required document is unavailable and submit secondary
evidence to establish eligibility. Secondary evidence must overcome the unavailability of the required documents. USCIS
may request an original typed or printed statement from the appropriate government or other legal authority to support
your claim that the documents are unavailable.

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The following types of secondary evidence may be submitted to establish eligibility.
1. Baptismal Certificate. Certificate under the church seal where your baptism occurred showing your:
A. Place of birth;
B. Date of birth;
C. Baptism date;
D. Parents’ names; and
E. Godparents’ names, if known.
2. School Record. An official letter from school authorities for the school attended (preferably the first school) showing
your:
A. Date of admission to the school;
B. Place of birth;
C. Date of birth or age at that time; and
D. The names and residences of your birth parents, if shown in the school records.
3. Census Records. State or Federal census records showing your:
A. Name;
B. Place of birth; and
C. Date of birth or age.
4. Affidavits (if demonstrated that other types of secondary evidence are not available).
Typed or printed statements sworn to or affirmed by two people who have personal knowledge of the claimed event.
Affidavits may overcome the unavailability of both required documents and secondary evidence. Examples of events
you may submit an affidavit for include the following:
A. Your place and date of birth;
B. Marriage; or
C. Death.
The people making these statements are not required to be U.S. citizens and may be relatives. Each affidavit must
contain the following information about the person making the affidavit:
A. Full legal name;
B. Address;
C. Place of birth;
D. Date of birth;
E. Relationship to you; and
F. Detailed information about the event to include how they came to know about its occurrence.

Where To File?

Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/n-600 for the most current information about where to file this application.

Form N-600 Instructions 01/20/25 Page 10 of 12

 Address Change

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days of moving from your previous
residence. For information on changing your address, go to our website at www.uscis.gov/ or call the USCIS Contact
Center.
NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox.

Processing Information

Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your application, we will check it for completeness. If you do not properly
complete this application, you will not establish a basis for your eligibility and we may reject or deny your application.

Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your
application. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an original
document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it is no longer needed.

Requests for Interview. We may request that you appear at a USCIS office for an interview based on your application.
During your interview, USCIS may require you to provide your biometrics to verify your identity and/or update
background and security checks.

Decision. The decision on Form N-600 involves a determination of whether you have established eligibility for the
immigration benefit you are seeking. USCIS will notify you of the decision in writing.

NOTE: Any Form N-600 that is not signed or accompanied by the correct fee, or a fee waiver request (Form I-912,
Request for Fee Waiver), if eligible, will be rejected. A Form N-600 that is not completed according to these Instructions,
is missing pages, or otherwise not executed in its entirety, or is not accompanied by the required initial evidence may be
rejected or delayed. You will be notified why the application is considered deficient. If USCIS rejects your application,
USCIS may not be able to return the filing fee for Form N-600 to you if you do not provide a complete and valid mailing
address. If USCIS cannot return the filing fee, USCIS will deposit the fee. You may correct the deficiency and refile
Form N-600. An application is not considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.

USCIS Forms and Information

To ensure you are using the latest version of this application, visit www.uscis.gov.

Penalties

If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with your Form N-600, we
will deny your application and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties
provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

DHS Privacy Notice

AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, is collected under the
Immigration and Nationality Act, sections 301, 309, 320, and 341.

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PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to determine if you have
established eligibility for a Certificate of Citizenship. DHS will use the information you provide to grant or deny the
immigration benefit you are seeking.

DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information,
including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in
denial of your application.

ROUTINE USES: DHS may share the information you provide on this application and any additional requested
evidence with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows
approved routine uses, as described in the associated published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS/ICE/CBP-001
Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking, DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System, and DHS/USCIS-018
Information Biometric and Background Check] and the published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-015
Computer Linked Application Information Management System 4, DHS/USCIS/PIA-056 USCIS Electronic Immigration
System, and DHS/USCIS/PIA-071 myUSCIS Account Experience], which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS
may also share the information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security.

Paperwork Reduction Act

USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection of
information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 1 hour and 19 minutes per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the application, preparing
statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the application. The collection of biometrics is estimated
to require 1 hour and 10 minutes. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of
Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs,
MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 1615-0057. Do not mail your completed Form N-600 to this address.

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