How to Become a US Citizen at the Age of 14
In general, a biological or adopted child born outside of the United States to a U.S. citizen parent is a U.S. citizen. In this situation, a child that is residing in the U.S. (normally) automatically qualifies for citizenship, and therefore, it is not necessary to apply for citizenship. However, a child who does not live in the U.S. will have to apply for citizenship. Under section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), a child that does not live in the U.S. qualifies for citizenship if one parent is a U.S. citizen, the citizen parent has been physically present in the U.S. for at least five years, the child is under age 18, the child lives outside the U.S. with the citizen parent and the child is temporarily in the U.S. If the child is adopted, the child must meet the requirements of section 322 of the INA to qualify for citizenship.
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Things You'll Need
- Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322
- Filing fee
- Two identical photographs
- Birth certificates
Instructions
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Complete Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322. This form is for a child claiming citizenship based on parentage. The person that completes and files the form is the U.S. citizen parent that has physical and legal custody of the child. On the application, you must provide information about your child, such as his legal name, place of birth, Social Security number, country of citizenship and the child's address. You must also provide general information about the U.S. citizen parent, such as legal name country of birth, loss of citizenship (if applicable) and marital history.
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Sign the form. Only the U.S. citizen parent may sign the form, except in cases where the parent is deceased. In this circumstance, a U.S. citizen grandparent or U.S. legal guardian can file the application on behalf of the child.
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File the form at a USCIS office in the U.S. or outlying possessions, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands or San Juan.
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Pay the filing fee. Submit the filing fee of $600 (as of 2011) along with the application.
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Submit additional documentation with your application. Include two identical color passport-style photographs with a white or off-white background, the child's birth certificate, the birth certificate of the citizen parent, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate or Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of U.S. Citizen), proof legal guardianship or legal custody and proof the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence or residence in the U.S.
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