N-600 Certificate of Citizenship Application in Whittier: Proof of U.S. Citizenship for Arab Americans
Document your automatic U.S. citizenship acquisition or derivation through parents
Quick Answer
Many Arab Americans in Whittier may already be U.S. citizens without realizing it. If you were born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, or if your parent naturalized while you were a minor, you may have automatically acquired U.S. citizenship. The N-600 Certificate of Citizenship provides official government documentation of your citizenship status.
Reviewed for accuracy by
Maria Santos
DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience
Many Arab Americans in Whittier may already be U.S. citizens without realizing it. If you were born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, or if your parent naturalized while you were a minor, you may have automatically acquired U.S. citizenship. The N-600 Certificate of Citizenship provides official government documentation of your citizenship status.
What Is the N-600 Certificate of Citizenship?
The Certificate of Citizenship is a government-issued document with the same legal weight as a naturalization certificate or U.S. birth certificate. It serves as definitive proof of your U.S. citizenship for all purposes — employment, passport applications, government benefits, and more.
Who Qualifies for an N-600?
| Eligibility Scenario | Key Requirements | Applicable Law |
|---|---|---|
| Born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents | At least one parent resided in the U.S. before child's birth | INA § 301(c) |
| Born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent (married) | Citizen parent was physically present in U.S. for 5 years (2 after age 14) | INA § 301(g) |
| Born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent (unmarried mother) | Mother was physically present in U.S. for 1 continuous year before birth | INA § 309(c) |
| Born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent (unmarried father) | Father had physical presence + legitimation/paternity before age 18 | INA § 301(g) + § 309(a) |
| Child of naturalized parent (born abroad, admitted as LPR) | Parent naturalized, child was under 18, child was LPR, child in custody of citizen parent | INA § 320 (Child Citizenship Act) |
| Adopted child of U.S. citizen | Child adopted, admitted as LPR, under 18, in custody of citizen parent | INA § 320 |
| Child born in U.S. territory | Born in Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, or other U.S. territory | Various INA provisions |
Citizenship Through Parents Born Abroad (Acquisition)
For births after November 14, 1986 (current law under INA § 301(g)):
If one parent is a U.S. citizen and the other is not, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a total of 5 years before the child's birth, with at least 2 of those years being after the citizen parent turned 14 years old.
Physical presence can be proven through school records, employment records, tax returns, military records, medical records, passport stamps, and other documentation placing the parent in the U.S. during the required period.
For births before November 14, 1986, different and often more stringent physical presence requirements applied. The specific rules depend on the exact date of birth, requiring careful analysis of the applicable version of immigration law.
INA 320: Automatic Citizenship for Children of Naturalized Parents
1. At least one parent is a U.S. citizen (by birth or naturalization)
2. The child is under 18 years of age
3. The child is a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
4. The child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent
When all four conditions are satisfied, the child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen by operation of law. No application is required for the citizenship itself to take effect — it happens automatically. However, the N-600 is needed to obtain official documentation.
This is particularly important for Arab families where a parent naturalized while children held green cards. Many families do not realize their children became citizens automatically on the date the parent took the Oath of Allegiance.
Evidence Required for the N-600 Application
- •Your birth certificate (with certified English translation if in Arabic or another language)
- •U.S. citizen parent's birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or Certificate of Citizenship
- •Parents' marriage certificate (if claiming through a married citizen parent)
- •Evidence of parent's physical presence in the U.S. (school transcripts, employment records, tax returns, military records)
- •Your green card (for derivative citizenship under INA § 320)
- •Parent's naturalization certificate showing the date of naturalization
- •Evidence of legal custody (court orders, divorce decrees if applicable)
- •Adoption decree (for adopted children)
- •Parent's U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
- •Two passport-style photographs
- •Any legal name change documents
N-600 Processing Times and Fees
Filing Fee: The current filing fee for Form N-600 is listed on the USCIS fee schedule. Children under 18 filing with a naturalizing parent may qualify for a fee waiver. Check the current USCIS fee schedule for the most up-to-date amount.
Processing Time: N-600 applications typically take 8-14 months to process, though times vary significantly based on the USCIS field office handling your case. Complex cases involving older birth dates or incomplete documentation may take longer.
Biometrics: Applicants aged 14-79 are generally required to attend a biometrics appointment for fingerprinting and photographs. This appointment is usually scheduled 2-4 weeks after USCIS receives your application.
Interview: USCIS may schedule an interview, but many N-600 applications are approved without one. If an interview is scheduled, it typically takes place at your local USCIS field office.
N-600 vs. N-400: Understanding the Difference
Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization): This is an application to become a U.S. citizen. You must meet specific requirements including 5 years as a permanent resident (3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, and passing the English and civics tests. After approval, you take the Oath of Allegiance and become a citizen.
Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship): This is not an application to become a citizen. You are already a citizen. The N-600 simply asks USCIS to verify and document your existing citizenship. There is no English test, civics test, or oath of allegiance required.
Why does this matter? If you qualify for an N-600, you should file it instead of an N-400. Filing an N-400 when you are already a citizen wastes time and money and can create legal complications. Additionally, if you derived citizenship as a child, your citizenship date is earlier than it would be through naturalization, which can benefit your ability to petition family members.
Benefits of Having the Certificate of Citizenship
- •Official proof of U.S. citizenship accepted everywhere
- •Simplifies U.S. passport applications — the Certificate alone is sufficient proof
- •Required for certain federal government positions and security clearances
- •Proves citizenship for employment (satisfies I-9 requirements)
- •Protects against wrongful deportation proceedings
- •Allows you to petition for family members as a U.S. citizen (shorter wait times than LPR petitions)
- •Qualifies you to vote in U.S. elections
- •Provides access to all benefits of U.S. citizenship including federal student aid
- •Creates a permanent government record of your citizenship status
Common Scenarios for Arab Families in Whittier
Scenario 1 — Parent Naturalized, Child Had Green Card: A Lebanese family immigrated to the U.S. The father naturalized in 2015 when his son was 16 and held a green card. The son automatically became a citizen under INA § 320 but never obtained documentation. Now 27, he needs the Certificate of Citizenship.
Scenario 2 — Born Abroad to U.S. Citizen Parent: An Egyptian-American woman (born in the U.S.) married an Egyptian man and gave birth in Cairo. Their child was born a U.S. citizen through the mother, but needs the N-600 to document it.
Scenario 3 — Grandparent Connection: A Palestinian family's grandfather was born in the U.S. before the family returned to the Middle East. The grandfather's children (born abroad) may have acquired citizenship, and their children may have as well. The N-600 documents these multi-generational claims.
Scenario 4 — Adopted Child: An Iraqi child adopted by U.S. citizen parents and brought to the U.S. as a permanent resident before age 18 automatically became a citizen under INA § 320.
Our N-600 Services in Whittier
- •Detailed eligibility analysis to confirm you qualify for the N-600
- •Physical presence calculations for parent's time in the United States
- •Document gathering assistance including obtaining records from Middle Eastern countries
- •Certified translations of Arabic birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents
- •Complete N-600 form preparation and review
- •Compilation of evidence packages to support your application
- •Biometrics and interview preparation if required
- •Communication with USCIS regarding your case status
- •Arabic-language support throughout the entire process
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Q:I'm over 18. Can I still file an N-600?
A: Yes. Adults can file the N-600 to document citizenship they acquired or derived as children. The key is that all requirements must have been met before your 18th birthday. There is no age limit for filing the N-600 itself.
Q:My parent naturalized when I was 17 and I had a green card. Am I a citizen?
A: If you were under 18, had a green card, were residing in the U.S., and were in the legal and physical custody of your parent when they naturalized, you automatically became a citizen under INA § 320 on the date of your parent's naturalization. The N-600 documents this.
Q:Can I just get a U.S. passport instead of the N-600?
A: You may be able to apply for a U.S. passport directly with evidence of your citizenship through parents. However, the State Department may require extensive documentation, and the N-600 Certificate makes future passport applications much simpler. Many people file both.
Q:What if I cannot obtain my parent's documents because they passed away?
A: You can still file. Provide the parent's death certificate and whatever documentation is available — their naturalization certificate number, old passport copies, immigration records. USCIS can also search their internal records for your parent's naturalization.
Q:My birth certificate is from a country that no longer exists or is in conflict. What do I do?
A: We regularly help families who cannot obtain documents from countries affected by war or political changes. Secondary evidence such as hospital records, baptismal certificates, affidavits from people with knowledge of your birth, and any available government records can be submitted with an explanation.
Q:Does the N-600 require an English or civics test?
A: No. The N-600 does not require any language test, civics test, or oath of allegiance. It simply documents citizenship you already have. This is different from the N-400 naturalization process, which does require these tests.
Need Proof of U.S. Citizenship in Whittier?
Our experienced team helps Arab-American families document their citizenship through the N-600 application process. We handle complex eligibility determinations and evidence gathering.
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