Form N-600 Guide

USCIS evaluates criteria such as your relationship to a U.S. citizen parent, proof of lawful permanent residence, and your current residency status. A common mismatch occurs when applicants fail to provide adequate evidence of their parent-child relationship, which is crucial for approval.

• Submit a valid unexpired U.S. passport as proof of citizenship.
• Provide school or employment records to establish residency.
• Include affidavits from individuals who can attest to your citizenship.
• Use census records to support your place of birth.
• Gather military records if applicable to your residency history.
• Ensure all documents are legible and properly translated.

• Missing required evidence of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or proof of parentage.
• Inconsistent information between documents, like differing names or dates of birth.
• Failure to provide a valid signature, which can lead to application rejection.
• Not including all pages of the application, which may result in delays or denials.
• Insufficient evidence supporting claims of residency or parent-child relationships.

• You must be the child of a U.S. citizen parent.
• You must provide proof of your U.S. citizenship, if applicable.
• You must be lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence.
• You must be living in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent.
• Your application must be signed by you or your legal guardian.
• You must submit all required evidence and supporting documents.
• You may need to attend a biometrics appointment.
• You must provide your current mailing address.

• Adopted Child

  Provide documentation supporting your adoption and relationship to your U.S. citizen parent.

• General Instructions

  Follow the guidelines for completing the form and submitting evidence.

• Specific Instructions

  Review detailed instructions for each part of the application.

• Address Change

  Update your address if it changes during the application process.

• Processing Information

  Understand the processing times and what to expect after submission.

• DHS Privacy Notice

  Review how your information will be used and protected.

• Part 1. Information About Your Eligibility
  • Item Number 1. Current Legal Name
  • Item Number 2. Your Name Exactly As It Appears On Your Permanent Resident Card
  • Item Number 3. Other Names You Have Used Since Birth
  • Item Number 4. U.S. Social Security Number
  • Item Number 6. Date of Birth
  • Item Number 7. Country of Birth
  • Item Number 8. Country of Prior Citizenship or Nationality
  • Item Number 9. Sex
  • Item Number 11. Current Mailing Address
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Form N-600
  • What Is the Purpose of Form N-600?
  • Who Should File Form N-600?
  • parent; or
  • minor child.)
  • 1. Your parent must be a U.S. citizen;
  • Who Should Not File Form N-600?

• Evidence of identity (passport, government ID, or USCIS-issued document).
• Evidence of current immigration status or admission/parole.
• Evidence that supports the eligibility category selected.
• Evidence of any required family relationship or sponsorship.
• Evidence of residence, physical presence, and good moral character.

• Failing to sign the application, leading to rejection.
• Submitting original documents when not required.
• Not providing translations for foreign language documents.
• Using a nickname instead of the legal name on the birth certificate.
• Omitting required evidence of citizenship or parentage.
• Incorrectly filling out the date of birth format.
• Not including all names used since birth.
• Providing a Social Security number when not applicable.
• Failing to provide a current mailing address.
• Selecting more than one relationship box in Part 1.

• Situation: An applicant is preparing N-600 and must include all required evidence. Task: They submit a complete packet within a 30-day preparation window. Action: They compile identity records, eligibility evidence, and the filing fee before submitting. Result: The petition is accepted without a request for missing items.
• Situation: A filer is close to a deadline for N-600. Task: They submit within the required 90-day timeline. Action: They finalize the packet and file within the stated window. Result: The case proceeds without a late-filing issue.
• Situation: A petitioner must reference a receipt number. Task: They match the receipt number to the underlying petition. Action: They include the exact receipt number on N-600 and attach the notice copy. Result: USCIS can verify the underlying filing quickly.

• You do not need to provide evidence of citizenship if you are applying for a Certificate of Citizenship; however, proof is required.
• A stamped signature is not acceptable; you must provide a handwritten signature on the application.
• You cannot file Form N-600 if you have previously received a decision on a prior application; USCIS will reject any subsequent filings.
• Submitting original documents is necessary for all applications; in fact, photocopies are typically sufficient unless specified otherwise.
• You must file Form N-600 within a specific time frame after meeting eligibility requirements; however, you can file at any time if you became a U.S. citizen at birth or before age 18.

This guide is built from official USCIS instructions and current editions of the form. It provides non-legal advice to help you navigate the application process effectively.

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