Filing N400 online - Naturalization for kids turning 18

[carlos_r]

Hi,

I am filing form N400 online, I was encouraged to do so as my case is straightforward, I've been a legal resident for the last 6 yrs. now, I just have 2 questions to complete the filing :

1. I have 2 minor daughters, I understand that minors become automatically naturalized after me and my wife do. The question is that my older daughter is 17 right now but turns 18 in 5 months. Checking the time required for the naturalization process, my bet is that she will be 18 when my wife and I finish the process, will she then need to file her own N400 ?

2. After filling the online form, the website asks me to upload a copy of my permanent resident card and my marriage certificate. My certificate is in spanish as I got married in Mexico, can I upload the document as it is or do I have to translate it to English ?


Thanks for your help.

[ssubbarama001]

Hi

Don't mean to be rude or anything. You should have filed N-400 after 4 years and 9 months, and not 6 years. That year and 3 months would be crucial for your daughter because no naturalization wait would hopefully be longer than 15 months!

N-400 versus N-600 is a pain in the ***; plus $730 costlier!

[newacct]

1. I have 2 minor daughters, I understand that minors become automatically naturalized after me and my wife do. The question is that my older daughter is 17 right now but turns 18 in 5 months. Checking the time required for the naturalization process, my bet is that she will be 18 when my wife and I finish the process, will she then need to file her own N400 ?

If on the day you become a citizen (i.e. the day you take the oath), the daughter is under 18, then on that day she automatically and involuntarily becomes a US citizen, without needing to do anything. To get proof of citizenship, she can either apply for a US passport, or file N-600 for a Certificate of Citizenship. In my opinion, a Certificate of Citizenship is a big waste of money ($1170), and the certificate doesn't really serve any proof of citizenship purposes that a US passport (which is much cheaper and faster to get) doesn't already serve as.

If the daughter already turned 18 before you take the oath, your naturalization has no effect on her. Once she turns 18, assuming that she has been a permanent resident for 5 years, she can file N-400 at any time for naturalization if she wants. She does not have to wait until you become a citizen.

[carlos_r]

Thank you all for your responses, I will translate the certificate and send both versions, it makes sense. On my daughter's case, I will start filing a new N400 for her as soon as she turns 18. As ssubb... said, i could have filed earlier and saved a lot of work and money but we are at this point now so I'll just go on.