Passport application for 12 year old

[mitian98]

My family has completed our mandatory period of green card stay in USA and are in process of applying for citizenship. I would like to know if I need to apply for my 12 year old daughter's citizenship also (she completed her 5 years on GC as well) or she will get citizenship after my wife and I get our citizenship processed?

[N400questions]

there is no need to submit a separate N400 for your daughter. If either of her parents is a citizen or becomes a citizen then she automatically becomes a citizen without any further effort.

There are a few conditions and they are listed here...

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship...hrough-parents

• The child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization;
• The child is under 18 years of age;
• The child is a lawful permanent resident (LPR); and
• The child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.

As soon as either of you become citizens (ie the day of the Oath Ceremony) you can apply for your US passport and for hers.

Be aware that you and your wife may become citizens on different days. There are no guarantees that a husband and wife who apply on the same day will reach the end of the N400 process on the same day.

Whoever gets there first will immediately make her a citizen too.

[Mike E]

As noted the child be become a citizen when you do, if the child is under age 18 when you take your oath.

Not only is there no need to file an N-400 for the child but USCIS will refuse it (and keep the fee).

Unfortunately the child won’t get a naturalization certificate.

You should immediately file for a USA passport for the child after you get your naturalization certificate. And then make sure your child always has a valid passport. As long as your child has a recent passport for life, your child will never a problem.

But if your child loses the passport then a life of hell starts. So also get a passport card. If the passport is lost, the passport card is proof of citizenship.

For maximum safety, file an N-600 you get your child a naturalization certificate. It is very expensive but less than a life time of 5 and 10 year passports.