If you acquired US citizenship through your adoptive parents, you may have already received a Certificate of Citizenship (CoC). If you did not receive one, the Citizenship Clinic provides free legal representation to get one. In addition, the USCIS does not charge a filing fee for an adult intercountry adopted person who applies for a CoC.
The Process
USCIS requires completion of Form N-600 to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. While the N-600 can be submitted on paper by regular mail, the easiest, fastest, and more reliable way to apply is online through MyUSCIS, the online filing and user account system. Within that system, the N-600 is completed and submitted online and you can track the application as it moves through the process. As of April 1, 2024, an adult intercountry adopted person does not need to pay a filing fee for the N-600; they are exempt from paying the fee.
Once the N-600 is filed, the next step is to appear for “biometrics,” in which you will sign the application in person and have your photograph taken for the certificate (it’s also possible that the USCIS field office will require your fingerprints). USCIS typically schedules the biometrics appointment about a month after you file the application. It is a quick appointment, usually about a half hour. After completion of biometrics, the application is processed and, if it is approved, you are notified that you need to take the oath of citizenship. Once you appear at the field office and take the oath, a USCIS officer will give you the Certificate of Citizenship.
Occasionally, USCIS needs additional documents for your application. If they do, they will send you or your attorney a Request for Evidence (RFE), which requests the specific documents and gives you approximately 90 days to provide them.
Completing the N-600 may be confusing for many non-lawyers, simply because it asks for more documentation and information than you need. Determining what documents you need (and how to get them) is a solid task for a pro bono attorney. AU’s Citizenship Clinic provides pro bono legal representation specifically to intercountry adopted people who wish to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are an intercountry adoptee and would like to be considered for representation in obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship, complete our Citizenship Clinic intake.
Do not apply for a Certificate of Citizenship if you know you already had one. If you know you already had a Certificate of Citizenship, do not apply for one again. Your application will be rejected. Instead, apply for a Replacement Certificate.
Documents Required
The documentation required for a Certificate of Citizenship is not extensive, but it is sometimes not that easy to get ALL the documents you need. These are the essential documents you will need for an application, based on an application for an intercountry adopted person. You may need additional documents depending on your specific circumstances. A lawyer can help you work this out and gather the correct documents.
- Full and final adoption decree. This could be either or both of: 1) the adoption decree from the country of birth, translated into English if applicable; 2) an adoption decree issued from a US state court.
- Birth record from your country of birth. This could also be a certificate of abandonment or similar document if no birth record was issued by the country of birth. Must be translated into English if applicable
- State-issued “certificate of foreign birth” (Optional but recommended if available). This is issued by a US state when an intercountry adoption is finalized in that state. Not all intercountry adoptees will have this record, but it typically indicates that a full and final adoption has occurred in the US. It may also not be available in states for older adoptions that occurred prior to the 1980s.
- Your adoptive parents’ birth records. This demonstrates proof of your parents’ US citizenship.
- Your adoptive parents’ marriage certificate (if applicable). This may not be necessary in all cases but it is a document that USCIS typically requests as part of the application. It is best to provide it.
- Copy of your US passport, if you have one. If you have ever been issued a US passport, a copy of the photo and demographic info pages is highly recommended to include in your application.
- School transcript or enrollment document. A school transcript or enrollment document demonstrates that you were in the legal and physical custody of your adoptive parents for at least two years prior to the age of 18. School records are often the easiest way to show this, but other records showing that you resided with your adoptive parents as a child are also sufficient (e.g., baptismal certificate, medical records, tax returns, etc.)
Many of these documents are already in your USCIS “Alien File,” the immigration file that is created for intercountry adoptees who immigrate to the US through adoptive parents. It is best practice to request the “A File” at the initiation of a case, through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. A Citizenship Clinic lawyer will do that for you.
Note: The USCIS accepts copies of certified records, so long as you are able to provide a certified copy if requested. It may ask for them in some circumstances but generally it is rare.
Cost and Fee Exemptions
The filing fee for the N-600 is $0.00, so long as it is the adult intercountry adopted person who is applying. No documentation is required to receive the fee exemption, other than completing the online application for a Certificate of Citizenship.
Timeframe
The timeframe to receive a Certificate of Citizenship varies by location of USCIS field offices. Some applications are approved in 2-3 months, while others may take up to 10 months to a year to approve. You can check the current estimated N-600 processing times here, based on your USCIS field office (you can also find your local USCIS field office here).
About this Resource
This is a general information resource specifically for intercountry adoptees who have US citizenship or immigration issues. It is not intended for a general audience. While it is written and reviewed by an immigration lawyer, it is not intended as legal advice. If you an intercountry adoptee and have questions about this resource, consult an attorney or consider completing an intake with the Adoptees United Citizenship Clinic.