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https://www.americansabroad.org/advocacy/campaigns/naturalization-under-section-322/

Naturalization Under Section 322

Section 322 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) provides for facilitated naturalization of non-citizen minor children of (some) Americans living abroad.

As of October 30, 2011, all requests for naturalization under Section 322 should be sent to the USCIS "lockbox" in Phoenix, Arizona (or in Elgin, Illinois), as explained in the Form N-600K instructions. The actual interview and swearing in will take place in another designated USCIS field office in the US. You can specify the office of your choice when you file form N-600K. Note that since February 2019, it is possible to file Form N-600K online without having to send documents by postal mail.  However, it will still be necessary to travel to the USA with your child in order to complete the naturalization procedure as explained below.

Naturalization under Section 322 is for children whose American parent OR American grandparent has at least five years of US physical presence time as explained below.  If you or the child's grandparent do/does not have the required US presence time, there is another procedure (child immigration) available to you for having your child naturalized as a US citizen before age 18 as explained elsewhere on this ACA website.

Understanding the Basics

  • Most Americans who have children while abroad are able to transmit their US citizenship to their offspring at birth. They only need to obtain a "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" (form FS 240) at their nearest American embassy or consulate. (Contact the consulate in advance or check their website for details on which documents have to be provided and how to arrange an appointment.)

     

  • However, in order for an American with a non-citizen spouse to transmit citizenship to his/her children born abroad, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the US a certain number of years prior to the birth of the child in question. For children born on or after November 14, 1986, the American parent must have been physically present at least five years in the US, at least two of which were after the age of 14 but before the birth of the child. (Before 1986 the physical presence required was ten years, at least five after age 14.)

     

  • The Section 322 naturalization process was created to help Americans who have not themselves lived the amount of time in the US required by law for transmission of US citizenship to their children. Section 322 provides for naturalization of the minor child (under age 18) via US Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS. It is not a process for transmission of citizenship, but only for facilitated naturalization of children born abroad.

 

General Background Information

  • What is Section 322 ?
    Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act grants expeditious naturalization to the children of some US citizens. It was amended by Public Law 103-416 on October 25, 1994 (and modified in form, but not in substance, by the "Child Citizenship Act of 2000") to enable Americans abroad to obtain US citizenship for their children, not otherwise eligible to be citizens, through a special naturalization procedure which does not require that they immigrate to the United States. This new amendment does not change the existing rule for transmitting citizenship at birth to children born abroad. Rather, it opens an additional "entry way" for children of Americans to receive Certificates of Citizenship if they fulfill the requirements set forth (see below).

     

  • What government agency administers this law?
    Naturalizations are under the authority of the US Attorney General and are administered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Section 322 is not administered by the Department of State nor through its consulates around the world. Consular posts do not have Section 322 application packets, nor do they process application forms. Applications using Form N-600K must be filed with the USCIS in the USA.

     

  • Who is eligible?
    A child living abroad is eligible to become a US citizen under Section 322 if s/he
    1. is under the age of 18;
    2. is the natural born or adopted child of a US citizen parent; and
    3. has an American parent OR grandparent who has spent five years in the US, at least two of which were after the parent/grandparent was 14 years of age, but before the date of the application.
    The parent's/grandparent's fulfillment of this physical presence requirement can have taken place before or after the birth of the child. If the child is adopted: he or she must have been adopted before age 16; the adoption must be completed; and the child must have been in legal physical custody of the adoptive parent(s) for at least two years before applying under Section 322.

  • Public Law 107-273 amended section 322(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1433(a)), making available the facilitated naturalization procedure for children of American citizens abroad who do not meet the residence requirements for transmitting citizenship to those minors whose citizen-parent is no longer living. If the citizen-parent is deceased, an application for naturalization can be made by a citizen-grandparent or a citizen-legal guardian.

     

  • What is involved?
    The American parent (the applicant) fills out the USCIS application Form N-600K and must include documents proving that either the Ameerican parent or American grandparent of the child spent the requisite time in the US. The forms and supporting documents and fee are mailed to the USCIS District Office "lockbox" in Phoenix Arizona which is supposed to review them within 60 days. (A second lockbox in Elgin Illinois was set up in 2022 but is valid only for applicants living in certain US states.)  Online filing is also possible.

    After review by USCIS (which can take several months), applicants are notified of preliminary approval. An appointment is then set up, and the American parent and child travel to a designated District Office in the United States (not in Phoenix) to finalize the process on the day of the appointment.  Depending on the nationality and/or present country of residence of the child, either a visa waiver, visitor visa or other temporary visa will be needed to enter the USA prior to the appointment.  This can be checked by contacting a local US consulate, explaining that entry into the USA is for the specific purpose of appearing in the USCIS district office in the USA for naturalization under Section 322, and that you plan to return to your "home" country with the child soon after that.  There is no need to apply for an immigrant visa (green card) and in fact would be counterproductive.  Requesting an immigrant visa would imply an intention to reside permanently in the US.  Naturalization under Section 322 using Form N-600K was specifically designed for citizens residing abroad and who intend to continue residing abroad.

    In most cases the oath will be administered and the Certificate of Citizenship will be issued during the pre-scheduled appointment at the designated District Office.  Once the Certificate is in hand, the child should obtain a US passport (going through a local US Passport Office) before leaving the US.  Or a passport can be subsequently obtained at a US consulate in the child's normal country of residence. It is also advisable to obtain a Social Security number for the child as soon as possible. This can be done at a US consulate in your normal country of residence.

     

  • How to obtain application forms: Access the US Government website at www.uscis.gov/n-600k

    The filing fee for Form N-600K is currently $1170.  All forms filed must include a check, money order or credit card form for the correct amount.

    Carefully read the instructions for filling out the form and for payment of the fees. The latest edition of this form (N-600K) is dated "09/17/19E" and is valid until 2025.  You should file using this edition although the previous edition dated "09/17/19" is still being accepted.

  • Answer each item as best as possible. Be prepared to provide supporting documentation especially for residence times in the US. If necessary, add a cover letter explaining special situations. The application should be filed at the USCIS "lockbox" in Phoenix Arizona (if filing from abroad -- i.e. most cases). Be prepared to wait several months (or even a year) for a final decision.  Even though the form states "90 days" experience has shown that the processing time is often much longer.  If the child is only a few months away from his/her 18th birthday, it is important to mention this fact because the swearing in at a USCIS office in the US must absolutely take place before the child's 18th birthday.

     

Other points to bear in mind:

 

  • The Oath.
    Part of finalizing the naturalization process involves taking an oath of renunciation (of previous nationality) and allegiance (to the US) by children who are judged to be able to understand its meaning (i.e. aged 14 or older). The consequences, if any, to the nationality of a minor child who may take this oath should be evaluated in light of the laws of the country of which he or she is currently a citizen. Parents are advised to verify this issue for themselves regarding the laws of the country of which the child is currently a citizen. It appears that children who do not speak English or are too young to understand (normally under age 14) will not be asked to take the oath.
  • The 18th birthday cut-off.
    The entire naturalization procedure must be finished prior to the child's 18th birthday; children who reach their 18th birthday without having already completed the USCIS naturalization procedure LOSE THEIR ELIGIBILITY to become US citizens under Section 322, even if the application has been submitted but not fully adjudicated and even if the delay is the fault of the USCIS! Parents of children who are eligible and who are already 17 years old (i.e. run the risk of "aging out") should immediately file their Form N-600K with an accompanying letter at the "lockbox" address. The USCIS is making an effort to expedite the process for children in this situation.
  • Use the right form.
    The USCIS has adopted a special form for the application of Section 322. It is Form N-600K as explained above, applicable for adopted children and for biological offspring of Americans abroad. Do not confuse with Form N-600 which is for a completely different procedure (i.e. certification of citizenship for somebody, child or adult, who is already a US citizen).

 

Filling out and filing the application itself
Things to remember when completing the application:

  • Form N-600K is specifically designed for the naturalization procedure, not like the regular N-600 form which is only a request for a certificate of citizenship for persons who are already US citizens.
  • Do not send any original documents in the application itself. Send photocopies only and bring the originals with you to the interview. It is also a good idea to make additional copies of everything you submit in case the file is lost and you need to resubmit it. It is highly recommended to send all correspondence to USCIS offices via registered, return-receipt mail.
  • All items on the form must be filled in. For those items which do not apply, write "N/A" (for "Not Applicable") rather than leave the item blank. For example, a child applying from abroad under Section 322 will not have an Alien Registration number (A number or "Green Card" number). Simply mark "N/A" for that item and go on. [Note, however, regarding the item on entry/arrival, pencil in that you will provide this information after arriving in the US for the interview at the USCIS District Office.]
  • The fact that the American grandparent (if his or her fulfillment of the physical presence requirement is the basis for the application) may be deceased does not adversely affect the claim as long as that grandparent's fulfillment of the requirement can be documented.
  • The form should be signed by the citizen-parent, not the grandparent.  The law specifies that it is the American parent or US legal guardian who must apply for the child's naturalization and accompany the child to the US for the final interview and oath. (Grandparents may be present for the interview if they wish or if the USCIS specifically requests their presence.)
  • If, at the time of applying, the US parent of the child to be naturalized has accumulated five years in the United States with at least two after the age of 14, the US parent him/herself fulfills the requirement of the law and does not need to prove that the child's American grandparent spent the five years in the US. Some of the materials sent out by the USCIS may fail to mention this possibility and focus only on the grandparent's fulfillment of the five year residency in the US. Parents who qualify on their own should write a separate letter explaining this fact. They should attach copies of documents proving their own five years in the US.  Note that these five years can have taken place before or after the child's birth (but must be fulfilled before the filing).
  • The parent's or grandparent's five years in the US need not be limited to when the parent/grandparent was a US citizen. According to the USCIS Policy Manual: "A parent’s physical presence is calculated in the aggregate and includes time accrued in the United States during periods when the parent was not a U.S. citizen."
  • Regarding proof of physical presence generally, applicants should feel very free to write their stories in an accompanying letter and attach as much as they can to back up what is asserted. Provide copies of documents which tend to actually show the person was in the US at the time claimed, for example, school and/or college records, including year-to-year transcripts. For ideas about proofs, see the instructions accompanying form N-600K, which states, in substance, that if no documentation is available, you should submit notarized affidavits of at least two people who were living at the time and who have personal knowledge of what you are attempting to prove.
  • Two identical color photographs of the child must be submitted.  These must be US-passport style pictures 2in x 2in (5cm x 5cm) square.  See the US passport website for advice on passport pictures.
  • The $1170 fee must be paid by check, money order or credit card in US dollars when filing Form N-600K. Payment by credit card is now possible according to the latest information from USCIS. Credit card payments will be useful for applicants who do not have a US checking account. However, Form G-1450 (The credit card form) specifies that the card must be issued by a US bank.
  • For travel to the US your child will need a visa waiver (ESTA), or visitor visa (B2). A visitor visa should be applied for at a US consulate in your present country of residence explaining that travel to the USA is for the specific purpose of naturalization under Section 322.  Your child will NOT need an immigrant visa and you should NOT apply for one when requesting naturalization under Section 322.  Visitors from Canada who are not US citizens (adult or child) need only present a valid Canadian passport to enter the USA.
  • If the USCIS does not approve the application for your child's citizenship under Section 322 after filing Form N-600K, you have the possibility of filing an appeal or motion to reopen or reconsider a decision under the immigration laws within 30 days of the adverse decision. This is done by filing Form I-290B "Notice of Appeal or Motion" available here: http://www.uscis.gov/i-290b.  As of January 1, 2016, appeals for decisions involving Section 322 should be sent to the Chicago "Lockbox" as explained on the USCIS webpage. Note that filing such an appeal involves writing a "brief" in your own words explaining why you think the decision should be reconsidered and is best done with the help of a competent US immigration lawyer.

 Model Cover sheet

Notice to the USCIS Office receiving this application:
This application is being submitted in accordance with Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended by Section 102 of P.L. 103-416, enacted on October 25, 1994, which grants Americans abroad the right to obtain Certificates of Citizenship for their minor children residing outside the United States. No alien registration number is requirerd.

 

Your Feedback is Essential
Many of the caveats inserted in this overview are the result of actual experiences of families seeking "facilitated" naturalization for their children under Section 322. Please contribute to this growing fund of information by letting ACA know what you learn along the way, good and bad. Thank you. Please address queries and comments to:

American Citizens Abroad, (ACA, Inc.)
2001 L Street N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
USA

Send us email

 

This ACA page was updated December 1, 2022