Form N-600K: Citizenship for Children Living Abroad

Secure U.S. Citizenship for Your Child — Even If They Live Outside the United States

Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322, is a special pathway that allows certain U.S. citizen parents or grandparents to apply for U.S. citizenship on behalf of a child who lives outside the United States.

This unique option helps preserve family ties and ensure children born or residing abroad can receive their rightful U.S. citizenship — even if they didn’t automatically acquire it at birth.

✅ Who Should File Form N-600K?

You should consider filing Form N-600K if you have a child who:
✅ Was born outside the United States.
✅ Lives outside the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of their U.S. citizen parent (or qualifying U.S. citizen grandparent/legal guardian).
✅ Did not automatically acquire citizenship at birth under U.S. law but qualifies through a parent or grandparent.
✅ Meets all requirements under Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

✅ Key Eligibility Requirements

To qualify under INA Section 322:
✅ The child must be under 18 years old when the application is filed and adjudicated.
✅ At least one parent is a U.S. citizen (by birth or naturalization).
✅ The U.S. citizen parent must have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years, 2 of which were after age 14. If the parent does not meet this requirement, a U.S. citizen grandparent’s physical presence can be used instead.
✅ The child must be temporarily present in the U.S. pursuant to a lawful admission and must maintain lawful status.
✅ The child must be in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent (or qualifying grandparent or legal guardian).

✅ How the N-600K Process Works

📌 Step 1 — Confirm Eligibility:
Determine if your child meets the age, relationship, residence, and custody requirements. If a parent does not meet the physical presence requirement, check if a qualifying U.S. citizen grandparent does.

📌 Step 2 — File Form N-600K:
Submit Form N-600K with the required filing fee and strong supporting documents — such as birth certificates, proof of parental citizenship, evidence of physical presence, custody orders, and passport/visa information for the child.

📌 Step 3 — Schedule USCIS Interview in the U.S.:
Your child must travel to the United States for an in-person interview at a designated USCIS field office. During this visit, the child must be lawfully admitted and maintain lawful status.

📌 Step 4 — Decision and Oath of Allegiance:
If USCIS approves the application, your child will take the Oath of Allegiance (unless waived due to age) and receive a Certificate of Citizenship — proving they are officially a U.S. citizen.

✅ Benefits of Using Form N-600K

✅ Secures U.S. citizenship for children born or living abroad.
✅ Preserves the parent-child relationship and connection to the United States.
✅ Provides the child with all rights and protections of U.S. citizenship, including a U.S. passport.
✅ Streamlined path compared to other citizenship or naturalization processes.