N400 Interview next week - questions
Jul 17th 2019, 5:55 pm
#46
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I wasn't told that at my ceremony, so I have a bunch of 'illegal' in various places in case the house burned down.
Jul 17th 2019, 6:04 pm
#47
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
Is scanning it ok to do? They made sure to inform us at the oath that copying and even laminating the certificate was considered illegal unless it was for the purpose of getting a passport or other federal use. I'm not sure what use having a copy would have if by simply presenting the copy you're showing you broke the law.
Added:
USCIS explain how to get certified copies:
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/how-do-i...naturalization
"You will need to submit your original certificate of naturalization or citizenship AND a photocopy when applying for your U.S. passport. USCIS does not prohibit photocopies of certificates when providing proof of U.S. citizenship to
the Department of State."
The law is here:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1426
Last edited by tht; Jul 17th 2019 at 7:09 pm. Reason: to add
Jul 17th 2019, 7:08 pm
#48
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
Maybe the people in Nashville are giving out duff information then. Google doesn't seem to have a clear answer on it as although people are saying it's stamped on the certificate (passport office has mine so I can't check) others are saying that the law the stamp refers to has expired.
Jul 17th 2019, 7:18 pm
#49
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
Maybe the people in Nashville are giving out duff information then. Google doesn't seem to have a clear answer on it as although people are saying it's stamped on the certificate (passport office has mine so I can't check) others are saying that the law the stamp refers to has expired.
"ALTERATION OR MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS
A FEDERAL OFFENSE AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW"
So my read is copying to give to others to use for illegal purposes is not allowed, copying it to get a passport etc is.
Jul 17th 2019, 8:46 pm
#50
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
As far as I'm concerned, the certificate serves no purpose once you have a US passport. The passport proves your citizenship. 
Jul 17th 2019, 10:39 pm
#51
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I am sure there are other purposes but off the top of my head getting a new US passport if I lose my current 1 would probably be an important purpose. Or at a pinch using the N-550 to get back in to the US, although having seen the hard time people get doing that it would be a last resort....
Jul 18th 2019, 1:18 pm
#52
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
That's definitely not how I see it, for a start passports expire (mostly after 5-10 years depending on your age (although I have had ones valid for longer which caused issues with ESTA in the early days), you could "lose" a citizenship and still be in possession of an old old or even "in date" passport for that former citizenship. The N-550 has additional information, e.g. the date you became a Citizen, a passport will not show that. The N-550 also includes the A number that then links back to yoru USCIS file.
I am sure there are other purposes but off the top of my head getting a new US passport if I lose my current 1 would probably be an important purpose. Or at a pinch using the N-550 to get back in to the US, although having seen the hard time people get doing that it would be a last resort....
I am sure there are other purposes but off the top of my head getting a new US passport if I lose my current 1 would probably be an important purpose. Or at a pinch using the N-550 to get back in to the US, although having seen the hard time people get doing that it would be a last resort....
The only ways to 'lose' citizenship is to have it revoked or give it up voluntarily. In which case, you may have a N-550 and a US passport, neither of which are now valid.
Once you have a passport, you are in the system as a US citizen.
Jul 18th 2019, 2:11 pm
#53
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
Don't get me wrong. I still have my certificate in a safe place but don't ever expect to need it again.
The only ways to 'lose' citizenship is to have it revoked or give it up voluntarily. In which case, you may have a N-550 and a US passport, neither of which are now valid.
Once you have a passport, you are in the system as a US citizen.
The only ways to 'lose' citizenship is to have it revoked or give it up voluntarily. In which case, you may have a N-550 and a US passport, neither of which are now valid.
Once you have a passport, you are in the system as a US citizen.
Any document is only a snapshot of a status at the time it was issued, statuses can and do change, most official documents can not be changed without invalidation.
On a practical level you are right, the US passport is probably the only proof of citizenship you will need in normal day to day life.
Jul 18th 2019, 4:19 pm
#54
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I am sure there are other purposes but off the top of my head getting a new US passport if I lose my current 1 would probably be an important purpose. Or at a pinch using the N-550 to get back in to the US, although having seen the hard time people get doing that it would be a last resort....
Jul 18th 2019, 5:02 pm
#55
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-evidence.html
Jul 18th 2019, 6:33 pm
#56
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
Can you pay by cash/card for passport application or did you need to bring a check?
Jul 18th 2019, 8:02 pm
#57
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I stand corrected, I thought if filled a DS-64 for a lost passport you had to file a DS-11 for a new passport which then needs proof of citizenship, vs. the DS-82 where you send the old passport with the renewal. Or are you saying you just pay the $150 for the file search?
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-evidence.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-evidence.html
Jul 18th 2019, 8:43 pm
#58
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I took my checkbook. They gave me an application form and instruction form at the interview with all the details. I printed my application forms online anyway so it was typed, you need 1 check for the passport and another for the acceptance facility. This was a library / pop-up, I assume if you went to a post office or other “full time” acceptance facilities they would accept more payment methods.
Jul 19th 2019, 1:38 am
#59
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I took my checkbook. They gave me an application form and instruction form at the interview with all the details. I printed my application forms online anyway so it was typed, you need 1 check for the passport and another for the acceptance facility. This was a library / pop-up, I assume if you went to a post office or other “full time” acceptance facilities they would accept more payment methods.
Jul 19th 2019, 1:57 pm
#60
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Re: N400 Interview next week - questions
I took my checkbook. They gave me an application form and instruction form at the interview with all the details. I printed my application forms online anyway so it was typed, you need 1 check for the passport and another for the acceptance facility. This was a library / pop-up, I assume if you went to a post office or other “full time” acceptance facilities they would accept more payment methods.
