leszekl

Hello,
I have received citizenship through naturalization a few weeks ago.
Can my kids (age < 17 years) still travel using their current Green
Cards? I do not have enough time to obtain birth certificates from
abroad to apply for the passports for them and I do not have enough
time to go through N-600 process before our planned trip to Europe.
Any other option? Thank you and best regards.
Leszek

Olivier Wagner

Your question is "I know that my kids are US citizens and as such are
required to identify themselves as US citizens when entering the US, but I
don't want to go thru the hassle of proving citizenship, may I get away with
it if they still identify themselves as permanent residents?"

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Hello,
    > I have received citizenship through naturalization a few weeks ago.
    > Can my kids (age < 17 years) still travel using their current Green
    > Cards? I do not have enough time to obtain birth certificates from
    > abroad to apply for the passports for them and I do not have enough
    > time to go through N-600 process before our planned trip to Europe.
    > Any other option? Thank you and best regards.
    > Leszek

Leszek

No, Olivier, my question is quite different (please read carefully my
original post).

The question is:
- what are my options (if any) to keep my travel plans as I cannot
obtain birth certificates for my kids within next 5 weeks.

If you can advise - please do so and I will appreciate it. . If not....

Looking for hidden agendas really does not help.

Thank you

Rete

You had to have had their birth certificates when you applied for their residency? Don't you still have them?

As for your question, probably not as they are not permanent residents of the US but US citizens and as such need to identify themselves as such when returning to the US.

Rete

Oliver's interpretation of your OP is correct and dead on. That is exactly what you were asking.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

I'm having trouble understanding your question. You suggest that they are currently U.S. citizens, but also say they have "current" green cards.

If they are US citizens, then they do NOT have "current" green cards.

The law requires that ALL travelers use valid documentation -- for US citizens that is a passport.

Leszek

"If you can advise - please do so and I will appreciate it. . If
not.... "

Please read carefully my original post. It states "Any other option?"

Leszek

OK. Thank you.
Yes, I had these documents but since I did not file for the GC in US -
I do not have them here.
Obviously I have overlooked this (but also I did not expect that I
have to deliver these documents again - since obviously they were
already deliverd to INS 6 years ago).
Also at least from the common sense perspective - their current US
green cards should be at least equivalent to any documents obtained
from abroad.
The waiting time listed on INS site for processing of N-600 form is
2+ years - so this is not an option.

Leszek

When me and my wife received our naturalization certification we gave
back our GCs but not GCs of our kids - so they still have them. My
kids will give back GCs when they receive their own certificates (but
processing of N-600 takes two+ years here).
For identification purposes green card is still a valid document.

If this is still valid US document from INS perspective I am not sure
(and I have heard various opinions) - and this is what I am asking.

Thank you.

Leszek

When me and my wife received our naturalization certification we gave
back our GCs but not GCs of our kids - so they still have them. My
kids will give back GCs when they receive their own certificates (but
processing of N-600 takes two+ years here).
For identification purposes green card is still a valid document.

If this is still valid US document from INS perspective I am not sure
(and I have heard various opinions) - and this is what I am asking.

Thank you.

frrussre

Did your children, not get US Citizenship the same day as you? Did they not take their Oath Ceremony with you? If yes, then why did they not hand over their Green Cards. Maybe I am wrong about the procedure, I thought under age children, got their Citizenship on the same day?

Reg. Frank R.

Leszek

Frank, kids do not paticipate in the Oath Ceremony the same day.
Once the parents recive they Certificates they apply for their kids'
naturalization certificates using N-600 form (versus N-400 for
parents). So... technically they are US Citizens, practially - they do
not have any proof of it. I can file for the passport for them using my
own Certificate.
What does not seem to be logical here is that I have to have birth
certificates for them from the country of origin instead of using their
green cards that are issued by US government.
Thank you
Leszek

frrussre

Leszek, thanks for info. Always good to learn. Re, the need for certs & docs I agree. I gave them my docs & certificates, when I applied for the Green Card. When applying for Citizenship, they wanted to see the stuff allover again. Makes no sense, but they make the rules. I got my PR, pre the Internet, so had very little help. If someone asked me 18 years ago, about going from PR to Citizenship, I would have said "Its simple, fill in & form & off you go".
Re, your children, they seem to be in a grey area. I am not an attorney, yet would seem they can use their Greencards, because they still have them?
Reg. Frank R.

Leszek

Frank, the beauty of this situation is that apparently they could
have problems in getting back to USA based on the ground that they are
now US citizens!!!
I cannot imagine that immigration officer could refuse to admit them
back to States - because they are now US citizens.
And they can leave States without US passport - because they have dual
citizenship....
I hope this is too ridiculous to be true..... (but you never know)...

Thank you
Leszek

frrussre

Certainly an odd one. Sure your not the first, in this situation. Good luck.
Reg. Frank R.