HoosierDaddy

Hello all - haven't posted in a while.
Became a US Citizen in October 2017 but am now being asked for proof.
Hunted high and low for my paperwork and all I found was a hokey certificate from my local Congressman's Office (which at least showed the date of the ceremony).
I do have my new SS card which doesn't have the "Work with INS authorization" on it.

Am I going mad? Is my new SS card enough support that I am now a US Citizen?
Really don't want to fork over $555 for a replacement Naturalization Form

Pulaski

Who's asking? ..... And you realize that [1] you need a US passport to travel (back) into the US, and [2] you need the original naturalization certificate to apply for a US passport?

HoosierDaddy

Indiana Dept of Workforce Development - they still had me down as an Alien with my A# on my profile. I'm on a few weeks furlough from my main job.
Looked at my benefits today and "Alien Status" is flagged as an issue.

1) I guess they haven't asked me for anything yet as I've been on hold for over an hour
2) they might just be asking for clarification
3) I *tried* to correct it from Alien to Citizen in my original application on the IN DWD site but it kept saying "no new information"

I was thinking I handed something over at the SS office when getting my new card and was hoping it wasn't my Naturalization Cert.

Noorah101

Your SSN is not proof of US Citizenship, no.

Your US Passport would be proof.

Rene

HoosierDaddy

K. Thanks for the confirmation.
I didn't get a US passport at the time.

I guess I'll keep looking.

Rete

SSA did not keep your naturalization certificate when you updated your status with them to indicate you were a USC. BTW the work authorization legend had/has nothing to do with citizenship. It was or should have been removed when you received your green card.

Are you registered to vote in federal elections? If so, you needed to show your naturalization certificate at that time to prove your right to vote. See if you can get a copy of your voter's registration card.

Pulaski

If you don't have a US passport already, you're going to need a new naturalization certification (from the INS, not a "hokey" one) in order to get a passport if you can't find the original, assuming that you ever want to leave the US (and return again).

HoosierDaddy

Thanks again all!

newacct

What benefits are you getting? There should be no difference between permanent residents and citizens with regards to unemployment benefits. Are they asking you to prove your alien status and you can't because you don't have your green card anymore?

HoosierDaddy

Me again. So I didn't need to prove my Citizenship for the unemployment benefits listed further up the thread, but I do need it for this RealID thingy coming up on October 1st 2021 if I want to use my DL to fly domestically. Have to get my DL renewed before August. Still haven't found my Naturalization Certificate yet - guess I need to hunt high(er) and low(er).

Has the replacement fee always been so fricking high?? $555 seems bonkers.

Another option - get a new UK passport. £86 plus a £19.86 courier fee. (lets call it $150) This would allow me to leave the US and return again.
Then get a Driver's License that isn't "RealID Compliant" but I can live with that if it means saving 400 knicker. Jesus.

HoosierDaddy

That’s not true.

Rete

You're right, you don't. Things have changed since I first registered to vote back in 1966. All you need to do now is get a driver's license and click the box. Great way to ensure voter fraud. Stupid ass country of mine.

MidAtlantic

US citizens are required to use US passports to enter or leave the USA.

tht

That is true on paper.. in practice it may be different, that said the 1 attempt I have witnessed was someone with a foreign passport and their N-550, so in the OP’s case assuming they could get on the plane (with CV19 they would not) what are they going use to prove they are a USC at the boarder, if they never applied for a US passport will CBP even be able to look them up?

TexanScot

Falsely asserting US Citizenship is an immigration death-sentence though.

You cite concerns about voter fraud, so do you have any evidence that significant numbers of foreign nationals are falsely claiming US Citizenship on their license applications purely for the purposes of voting?

I'd be surprised if it was something that any more than a tiny handful of people had inadvertently done without realizing - most people know that falsely claiming Citizenship and illegal voting are two things that you must never ever do.