For U.S. citizens living abroad, there is a lesser-known option to obtain U.S. citizenship for children born outside the United States: Form N-600K. This process allows eligible children to acquire citizenship through their U.S. citizen parents grandparents, even if the child has never lived in the U.S.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify under the N-600K process, the child must:
- Be under 18 years old
- Reside outside the United States
- Have a U.S. citizen parent
- Have a U.S. citizen grandparent who lived in the United States for at least five years, including two years after age 14
- Be able to travel to the U.S. for the required interview and oath ceremony
This route is particularly useful when the U.S. citizen parent does not meet the physical presence requirement (usually five years, with at least two after the age of 14) to transmit citizenship automatically. In such cases, a qualifying grandparent’s physical presence in the U.S. may fulfill that requirement.
How the Process Works
- The U.S. citizen parent files Form N-600K with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), providing documentation to establish eligibility.
- If the petition is approved, USCIS will schedule an in-person interview at a field office in the United States.
- The child must travel to the U.S. for this appointment. If eligible, they will take the Oath of Allegiance (if age-appropriate) and receive a Certificate of Citizenship that same day.
There is no requirement for the child to live in the United States permanently, and the process can be initiated while residing abroad.
Important Considerations
- The child must complete the process before turning 18.
- The interview must occur within five years of the application’s approval.
- The documentation must clearly demonstrate the grandparent’s U.S. residence history, the parent’s citizenship, and the child’s eligibility.
In Summary
While not widely known, the N-600K provides a valuable opportunity for children abroad to obtain U.S. citizenship through their family history. If your child has a U.S. citizen parent who is precluded from passing citizenship and a grandparent who lived in the U.S., this path may be worth exploring.
At Visawolf, Dodi has extensive experience handling N-600K cases and has successfully helped children from several countries obtain U.S. citizenship through their U.S. citizen grandparents. If this process applies to your family, she would be happy to help and guide you every step of the way.
Dodi Gomez Paloma
Visawolf, PC
Concord, California