What is the process for a child to apply for U.S. Citizenship?

In Washington, the process for a child to apply for U.S. Citizenship is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The first step in the process is to determine if the child is eligible to apply. Generally, a child may be eligible if they were born outside of the U.S. and at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. The child must also be under the age of 18 and currently reside in the U.S. The next step is to fill out and submit Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship. Along with the form, the applicant must provide proof of the parent’s U.S. citizenship, proof of the child’s identity, and proof that the parent has resided in the U.S. for at least five years. The applicant must also pay the associated filing fees. Once the application has been approved, the applicant is interviewed at the local USCIS office. During the interview, the applicant is asked questions about their background and the application in order to verify the information provided. If the applicant passes the interview, they must then pass a civic and English language test. If the test is passed, the applicant is given their citizenship certificate. The entire process usually takes around six months to complete. Once the applicant has their citizenship certificate, they will be given all of the rights and privileges of a U.S. citizen.

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El proceso para que un niño solicite la ciudadanía de Estados Unidos difiere según la edad, la nacionalidad y la situación legal del niño. En general, un niño nacido fuera de Estados Unidos, pero con padres que son ciudadanos estadounidenses o bien tienen una residencia legal permanente, puede solicitar la ciudadanía. En primer lugar, los padres deben presentar una declaración de nacimiento a la oficina local de Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS). Esta declaración documentará la información del niño, incluyendo la nacionalidad y la relación con los padres. En segundo lugar, los padres deben presentar la Solicitud de Nacionalización (Formulario N-400), junto con una Solicitud de Admisión Temprana y Permanente (Formulario I-485). Estos documentos se deben presentar junto con la documentación adicional que USCIS solicitará para corroborar la relación familiar, la nacionalidad y la identidad del niño. Finalmente, el niño debe comparecer a una entrevista con el USCIS para verificar la información presentada y demostrar la capacidad de hablar y escribir el inglés. También deberá mostrar buen carácter moral y testimoniar su lealtad a Estados Unidos. Si el niño cumple con los requisitos, recibirá una citación para la ceremonia de naturalización donde se le otorgará la ciudadanía estadounidense.

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