After Your Child Enters the United States
All IR-3/IH-3, IR-4/IH-4 and IR-2 children are admitted as permanent resident noncitizens.
Depending on your child’s visa classification, USCIS will mail to your child either a permanent resident card, known as a green card, or a Certificate of Citizenship.
A child who immigrates to the United States as the adopted child of a U.S. citizen automatically becomes a U.S. citizen if the adoption is full and final before the child’s 18th birthday, if the child is "lawfully admitted" as a permanent resident before his or her 18th birthday, and if he or she "is residing" in the United States in the citizen parent’s legal and physical custody.
| Your child has not established residency and is therefore not a United States Citizen |
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My Child's Certificate of Citizenship is Lost/Destroyed
- You may choose to file a Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, with fee.
- OR you may choose to obtain a U.S. passport for your child. Information concerning United States passports and when they are required may be found on the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov.
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