Certificate of Citizenship

Certificate of citizenship is an official license issued by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) as a proof of your citizenship in the US. US citizenship is a step ahead of getting a green card, which grants the right to vote as well as getting an US passport.

The certificate of citizenship of the US should be applied through the form N-560 or N-561. The eligibility conditions for applying for certificate of citizenship are: You should have obtained US citizenship by action of law while residing in the US or your parent must be a US citizen if you were born abroad or at least one of your parents should have been naturalized and should have followed the special conditions of law when you were lesser than 18 years of age.

The photographs should be taken within 30 days of filing the application that should be un-mounted and un-retouched having a white to off-white background. It should be printed on a thin paper with glossy finish. In case of digital photos, it should be shot with a camera with resolution not less than 3.5 megapixel with no visible pixel or noise.

The passport photos must be 2’’x2’’ in dimensions, taken in color, with bare head, frontal view of complete face, and several other measurements that have to be followed strictly.

The application of certificate of citizenship should be submitted to the USCIS field office with jurisdiction over your place of residence. The filing fee is $460 and if you are filing in behalf of an adopted minor child then the fee is only $420.

The filing fee can be deposited in the form that is acceptable by your local office. Checks should be made payable to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) or Department of Homeland Security.

It is good to note that a certificate of citizenship differs from certificate of naturalization though the process of applying them is similar.

In cases of destruction, loss or mutilation of the certificate of citizenship, a replacement certificate should be sought through proper channel. Further any change in name or other vital statistics should be brought about by applying for a new certificate with the necessary changes.