The immigration laws of the United States permit many methods of obtaining citizenship, one of which is the N-600 Certificate of Citizenship. One of the preliminary requirements for an N-600 certificate, which sets it apart from the related N-600K form, is that the applicant must regularly live in the United States.

There are three primary bases on which a person is eligible to receive an N-600 certificate. The first basis is being born abroad to at least one parent who is a United States citizen at the time of your birth. As the applicant, you affirm that:

1. You gained your right to citizenship at birth;

2. You are the biological child of your U.S. citizen parent;

3. Your U.S. citizen parent is your mother OR you were born in wedlock or legitimated before the age of 16 years as the child of a U.S. citizen father.

Though it is possible to gain citizenship through your biological father, who was not married to your biological mother at the time of your birth, there are other criteria to meet. You should discuss the additional requirements with your lawyer to determine whether it is a viable option for you.

The second basis on which to have your citizenship recognized is through at least one parent becoming a U.S. citizen while you were still a minor. If you are claiming U.S. citizenship after birth, but before you reached 18 years of age, the law in effect when the last qualifying condition was met is the law that applies to you. Generally, you must meet the following conditions:  

1. Your parent is a U.S. citizen or naturalized U.S. citizen;

2. You are the biological child of your U.S. citizen parent;

3. You were lawfully admitted to the United States for lawful permanent residence; and 

4. You are living in the United States in the legal and physical custody of your U.S. citizen parent.

The third basis on which to claim your certificate of citizenship is through adoption by a U.S. citizen parent, either born or naturalized. This basis is more complex due to the definition of an adoptive child according to the Immigration and Nationality Act. These additional requirements include:

• The child must meet the requirements for family-based adoption set forth by the Immigration and Nationality Act;

• The child has at least one adoptive parent who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization;

• The child was lawfully admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident; and 

• The child resides in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen adoptive parent (or parents).

Your attorney will be up to date on the eligibility requirements and will inform you of any discrepancies in your information. Immigration law is constantly changing, and many forms rely on the laws in effect at your birth or at the moment of meeting citizenship criteria.