Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship

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Last updated: November 9, 2025.

By Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney

Form N-600 filing fee

The filing fee for Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship depends on your category:

N-600 Filing Category	Paper Filing Fee	Online Filing Fee
General Filing	$1,385	$1,335
If you are filing as a current or former member of any branch of the U.S. armed forces on your own behalf.	$0	$0
If you are filing on behalf of an individual who is the subject of a final adoption for immigration purposes and meets (or met before 18 years of age) the definition of child under the Immigration and Nationality Act section 101(b)(1)(E), (F), or (G).	$0	$0

Certain applicants may be eligible for a Fee Waiver. Learn more: Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.

USCIS fees are subject to change, check the latest Form N-600 filing fee on the USCIS website.

Form N-600 checklist of required documents

The following documents must be submitted with your Form N-600 application:

Evidence	Examples of acceptable documents
Completed and signed Form N-600	Download the most recent edition of Form N-600 on USCIS website Answer all questions Sign and date the form Unsigned, undated or outdated editions of Form N-600 will be rejected by USCIS
Filing fee	Check the most current Form N-600 filing fee If you file the application online, the filing fee will be paid online using a credit card If submitting application by mail, you can pay this fee with a money order, personal check, cashier’s check or pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions If you pay by check, it must be payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. passport-style photographs	Two identical color U.S. passport-style photographs of the applicant taken within the last 30 days
Birth certificate	Applicant’s long-form birth certificate that lists both parents’ names
Parent’s birth certificate	The parent’s birth certificate (the parent through whom you are claiming U.S. citizenship)
Parent’s marriage certificate	U.S. citizen parent’s marriage certificate (the parent through whom you are claiming U.S. citizenship)
Parent’s marriage termination documents	U.S. citizen parent’s marriage termination documents (the parent through whom you are claiming U.S. citizenship): Certified divorce decree; Annulment decree; Death certificate
Parent’s proof of U.S. citizenship	Provide at least one of the following document confirming your parent’s U.S. citizenship status: U.S. birth certificate (if parent was born in the U.S.); Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550); Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560); Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form DS-240); or Unexpired U.S. passport (biographic page)
Proof of legitimation	Required ONLY if you were born out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen father: Legitimation documentation from the country or state in which you legitimated. Learn more on USCIS website
Proof of legal and physical custody	Required ONLY if your US citizen parents divorced/separated, you were adopted or legitimated: Court order(s) Proof of residing with the parent Proof that US citizen parents is engaged in daily care of the child
Proof of child’s lawful permanent residence	Required ONLY if you are claiming US citizenship after birth: Child’s green card (front and back); Child’s stamped U.S. immigrant visa
Parent’s proof of physical residence/presence in the U.S.	School records Employment records (pay stubs, employment agreement) Lease agreement(s) Monthly utility bills U.S. military records Affidavits from churches, unions, or other U.S. organizations U.S. Social Security quarterly reports Affidavits from landlords, employers, neighbors, friends and family members who have personal knowledge of U.S. citizen parent’s residence and physical presence in the U.S.
Final adoption decree	Required ONLY if the child was adopted: Copy of full final adoption decree
Proof of legal name change	If the child has changed name(s): Court order
Secondary evidence	ONLY if the primary evidence is unavailable: Written explanation outlining why the primary evidence is unavailable and your attempts to obtain it and secondary evidence, such as: Baptismal certificate School record(s) Census record(s) Sworn affidavits of individuals who have personal knowledge of the event(s)
English translation	If any supporting documents are in a foreign language, provide certified English translation. Attach the photocopy of the original document in foreign language

Form N-600 processing time

Processing times of Form N-600 vary depending on several factors, including the workload at the specific USCIS field office processing the application and the complexity of the case:

USCIS field office	N-600 average processing time
Agana GU	24 months
Albany NY	17.5 months
Albuquerque NM	6.5 months
Anchorage AK	6.5 months
Atlanta GA	9.5 months
Baltimore MD	16.5 months
Boise ID	19 months
Boston MA	19.5 months
Brooklyn NY	14 months
Buffalo NY	12 months
Burlington VT	17 months
Charleston SC	14.5 months
Charlotte Amalie VI	12.5 months
Charlotte NC	7 months
Chicago IL	7 months
Christiansted VI	19.5 months
Cincinnati OH	5 months
Cleveland OH	5.5 months
Columbus OH	6.5 months
Dallas TX	7 months
Denver CO	20.5 months
Des Moines IA	5.5 months
Detroit MI	5.5 months
El Paso TX	16.5 months
Fort Myers FL	11.5 months
Fort Smith AR	7 months
Fresno CA	6 months
Greer SC	5.5 months
Harlingen TX	18 months
Hartford CT	9 months
Helena MT	6.5 months
Hialeah FL	7.5 months
Honolulu HI	14 months
Houston TX	7 months
Imperial CA	10 months
Indianapolis IN	7 months
Jacksonville FL	7.5 months
Kansas City MO	14 months
Kendall FL	14.5 months
Las Vegas NV	17 months
Lawrence MA	10.5 months
Long Island NY	9.5 months
Los Angeles CA	6 months
Los Angeles County CA	6.5 months
Louisville KY	6.5 months
Manchester NH	7 months
Memphis, Tennessee	8.5 months
Miami FL	15.5 months
Milwaukee WI	15 months
Minneapolis-St. Paul MN	27.5 months
Montgomery AL	33.5 months
Mount Laurel NJ	13.5 months
Nashville, Tennessee	15 months
Newark NJ	14.5 months
New Orleans LA	18 months
New York City NY	8.5 months
Norfolk VA	23 months
Oakland Park FL	17 months
Oklahoma City OK	7.5 months
Omaha NE	22 months
Orlando FL	22 months
Philadelphia PA	24.5 months
Phoenix AZ	17 months
Pittsburgh PA	5.5 months
Portland ME	10 months
Portland OR	20.5 months
Providence RI	5.5 months
Queens NY	20 months
Raleigh NC	6 months
Reno NV	27 months
Sacramento CA	12 months
Saint Louis MO	6 months
Salt Lake City UT	10.5 months
San Antonio TX	9.5 months
San Bernardino CA	7 months
San Diego CA	14 months
San Fernando Valley CA	4 months
San Francisco CA	13.5 months
San Jose CA	8 months
San Juan PR	8 months
Santa Ana CA	15.5 months
Seattle WA	21 months
Spokane WA	23 months
Tampa FL	10 months
Tucson AZ	15.5 months
Washington DC	15.5 months
West Palm Beach FL	6.5 months
Wichita KS	23 months
Yakima WA	21 months

To check the most current processing times for Form N-600:

Visit the USCIS website at https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times
Choose “Form N-600”
Choose your USCIS field office. You can find your USCIS field office by entering your physical address ZIP code: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices (scroll down to the bottom of page, “Field Office Locator”)

Keep in mind that processing times are general estimates, and individual cases may take less or more time to complete.

Additionally, USCIS may issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) during the processing of your application, which can add to the overall processing time.

It’s crucial to respond promptly and thoroughly if you receive an RFE to avoid delays.

If your case is outside the normal processing time, you place an Outside Normal Processing Time e-Request or request assistance from your local congressman’s office.

Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document