The citizen parent(s) of an adopted child must file a Form N-643, Application of Certificate of Citizenship in Behalf of an Adopted Child.  The child is not a citizen of the United States until the Form N-643 is approved, the oath of allegiance is administered and the certificate of citizenship is issued all of which must occur prior to the child’s 18^th birthday.  Parents should apply for citizenship of their adopted child immediately so the child may enjoy full participation in the life as a citizen, such as travel on a U.S. passport, eligibility for benefits and scholarships, and freedom from the immigration laws of the U.S. 

For a U.S. citizen parent to file for his or her foreign-born adopted child’s citizenship, the following conditions must exist:

• At least one parent is a citizen of the United States, whether by birth of naturalization;
• The child is physically present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission;
• The child is under the age of 18 and in the legal custody of the citizen parent;
• The citizen parent adopted the child before the child reached the age of 16 and the child is the beneficiary of an approved I-600.

The Form N-643, Application for Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child, must be submitted with the following documentation:

• Child’s Alien Registration Card;
• Child's Birth Certificate;
• Final Adoption Decree;
• Three identical, unglazed photographs of the child taken within 30 days of filing the application;
• Submit evidence of the name change if the child's name has been legally changed since entry if not included in adoption decree;
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship of adoptive parent(s);
• Marriage certificate of adoptive parents;
• Previous marriages -- if either of the adoptive parents has been married previously, submit evidence of termination of all prior marriages;
• The fee of $125 is payable by personal check, money order or cashier's check to the INS at the time application is sent. Some offices accept only money orders or cashier's checks.

All documents which are in foreign language, must be submitted by translation in English.  The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate. 

Applications must be filed at the local Service office having jurisdiction over the applicants place of residence.