[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56643-56644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24803]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2282-03]


Introduction of Revised Form N-600 and New Form N-600K

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) announces 
implementation of the revised Form N-600, Application for Certificate 
of Citizenship, and a new Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and 
Issuance of Certificate under Section 322. These two forms have 
replaced the previous edition of Form N-600 as well as Form N-643, 
Application for Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted 
Child, and Form N-600/N-643 Supplement A, which have been withdrawn.

DATES: This notice is effective October 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Casale, Business Process and 
Reengineering Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 425 
I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 514-0788.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Public Law 106-395, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, enacted on 
October 30, 2000, provides that foreign-born children residing in the 
United States who meet certain specified requirements acquire United 
States citizenship automatically. This process replaced prior laws that 
required such children to obtain citizenship through an application for 
naturalization. Public Law 107-273, enacted on November 2, 2002, 
prescribes procedures by which children born of or adopted by a United 
States citizen parent and residing abroad may be naturalized under 
section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), on the 
application of their U.S. citizen legal guardian or grandparent. Since 
these laws made important changes in eligibility requirements and 
procedures, it became necessary to amend the application forms by which 
qualified children may apply for naturalization or obtain documentary 
proof of U.S. citizenship.
    To reflect these statutory changes the CIS revised Form N-600, and 
developed a new Form N-600K. The revision and the new form were 
approved for use by

[[Page 56644]]

the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    The revised Form N-600 and new Form N-600K have replaced the 
previous Application for Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an 
Adopted Child, Form N-643, as well as Form N-600/N-643 Supplement A, 
Application for Transmission of Citizenship Through a Grandparent.
    Accordingly, this notice advises the public that only the current 
Form N-600 bearing the edition date of November 15, 2002 or later, is 
the correct form on which to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship. In 
addition, the new Form N-600K, bearing an edition date of April 30, 
2003 or later, is the only correct form on which to apply for 
naturalization benefits for a child under section 322 of the Act.
    As of October 31, 2003, only the November 15, 2002 or subsequent 
editions of Form N-600 will be valid for the purpose of filing an 
application for a certificate of citizenship, and only the April 30, 
2003, or subsequent editions of Form N-600K will be valid for the 
purpose of filing an application for a certificate of citizenship under 
section 322 of the Act.

Correction of Stated Filing Fee

    The current printed editions of Form N-600 and Form N-600K bear 
revision dates of November 15, 2002 and April 30, 2003, respectively. 
The instructions on these forms display a fee amount of $195.00 for a 
Form N-600 or Form N-600K filed on behalf of anyone except an adopted 
child, and $155.00 if filed on behalf of an adopted child. Those 
amounts were based on a fee adjustment rulemaking pending at the time 
the revisions were made. Clearance of the anticipated fee adjustment 
rulemaking has been delayed and, as a result, until further notice, CIS 
has adjusted the filing fees to be as follows. For a Form N-600 or Form 
N-600K filed on behalf of anyone except an adopted child, the correct 
fee is $185.00. For a Form N-600 or Form N-600K filed on behalf of an 
adopted child, the correct fee is $145.00.

Grace Period for Filing Previous Editions of Applications for a 
Certificate of Citizenship

    Form N-600 applications bearing the earlier edition date that are 
mailed, postmarked or otherwise filed on or before October 31, 2003 
will be accepted for the purpose of establishing a filing date for a 
certificate of citizenship. However, any applicants who are subject to 
the amended eligibility requirements of the current laws may be 
required to complete and submit either additional information or a 
valid current Form N-600 or N-600K without additional fee, as 
appropriate, in order to complete the processing of their application. 
After October 31, 2003 no Form N-600 application bearing an edition 
date earlier than November 15, 2002, will be accepted for processing by 
CIS.
    Form N-643 applications that are mailed, postmarked or otherwise 
filed on or before October 31, 2003 will be accepted for the purpose of 
establishing a filing date for a certificate, if the applicant 
continues to be eligible under the current law. Any applicants who are 
subject to the amended eligibility requirements of the current laws may 
be required to complete and submit either additional information or a 
valid Form N-600 or N-600K without additional fee, as appropriate, in 
order to complete the processing of their application. After October 
31, 2003 no Form N-643 will be accepted for filing at CIS Field 
Offices.
    Beginning October 31, 2003, any outdated editions of the Form N-600 
application and any Form N-643 received by the CIS will be returned to 
the applicant with instructions to submit a current application form.

How Can Applicants Obtain the Current Edition of Form N-600 or Form N-
600K?

    Applicants can obtain copies of the current Form N-600 or N-600K by 
calling the CIS Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676. The current edition of 
Form N-600 or N-600K also can be viewed and printed electronically from 
the CIS Web site at http://www.bcis.gov.

    Dated: September 15, 2003.
Eduardo Aguirre,
Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
[FR Doc. 03-24803 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
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