[Aidensparents]

Does anyone know if there is a way to find out the status of your COC? we filed for ours at the beginning of I think December. We know they got it because we got the receipt where they signed for it but we have gotten nothing saying they are looking at it or anything else. I have heard that it can take months to receive it but I would at least like to know they are processing it or what they are doing.

[cborsa7]

Yes, you can go to uscis.gov and look under processing times. If you filed to Nebraska expect over a year to receive. They are currently on February. We filed in August.

[pvanabel]

What documents all need to be submitted with the N-600? Should we send passport type photos along? How many? We came home on an IR-4.

[DPline]

pvanabel - Here is the list

passport photos - Child
Birth Certificate – Child (Guatemalan BC)
Marriage Certificate -Parents (if applic)
Divorce decree –Parents (if applic)
Proof of US citizenship - Parents (state BC for each parent or COC if parent was born abroad)
Proof of Legal custody - Child (Protocolo)
Permanent Resident Card (Green card) - Child
Proof of required US residence - Parents
Final adoption decree - Child w/Parents (readoption paperwork)
Evidence of legal name change - Child (& Parent if applicable)

Also ANYTHING in SPANISH, must have the ENGLISH translation copy included, like the Protocolo, etc

You'll have to check the instructions with the N600 for how many photos.

Aidensparents - Did you file the N600 or the N565? If it was the N565, which Service Center?

[Aidensparents]

filed the N-600 and sent it to Indianapolis

[DPline]

I checked the USCIS site and the Indianapolis office does not list an email or phone number contact. You can try the general USCIS customer service number (1-800-375-5283) but I suspect that they won't be any help as it has been such a short time.
Honestly I would expect a year and be pleasantly surprised if it is sooner. N600 processing is typically slow and local offices are typically slow. Buffalo and the TX Service Center seem to be the only ones who are quick about anything.

edited to add: Just dug around and found the processing times for that office. N600 just says 6 months. https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processT...do?type=office

[dance_muffin]

Kelly, thanks for posting. I didn't know I could check on the status of our COC. I did check today, and Unfortunately the office that I sent it to, is currently working on Jan. 08. I submitted it in July 08; so it looks like it may 6 more months of waiting. Bummer!

[pvanabel]

I am confused. We can't get her a ss# until we have her coc correct? Wow - that is a lot of documents to send.
Okay - so proof of name change - what document to we use there?
Do we send in the originals or copies? Do we get originals back?

[Aveasmom]

oKAY NOW i HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TOO.

What is the permanent resident card. (Green card) Far as I know we haven't gotten one of these. unless it has a different name.

Is the Proof of required residence our Drivers license?

Final adoption decree Childw/ Parents Readoption paperwork) ? What if we can't readopt in our state?

And finally How do we know which form to fill out? The N600 or the N565? We visited twice?

Thanks for any info you can give me

[cborsa7]

Aveasmom - If you visited twice then you were a IR-3 visa and an N-600 (IR-4) does not apply to you. If you are just changing a name on her COC you file the N-565. You only have a green card if you were IR-4.


pvanabel- You can still get a SS# with a green card you are just listed as a legal alien until you get a COC. If you were IR-4 you need to complete the re adoption process for your state which will include the name change for the N-600.

[pvanabel]

I went to ss office and they said they could only issue her a ss card in her name on the permanent resident card, which is not her forever name. We had her new BC from our state and all guata paperwork and they said they needed an official document from homeland security office in order to file - does that sound right? We did a re-adoption in our state which gave us the new birth certificate..I am confused what we need to do next.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by pvanabel

I went to ss office and they said they could only issue her a ss card in her name on the permanent resident card, which is not her forever name. We had her new BC from our state and all guata paperwork and they said they needed an official document from homeland security office in order to file - does that sound right? We did a re-adoption in our state which gave us the new birth certificate..I am confused what we need to do next.

Your readoption paperwork should show that a legal name change has taken place and that should be acceptable to SSA as far as issuing the SS# in her new legal name. As Cborsa7 can attest to though, different SSA offices make up their own rules! Your daughter would still be listed as a legal resident until you can show a COC in her new legal name, but they can issue the number.

(The readoption is what actually establishes citizenship for a child who entered the US on an IR4 visa, but SSA can not determine citizenship status from readoption paperwork. They must see a COC. But any child, regardless of visa type, can get a SS# from the day they enter the US.)

Cborsa7 can weigh in on this as well, but personally I would start by trying another office. Explain the situation that her name was legally changed as part of the readoption process and show the paperwork to prove it. If they refuse, get the number in her Guat name because you will need it for tax purposes all to soon. After you have filed the N600 and got her COC, you can go back and update her name and citizenship status. It is rather annoying to have to do it, but really isnt' a big deal. I got numbers for both of my children within days of them coming home. In their Guat names. Because we need it for insurance purposes and there was a six month waiting period to change their names. I then went back after we got their COC's and updated their status. And later their names. Both easy other than the waiting in line.

Hope that helps!

[DPline]

Originally Posted by pvanabel

I am confused. We can't get her a ss# until we have her coc correct? Wow - that is a lot of documents to send.
Okay - so proof of name change - what document to we use there?
Do we send in the originals or copies? Do we get originals back?

You can send copies. They do have the right to ask for origionals if they so choose, but with the N600 send copies.

As far as the proof of name change, what ever it is in your readoption paperwork that shows her legal name change. This is going to vary by state and even county.

As far as the number of things, they are all things you would most likely have in the house and just need to be photocopied.

[cborsa7]

Yes, that is exactly what happened with our son at SS office as well. If they took your information at that office, going to another office won't work. Once you are in the system with them that office has to take action for your case. After contacting our government officials we found that they can indeed refuse to issue the card as a citizen until you apply for a new COC in the new name. They do not have to accept the original COC when the name has been changed. At this point you will need to wait out the COC and change the immigration status and name once receiving this. Let's just hope this will go smoothly once the new COC is in hand.

Just noticed you are IR-4, yes, if you have no COC yet this is the process. You MUST have proof of citizenship.

Wondering if this is a new ploy to make people get a revised COC now.

[debhorner04]

DD came home in May on an IR-4 visa. We readopted her in NJ in July and legally changed her name. In August, SS told me they are the only govt. agency not to recognize her as a US citizen until we have the COC. We could get a ss# in her name on the permanent resident card (even though we had the paperwork for a legal name change.) . We hoped that the COC would somehow be processed quickly-------unfortunately that didn't happen. We just went back to SS to get a ss# for tax purposes. Another person there told me the same thing. Her ss# is issued in the name on her permanent resident card. Once the COC comes in, we can change her name and status on the card. It took less than 2 weeks to get the ss card.