Understanding Form N-400: Part 11 Information About Your Children
I. Introduction
A. Explanation of Form N-400
Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, is a crucial document for individuals seeking to become naturalized citizens of the United States. Issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it serves as a formal request for citizenship. This comprehensive form requires detailed information about the applicant’s personal background, residency, and family details.
B. Purpose of Part 11: Information About Your Children
Part 11 of Form N-400 focuses on gathering specific details about the applicant’s children. It aims to collect comprehensive information on all children, irrespective of various factors such as current status, location, age, marital status, and their relationship to the applicant.
II. Overview of Part 11
A. Importance of Providing Information About Children
Inclusion of children’s details in Part 11 is crucial for understanding an applicant’s family structure and complying with legal requirements. Omitting any child from this section may complicate the naturalization process, highlighting the significance of providing accurate and complete information.
III. Explanation of Part 11 Questions
Indicate Your Total Number of Children
This question requires the total count of all children, irrespective of their current situation. It includes children alive, missing, or deceased, born in the United States or other countries, and those with varied marital statuses and living arrangements.
Provide Information about All Your Children Listed in Item Number 1
For each child listed in Item Number 1, comprehensive information is necessary:
- Indicate your total number of children. This question requires you to provide the total count of all your children, regardless of their current status or situation. This includes children who are alive, missing, or deceased, born in the United States or in other countries, under 18 years of age or older, currently married or unmarried, living with you or elsewhere, stepchildren, legally adopted children, and children born when you were not married. It’s crucial to list all children to ensure completeness in the application.
- Provide the following information about all your children (sons and daughters) listed in Item Number 1, regardless of age. For each child listed in Item Number 1, you must furnish the following details:A. Child’s Information:
- Current Legal Name: Family Name (Last Name), Given Name (First Name), Middle Name (if applicable)
- A-Number (if any): USCIS Alien Number, if the child has one
- Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy): Child’s date of birth
- Country of Birth: The country in which the child was born
Current Address:
- Street Address: Number and Name of the street
- Apt./Ste./Flr. Number: Apartment, Suite, or Floor number (if applicable)
- City or Town: City or town name
- County: County name
- State: State name (if in the United States)
- ZIP Code + 4: ZIP code along with the additional 4-digit extension
- Province or Region, Postal Code, Country: Information for foreign addresses
Relationship to You:
- What is your child’s relationship to you? Specify the relationship between the child and the applicant (e.g., biological child, stepchild, legally adopted child)
Each child listed in Part 11 requires all these details to ensure comprehensive and accurate information is provided for USCIS review.
IV. Example Persona: Maria González from Mexico
Fictional Persona Details:
- Maria is a 45-year-old woman residing in the U.S. for 20 years.
- She is applying for U.S. citizenship and has three children from her previous marriage, all born in Mexico.
Children’s Information:
- Child 1:
- Name: Juan González
- A-Number: A123456789
- Date of Birth: 05/10/1995
- Country of Birth: Mexico
- Current Address:
- Street Number and Name: 123 Main Street
- Apt./Ste./Flr. Number: Apt 435
- City: Anytown
- County: Los Angeles
- State: California
- ZIP Code + 4: 90210-1234
- Province or Region (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Postal Code (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Country (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Relationship to Maria: Biological child
- Child 2:
- Name: Sofia González
- A-Number: A987654321
- Date of Birth: 08/22/1998
- Country of Birth: Mexico
- Current Address:
- Street Number and Name: 456 Oak Avenue
- Apt./Ste./Flr. Number: Apt 435
- City: Othertown
- County: Dallas
- State: Texas
- ZIP Code + 4: 75201-5678
- Province or Region (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Postal Code (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Country (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Relationship to Maria: Biological child
- Child 3:
- Name: Carlos González
- A-Number: A567891234
- Date of Birth: 11/30/2005
- Country of Birth: Mexico
- Current Address:
- Street Number and Name: 789 Maple Lane
- Apt./Ste./Flr. Number: Apt 435
- City: Anycity
- County: New York
- State: New York
- ZIP Code + 4: 10001-9876
- Province or Region (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Postal Code (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Country (foreign address only): Not Applicable
- Relationship to Maria: Biological child
How the Information Fits into Part 11 of Form N-400:
Maria would list her children according to the provided details in Part 11, ensuring comprehensive and accurate information for USCIS review.
V. Filing Fee Information
A. Explanation of Filing Fees for Form N-400
- Filing fee: $640, with an additional $85 biometric fee in applicable cases, totaling $725.
- Payment is required to process the naturalization application.
B. Payment Options and Procedures
- Online filing allows payment online.
- Mail filing accepts payment via money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card using Form G-1450.
- Payments are non-refundable, even if the application is withdrawn or denied.
C. Exceptions to Filing and Biometric Fees
- Applicants aged 75 or older pay only the $640 filing fee.
- Military applicants under specific INA sections are exempt from both filing and biometric fees.
