# Certificate of Citizenship for Your Internationally Adopted Child

If your child was admitted into the United States with an IR-3 or IH-3 visa, but has not yet received his or her Certificate of Citizenship and it has been more than 60 days since the date of entry into the United States, please write to:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Buffalo Field Office (CCA Unit) 306 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202

Or you may email childcitizenact@uscis.dhs.gov

You can also read our fact sheet, Automatic Certificate of Citizenship for IR-3 and IH-3 Visas (PDF, 92.85 KB), for more information.

If your child’s name legally changed after his or her entry into the United States, you may file Form N-565, Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document to request a new Certificate of Citizenship with your child’s new name. Follow the form instructions to file this application.

You have two options for filing your Form N-565 with USCIS: online or by mail(paper).

To file your Form N-565 online you must create an online account. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Applicants will be required to mail their original certificates and photos, if applicable, to the Nebraska Service Center after they file their applications online electronically through their online account.

Even if you mailed us your form, you can still create a USCIS online account to track and manage your case online.

When you submit your Form N-565 through the mail, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account. We will continue processing your application even if you choose not to access your online account. We will also continue to send you copies of notifications about your case by mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Be sure to include the proper fee and evidence of your child’s legal name with your Form N-565. You can find the filing fee for Form N-565 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Please note that certain fee waivers are available for adoptees.

Visit our contact center web page for more information.

*Note for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives:* If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all your clients’ applications in one place.

Your child’s name and date of birth on the certificate should be the same as the information on your child’s legal documents and the immigrant visa issued by the U.S. Department of State. Unless you have legally changed your child’s name or date of birth after your child entered the United States, we cannot issue a new Certificate of Citizenship with an alternate name or date of birth.

If the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS made a clerical error, notify the USCIS Buffalo Field Office’s Child Citizenship Act Unit.
                    - If you notify the Buffalo Field Office  within 10 business days  after the Certificate of Citizenship was postmarked, we will issue a new, corrected certificate at no cost to you.

Please write to:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Buffalo Field Office (CCA Unit) 306 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202

or email childcitizenact@uscis.dhs.gov
                    - If you do not notify USCIS Buffalo Field Office  within 10 business days  of the date the Certificate of Citizenship was postmarked, then you must file  Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document  with a written explanation of the error. Mail the Form N-565, the original Certificate of Citizenship, and two new passport-style photographs to the address provided in the  instructions for the Form N-565 (PDF, 261.78 KB) .

If USCIS made a clerical error, you will not have to pay a fee. However, if the information on the Form I-600, Form I-800, or visa shows that the child’s legal name and/or date of birth is the same as indicated on the Certificate of Citizenship, we cannot issue a corrected certificate. You can find the filing fee for Form N-565 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Please note that certain fee waivers are available for adoptees.

You have two options for filing your Form N-565 with USCIS:
                    - online or
                    - by mail (paper).

To file your form N-565 online you must create an online account. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Applicants must mail their original certificate and photos, if applicable, to the Nebraska Service Center after they file their applications online electronically through their online account.

Even if you mailed us your form, you can still create a USCIS online account to track and manage your case online.

When you submit your Form N-565 through the mail, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account. We will continue processing your application even if you choose not to access your online account. We will also continue to send you copies of notifications about your case by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

Note for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives: If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all of your clients’ applications in one place.

If your child’s date of birth has been changed, such as by a state court order, after their entry into the United States, you may file Form N-565, Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document.

You have two options for filing your Form N-565 with USCIS:
                    - online or
                    - by mail (paper).

To file your form N-565 online you must create an online account. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Applicants must mail their original certificate and photos, if applicable, to the Nebraska Service Center after they file their applications online electronically through their online account. You can find the filing fee for Form N-565 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Please note that certain fee waivers are available for adoptees.

Even if you mailed us your form, you can still create a USCIS online account to track and manage your case online.

When you submit your Form N-565 through the mail, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account. We will continue processing your application even if you choose not to access your online account. We will also continue to send you copies of notifications about your case by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

Note for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives: If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all of your clients’ applications in one place.

If your child was found to be ineligible for an automatic Certificate of Citizenship, you may be eligible to file one of the following forms:
                    - Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
                    - Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322
                    - Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

You generally have two options for filing your Form N-400 with USCIS:
                    - online or
                    - by mail (paper).

If you are applying from outside of the United States or are applying for a fee waiver or reduced fee, you cannot file your Form N-400 online. Please see section 2 or 3 below for how to file your form by mail. You can find the filing fees for Form N-600, Form N-600K, and Form N-400 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Please note that Form N-600 and Form N-600K are fee exempt for certain adoptees.

Otherwise, you must create an online account in order to file your Form N-400 online. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - View personalized case completion date estimates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Note for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives: If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all of your clients’ applications in one place.

If your child’s Certificate of Citizenship is lost or destroyed, you may file Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.

You have two options for filing your Form N-565 with USCIS:
                    - online or
                    - by mail (paper).

To file your form N-565 online you must create an online account. Having an online account will also allow you to:
                    - Pay your filing fee online;
                    - Check the status of your case;
                    - Receive notifications and case updates;
                    - Respond to requests for evidence; and
                    - Manage your contact information, including updating your address.

Applicants must mail their original certificate and photos, if applicable, to the Nebraska Service Center after they file their applications online electronically through their online account. You can find the filing fee for Form N-565 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. Please note that certain fee waivers are available for adoptees.

Even if you mailed us your form, you can still create a USCIS online account to track and manage your case online.

When you submit your Form N-565 through the mail, you will receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account. We will continue processing your application even if you choose not to access your online account. We will also continue to send you copies of notifications about your case by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

Note for Attorneys and Accredited Representatives: If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can also create an online account, which will allow you to manage all of your clients’ applications in one place.

Even if your children entered the United States together, their visa packets may have been separated during the certificate preparation process. When will mail each child’s Certificate of Citizenship separately. Please allow up to 60 days from the date of entry into the United States to receive all your children’s certificates from the USCIS Buffalo Field Office.

Children ages 14 and over must take the Oath of Allegiance before receiving their Certificate of Citizenship. A local USCIS field office will mail a separate notice with instructions on how to schedule your child to take the Oath and receive the Certificate of Citizenship.

Please allow at least 60 days for your local field office to contact you. If you have not received an appointment notice within 60 days, please visit our contact center web page for more information.

04/01/2024

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