World Journal Weekly Q & A - November 23, 2008

Q & A 1.


Q&A 1.

I Lost My Naturalization Certificate - How Can I Get a Replacement and Apply for My Wife?

Li reader asks:

I registered my marriage to my wife in July 2008 and now I am helping her to apply her conditional green card. I am an U.S. citizen and have my U.S. passport. However, I lost my citizenship certificate. How can I apply for a replacement? Which department should I file my paper? What other documents do I need?

I was born in Taiwan in 1950s by a midwife at home and I had no birth certificate. Can I use my household registration issued by Taiwan’s household registration office instead?

Dear reader:

You can apply for a replacement of your document by submitting form N-565 application for replacement naturalization/citizenship document to one of two U.S.C.I.S. service center with jurisdiction over your place of residence. The filing fee is currently $380. Generally individuals in the Eastern and Southern states send applications to the Texas Service Center, and those from the Western and Midwestern states send them to the Nebraska Service Center. The Texas Service Center address is:

Post Office box:

DHS/U.S.C.I.S.
Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851182
Mesquite, Texas 75185-1182

Private courier:

USCIS
Texas Service Center
4141 North St. Augustine Rd.
Dallas, TX 75227

The Nebraska Service Center address is

Post Office box

DHS/U.S.C.I.S.
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87565
Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-7565

Private courier
USCIS
Nebraska Service Center
850 S. Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-1225

You should attach a copy of your naturalization certificate if you still have such although such is not required for initial filing. You should also submit two identical color photographs of yourself with white to off-white background, which have been printed on thin paper with a glossy finish. The passport type photos must be 2 in. by 2 in.. Please note also that you can file an I-130 petition for relative petition on behalf of your wife with a U.S. passport instead of a citizenship certificate.

A household registration issued by Taiwan's household registration office is recognized as prima facie evidence of birth by the U.S. government. You should be able to use your household registration to show proof of birth.

 

Copyright © 2003-2008 Alan Lee, Esq.
The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of the Law Office of Alan Lee or establish an attorney-client relationship.