
Three-Month Timeline for N-600 Approval: Key Success Factors
N-600s Approved in Three Months: How We Did It—and How You Can, Too
Our clients recently received Certificates of Citizenship (Form N-600) in roughly three months from filing—proof that with the right strategy, USCIS can move fast. While processing times vary by field office and workload, a clean, decision-ready packet often makes the difference.
Who should file N-600
File N-600 to obtain proof of U.S. citizenship for a person who acquired or derived citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent under INA §§ 320/301. This is different from naturalization (N-400); with N-600, you’re proving citizenship that already exists by law.
What we included (approval-ready essentials)
- Legal theory up front: A one-page roadmap citing the exact statute (e.g., INA § 320 for automatic citizenship after admission as an LPR, before age 18, in the legal and physical custody of a U.S. citizen parent).
- Identity & status proofs: Birth certificate, passport biopage, I-551/I-94 history, name change orders.
- Parent’s citizenship: U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate.
- Custody & residence: Court orders, school records, leases, tax returns listing the child, affidavits documenting co-residence and care.
- Translations & consistency check: Every date aligned across forms, DS/USCIS records, and civil documents.
Speed boosters that help
- Correct filing fee, latest form edition, and legible scans (if e-filed where available).
- Cover letter with tabs and a succinct table of exhibits.
- Proactive evidence resolving common RFEs (e.g., custody for separated parents, adoption decrees, legitimation in out-of-wedlock births, or proof of the U.S. citizen parent’s physical presence when required for acquisition at birth).
- Expedite-worthy factors (school enrollment, travel, federal employment onboarding) documented and requested through the proper USCIS channels.
Common pitfalls
- Filing N-600 when the facts fit N-400 instead;
- Missing legal/physical custody proof for derivative citizenship;
- Overlooking step-parent limits (step-parents do not convey citizenship absent a legal adoption).
After approval
You’ll receive a Certificate of Citizenship—a lifetime, primary proof document. Next, apply for a U.S. passport and update SSA records. We map eligibility, assemble the statute-matched evidence, and keep packets RFE-proof—so your N-600 can be one of the three-month success stories.


