Applying for Citizenship for an Adopted Child

In general, any kid who arrives to the United States as the adoptive of a U.S. citizen immediately becomes a U.S. citizen if the adoption is finalized before the child reaches the age of 18.

There are a few exceptions to getting your child’s Certificate of Citizenship right away:

If your kid is between the ages of 14 and 18 when they enter the United States, they must swear and sign an oath of loyalty to the United States in order to earn a Certificate of Citizenship.
If your kid is at least 18 years old when he or she reaches the United States on an immigrant visa, the USCIS will mail him or her a Green Card. Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is necessary for your kid to become a citizen of the United States. The applicant must have been a permanent resident alien for a minimum of 5 years and have lived in the United States for half of that time, have good moral character, be able to speak, read, and write English, and have a basic understanding of American government and history.
If your kid has not established residence and is not a citizen of the United States, they must be resident in the United States to acquire a Certificate of Citizenship.
If your kid arrived in the United States before to January 1, 2004, you may apply for a Certificate of Citizenship using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship. The USCIS lacked the capacity to provide proof for children who arrived before 2004. The legislation went into force on February 27, 2001.