N-600K Citizenship for Children Living Abroad: When a U.S. Citizen Parent Can Apply

Some children who live outside the United States may be able to obtain citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent or qualifying grandparent. Form N-600K is used for a specific citizenship path, and it should not be confused with a passport application or the standard N-600 process.

Eligibility usually turns on the child's age, lawful admission for the required appointment, the U.S. citizen parent's status, physical-presence history, custody, and whether a grandparent's presence can be used. The facts must be organized before filing.

Families should gather birth certificates, proof of the parent's U.S. citizenship, custody records, marriage or divorce documents, physical-presence evidence, school records, tax records, and passport pages. Missing proof of presence is one of the most common planning problems.

Because timing can matter before the child turns 18, families should review N-600K early. New Horizons Legal helps parents and grandparents map physical-presence evidence and prepare citizenship filings for children living abroad.