Today’s FYI Friday covers form N-565, and specifically when it can and cannot be used in regards to certificates of naturalization and citizenship. Although it can be used to correct some errors on a Certificate of Naturalization, it cannot be used to correct a date of birth incorrectly listed on an N-400 and later sworn to. We should all take care to be sure that the date of birth listed on N-400 Application for Naturalization forms is correct.
Form N-656, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, is used to apply to USCIS for a replacement of a:
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- To apply for a special certificate of naturalization to be recognized as a U.S. citizen by a foreign country
You may file Form N-656 for a replacement if:
- You were issued a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship which was lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated
- You were issued a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship which is incorrect due to typographical/clerical error by USCIS
- Your name was changed by marriage or by court order after the document was issued and you seek a document in your new name
- You received your Certificate of Citizenship and afterwards you obtained a court order or a state-issued document that changes your date of birth and you seek a certificate with the new date of birth
- You were issued a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization and your change of gender is legally recognized through a court order, a government-issued document, or a medical certification
- You are a naturalized citizen seeking a special certificate of naturalization for the purpose of a foreign country recognizing you as a citizen of the United States
Important Notes:
- USCIS will not change a name without evidence such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. USCIS will not change a date of birth on a Certificate of Citizenship without documentation such as a U.S. court order or state-issued documents
- USCIS cannot make any changes to an incorrect date of birth on a Naturalization Certificate if you reported an incorrect date on your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and then later swore to the facts of your application by providing your signature on the N-400 at your interview