Check your Form N-600 for errors before you file

Requests a Certificate of Citizenship for someone who is already a U.S. citizen by birth abroad or automatically through a parent. A single blank field or wrong-edition page gets the whole package returned — and the $1,385 paper filing fee is generally non-refundable. Here is exactly what to verify on your completed N-600 before it goes to USCIS.

How do I check my N-600 for errors?

1. Confirm you have the current edition

USCIS accepts only the current edition of N-600 — filing a superseded version is an automatic rejection. The current edition is dated 01/20/25; the date is printed at the bottom of every page. All pages must come from the same edition. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

2. Verify every signature block

Unsigned or wrongly-signed forms are rejected outright. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or a digital e-signature (such as DocuSign) is not a valid signature on a paper filing; only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is accepted. An electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. (For Form N-600, a signature defect is a rejection, not a denial — N-600 and N-600K are the two forms the July 10, 2026 rule exempts from denial.) N-600 has 4 signature blocks to check:

3. Make sure no required section is incomplete

Leaving required fields blank (instead of writing “N/A” or “None”) is one of USCIS's most common rejection reasons. On N-600, pay special attention to:

• Part 1, Items 1-2: Eligibility: indicate whether the CHILD or the PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN is filing, and select EXACTLY ONE parent-child relationship box — USCIS WILL REJECT the N-600 if this is not selected
• Part 2, Items 1: Current legal name (as on birth certificate or legal name change)
• Part 2, Items 2: Name exactly as it appears on the Permanent Resident Card (if different)
• Part 2, Items 3: Other names used since birth (overflow goes in Part 11)
• Part 2, Items 4: U.S. Social Security Number (or N/A)
• Part 2, Items 6: Date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
• Part 3, Items 1-6: U.S. citizen parent’s information and citizenship evidence (acquisition vs derivation basis)

4. Check every date — format and consistency

Dates must be written mm/dd/yyyy and must agree with your supporting documents and any other forms in the package. The date fields that most often cause problems on N-600:

• Child’s DOB vs parent’s naturalization date vs LPR date — Automatic citizenship under INA 320 depends on the ORDER of these dates — inconsistencies are the core N-600 problem.
• Dates that must match the birth certificate and green card exactly — Mismatches with supporting records trigger RFEs.

5. Re-check the known N-600 filing problems

From USCIS's own instructions and guidance, these are the specific problems to rule out on N-600. Some get a filing rejected at intake; others surface later as a Request for Evidence or a denial:

• Part 1 relationship/filer box not selected — explicit USCIS rejection trigger
• Application not signed, or signed by the wrong person (child vs parent/guardian rules) (a typed, script-font, or digital/e-signature is invalid; N-600 signature defects are rejected, not denied)
• Wrong fee (check current G-1055 — N-600 has no fee for military filers)
• Claiming the wrong basis (acquisition at birth vs derivation through naturalization)
• Missing evidence of the parent’s U.S. citizenship or the parent-child relationship

Related

Form N-600 error check — frequently asked questions

How do I check my Form N-600 for errors before filing?

Work through the checklist on this page: confirm you have the current 01/20/25 edition, verify every signature block is signed and dated by the right person, make sure no required field is blank (write "N/A" or "None" instead), check every date is in mm/dd/yyyy format and consistent across your documents, and re-read the known problems below. Or upload your completed N-600 to FormGuard and get an automated line-by-line error report in about a minute for $39.

What problems most often hold up a Form N-600 filing?

Part 1 relationship/filer box not selected — explicit USCIS rejection trigger; Application not signed, or signed by the wrong person (child vs parent/guardian rules) (a typed, script-font, or digital/e-signature is invalid; N-600 signature defects are rejected, not denied); Wrong fee (check current G-1055 — N-600 has no fee for military filers); Claiming the wrong basis (acquisition at birth vs derivation through naturalization); Missing evidence of the parent’s U.S. citizenship or the parent-child relationship.

Which edition of Form N-600 is current?

The current edition of Form N-600 is dated 01/20/25. USCIS rejects forms filed on a superseded edition, so download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page matches.

What happens if my N-600 is rejected?

USCIS returns the entire package unprocessed and the $1,385 paper filing fee for N-600 is generally non-refundable — you correct the error, pay again, and lose weeks or months. That is why a careful pre-filing check is the cheapest step in the whole process.