4 Things to Do After Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Apply for a U.S. Passport

When you become a U.S. citizen at your oath ceremony, USCIS officials will provide you with a Certificate of Naturalization. While this is an important document, you won’t be able to use it for travel. It’s also not a very practical document for proving you are a citizen in other situations.

You’ll need to apply for a U.S. passport after naturalization. This process may take a few weeks. Therefore, make any travel plans accordingly. When applying for your U.S. passport, you must submit your original Certificate of Naturalization and a photocopy. The State Department will return your original certificate.

As a first-time applicant, you must apply in-person. Many U.S. post offices have personnel that can help you through the process. Depending on your local area, other public offices like libraries may have resources to help with receiving the application. To download passport forms and to find a passport acceptance facility near you, visit https://travel.state.gov.

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Get Your Child a Certificate of Citizenship

Generally, your children will automatically become citizens once a parent naturalizes. However, there are still some actions you should take.

If you have a child who is a lawful permanent resident under the age of 18 on the day you naturalize, he or she generally derives citizenship based on your naturalization.

You may apply for the child’s U.S. passport at the same time as your passport. But it is also important to have proof of when your child acquired citizenship. Documentation that provides evidence of how and when a person obtained U.S. citizenship is sometimes necessary for certain benefits. For example, replacing a lost passport later in life will require a Certificate of Citizenship. Updating Social Security records also necessitates this documentation.

To obtain evidence of your child’s U.S. citizenship status, file Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.

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Update Your Social Security Record

Maintaining an accurate Social Security record is important for obtaining employment, collecting future benefits, and receiving other government services. Take the time to inform the Social Security Administration of your new status as a U.S. citizen.

In order to update your Social Security record, you must visit an SSA office in-person. They recommend that you wait at least 10 days after your ceremony. Be prepared to show them your Certificate of Naturalization or your U.S. passport.

When you are hired for a job, your employer can enter your SSN into a U.S. Department of Homeland Security web-based system, E-Verify, to determine your eligibility to work in the United States. If you fail to update your record, the inaccurate information could impact the information your employer receives about your work eligibility. To find a Social Security office near you, visit ssa.gov.

Register to Vote

Much of America’s success as a nation can be credited to its democratic style of government. That means citizens have a voice and can influence power through voting. Your perspective as an immigrant is important. Voting in federal elections is both a right and a responsibility that comes with U.S. citizenship.

It’s likely that officials will provide you with a voter registration application at your naturalization ceremony after you take the Oath of Allegiance. If not, you may register to vote at a variety of locations in your community such as post offices, motor vehicle offices, county boards of election, and offices of your state Secretary of State. You may be able to register in-person or by mail.

For more information on registering to vote, visit the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s website at eac.gov.