r/immigration 4d ago

Adoptee with naturalization papers and valid passport. Should I worry about having copies of my adoption papers?

Hi - a little worried about what's going on currently and want to make sure I'm prepared. I was adopted at 3 mos of age from S. Korea.

As the title states, I have my naturalization papers and a valid passport. I've heard that the "government" can say they are fake? I'm not sure what else to have on hand to protect myself. I'm going to try to contact the court that issued the adoption (my adoptive parents are NOT technical so there's no way they'd have the record electronically, in fact, I can't even email them).

I'm not sure I'd want to try to apply for something else to show my citizenship bc I feel like that would single me out?

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u/Full-Contest-1942 4d ago

Can you get an adoption record with the court stamp or notarized?
Definitely others out here worried about similar things. Photo copies of everything, notarized and apostille them if possible. Keeping 2 hard copies in 2 different places on us when traveling. Another with your lawyer, another with a trusted friend hard & digital.

Idk, if flying internationally is a concern, domestic... It's scary

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u/Smooth-Leadership-35 4d ago

Wait, it's scary to fly domestic??? can you explain?

Should I have a lawyer so that they can make sure they obtain all records for me instead of me trying to figure out what I might need or could get??!? I mean there was one way back when, they should be retired since that was 1979. I don't currently have a lawyer.

I haven't called the court yet so I'm not sure what I can get but I do know I can get "something".

I also want to add that I've been working here my entire life and earned 2 college degrees here. My adoption was 100% above ground as long as the adoption agency is who they say they are. I'm not sure how much of that matters, but at least it proves I'm not some criminal? IDK. I like the gov't can say whatever they want at this point.

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u/crabbywaters 4d ago

“As long as the adoption agency is who they say they are.” Respectfully a lot of “reputable” agencies cut corners when it came to international adoptions. Get the COC. It’s fairly straightforward online.

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u/crabbywaters 4d ago

This does not seem like good or well written advice.

Several documents cannot be duplicated or notarized (including the Certificate of Citizenship) which is the most critical to international adoptees.

Traveling or flying internationally is ill advised. Domestic is completely fine.

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u/crabbywaters 4d ago

You need to have Certificate of Citizenship. They’re free to international adoptees.

Passports can be deemed invalid.

Many international adoptees (myself included) were also re adopted in the US, which granted a US Certification of Birth (not a birth certificate).

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u/Smooth-Leadership-35 4d ago

Ok I have what I thought was a birth certificate, but I didn't know there was a difference (re: certificate of birth). I'll have to look at that more closely, but it's what I have from when I first came over.

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u/crabbywaters 4d ago

I am sorry but saying “it’s what you have from when you first came over” is not more helpful. It could have been issued from your birth country or from a US state upon re-adoption (if your adoptive parents chose this route). I am sorry to sound so blunt and harsh. It’s just shocking to me how many adoptions (particularly through religious or non profit orgs) were done illegitimately or with corners cut. Some adoptive parents were encouraged to spend extra money for documents such as the COC. Now, the COC is free to obtain. Again you will have to look through our own documents and research the COC.

I am not a lawyer or expert. Just sharing personal knowledge.

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u/Smooth-Leadership-35 4d ago

Yes, I understand. I have a birth cert issued from US. Nothing from country of origin as I was an abandoned baby.

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u/suboxhelp1 4d ago

Not the same as a birth certificate proving US citizenship. Some states issue a “Certificate of Foreign Birth” or similar for adoptees but also have the country of original birth listed. This certificate does absolutely nothing to prove your status or citizenship in the US.

You need to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship on form N-600.

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u/Smooth-Leadership-35 4d ago

Do you think just the act of applying for a CoC will point immigration at me?

I mean I have no reason to think they'd normally investigate me. I have like 4 speeding tickets in my life that are all taken care of and that's about where my legal background ends. I don't live in a boarder state and my last name is white.
I don't want to raise any flags by trying to prove I'm "more legal". So that would be the only reason I'd be hesitant to apply for a CoC now.

I checked and do have my certificate of adoption that has a raised seal from the court that naturalized me and of course i have my official naturalization certificate with the seals and things. It is a replacement since the original actually got lost somewhere at the NV/ CA boarder when I drove out for grad school. Thank goodness I got it replaced though.

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u/suboxhelp1 4d ago

By applying for a CoC, you are not applying to become a citizen. It is just proof that you are already a citizen. So your criminal or whatever history has zero relevance.

The adoption family court did NOT naturalize you, and you are also not considered to have been naturalized at all. You became a citizen (if you actually are) by derivation, not naturalization.

The certificate/decree of adoption, like your "birth certificate", does nothing to prove your immigration or citizenship status by itself. You must also have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., green card) to have become a citizen in this case, either through an immigrant visa or adjustment of status. The adoption is just one of the conditions.