Naturalized Citizen lost "papers" what are the options?

[GaTo]

Hey guys just like it states...

 

I have a friend who wants to cruise with me this august aboard the Valor.

 

She was born in Colombia but her family moved here when she was a child.

 

She is a naturalized Citizen but unfortunately over the years she misplaced her certificate and she never had applied for a passport. So she can't cruise with us.

 

Here's our dilemma i know she has the option of ordering a duplicate certificate but unfortunately that costs just shy of $400.00 to do so. Tack on the amount for the cruise and in the end it's not worthwhile to do it. (Though she has a color copy of the certificate she made on a copy machine a while back)

 

She has lived in New Jersey and Florida for over 10 years and she has a social security number, current drivers license number, and her birth certificate and is currently employed as a Paramedic.

 

Do you guys have any ideas that can help us out in this scenario?

[Chigirlcruzin]

Whether for this cruise or not, she needs to get a new certificate if she ever wants to travel outside the US! My advice would be to suck it up and pay the $400 even if she doesn't make the cruise with you.

[cherylandtk]

No, sorry. If she plans on ever being able to prove her citizenship, she needs to apply for that duplicate. AND she should know that she can only do it one time, so please let her know this is something she needs to be a lot more careful with. As in put in a safe-deposit box where it won't be misplaced.

 

In this day and age it is becoming increasingly necessary to be able to prove one's citizenship. REAL ID, WHTI, etc will be requiring it for many formerly routine day-to-day activities. Many states, including Florida*, require proof of citizenship to simply renew a Driver License. It won't be long before your friend will need that Naturalization Certificate. I am sorry she won't be able to cruise with you, but she needs to consider that her $400 will be well spent now, instead of in a rush later in order to keep her job or get a renewed DL.

 

*

http://hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqkeys.html#USC

[GaTo]

excellent point from the two of you... i thank you for the your help with this matter.

[G'ma]

Just like people who have lost their birth certificates, your friend is going to have to get a duplicate. They will not permit your friend to board the ship without proper documentation. Homeland Security is very strict with this.

 

Sooner or later she is going to have to replace those papers. She is REQUIRED to present them when asked by any government or state authority. Might as well just do it. She won't be allowed outside the country at any border without it.

 

Once she has the duplicate, she might consider purchasing a Passport.....