Child citizenship

[Stan67]

I have petitioned for my foreign wife and her adopted daughter who is 11 years old now (both are UK citizens). Assuming that they both get their green cards, what happens if the daughter turns 18 but her mother hasn’t gotten citizenship yet? Can she still get her citizenship and on what basis?

[newacct]

If her mother does not become a citizen (take the oath) by her 18th birthday, the daughter will have to apply for naturalization by herself as an adult (by filing N-400) if she wants, which she can do as soon as she turns 18, if she meets the requirements for naturalization (e.g. having been a permanent resident for 5 years, etc.).

Alternately, if you adopt her, she may automatically get citizenship through you after being in your custody for 2 years, if she is still under 18.