Dealing With INS

Re “The INS: Too Much to Do,” editorial, Aug. 11: My recent experience in dealing with both the INS and the State Department confirms the observations and conclusions of your editorial.

An elderly aunt, whose SSI benefits were about to be terminated by the Social Security Administration, needed proof of derivative citizenship acquired through naturalization of her parents while she was a minor. She had previously applied to the INS for a certificate of citizenship, but her file could not be located. A new application would take one to two years for processing.

With the deadline set for Aug. 15 by the Social Security Administration, we applied to the State Department (Passport Office) for a passport, submitting all her documentary proof with her passport application. Within a few short weeks the Passport Office sent her a U.S. passport, documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

MARIANNE FRENZNICK

Desert Hot Springs