"Citizen of the United States of America" is a highly coveted title around the world, and people make a lot of sacrifices to get to the United States, and to stay there. The process is not difficult, but it takes time and dedication. If you already have your green card, this article will show you the most common paths to follow to obtain US citizenship, and we really hope you will succeed. Keep reading!
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Method One: Naturalization with Green Card
Step 1. Become a permanent resident
If you have held a green card for at least five years, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply for naturalization:
- You must be 18 or older.
- You will need to hold a green card. For at least five years before the date of filling in Form N-400, the formal Request for Naturalization.
- You will need to have lived in the United States for at least three months. Before submitting the form, you must have lived in a residence under the jurisdiction of the United States or one of its territories for at least three months.
- You will need to have been a resident of the United States without interruption. For the five years prior to the delivery date of the N-400 form, you must have lived in the United States without interruption for five years with a green card.
- You must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of these 5 years.
- You will have to stay in the United States. When you apply for naturalization, you must reside in the United States without interruption until naturalization occurs.
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Learn the language and history.
To become a naturalized citizen, you will need to be able to read, write and speak English. You will also need to know and understand the history of the United States and its government.
- You will have to be a good person. To become a citizen of the United States, you will need to be a person of good morals, who respects the principles of the Constitution, and contributes to the well-being and happiness of the United States.
Method 2 of 4: Method Two: Marry a United States Citizen
Step 1. Meet the basic requirements
You can be a candidate for naturalization under Section 319 (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) if:
- You have been a permanent resident (with a green card) for at least three years.
- You were married to the same US citizen during this time.
- You meet all other eligibility requirements in this section.
Step 2. Meet the general eligibility requirements
To apply for citizenship, you will need to:
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Be at least 18 years old.
There are no exceptions to this rule.
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Be in possession of a green card.
You will need to hold a green card. For at least five years before the date of filling in Form N-400, the formal Request for Naturalization.
- You will need to have lived in the United States for at least three months. Before submitting the form, you must have lived in a residence under the jurisdiction of the United States or one of its territories for at least three months
- You will need to have been a resident of the United States without interruption. For the three years prior to the delivery date of the N-400 form, you must have lived in the United States without interruption for three years with a green card.
- You must have been physically present in the United States for at least 18 months of these 3 years.
- You will have to stay in the United States. When you apply for naturalization, you must reside in the United States without interruption until naturalization occurs.
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Learn the language and history.
To become a naturalized citizen, you will need to be able to read, write and speak English. You will also need to know and understand the history of the United States and its government.
- You will have to be a good person. To become a citizen of the United States, you will need to be a person of good morals, who respects the principles of the Constitution, and contributes to the well-being and happiness of the United States.
Step 3. Spouse of a US citizen employed overseas
Typically, the spouse of a U. S. citizen who is employed by the government and works overseas, such as in the military, may be eligible for naturalization under Section 319 (b) of the INA, if his spouse has worked abroad for at least one year.
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Typically, the spouse of a U. S. citizen employed overseas will need to be present on U. S. soil to obtain permanent residency at the time of application and naturalization, and meet all previous requirements, except:
- A specific period of uninterrupted green card residence is not required (but the spouse must be a permanent resident).
- There is no specific period of continuous residence or physical presence in the United States.
- A specific period of marital union is not required; however, the spouses must live in marital union.
- Note: You can also determine that you will be leaving overseas immediately upon naturalization, and that you intend to reside in the United States upon completion of your spouse's overseas employment.
- For more information on naturalization for spouses of United States citizens, click on this link.
Method 3 of 4: Method Three: Enlist in the Army
Step 1. Citizenship for members of the military
Members and some veterans of the U. S. military may be eligible for naturalization through their military service, under Sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). In addition, the INA guarantees the possibility of posthumous naturalization according to section 329A.
Step 2. Meet the requirements:
generally, a person who has served honorably in the US military at any time may be eligible under section 328 of the INA, and the requirements for naturalization may be decreased or ignored in such cases.
Step 3. Naturalization in a time of peace
Generally, a person who has served honorably in the US military at any time may be eligible for a "peacetime naturalization" under section 328 of the INA. To request it, you will need to:
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Be at least 18 years old.
There are no exceptions to this rule.
- Have served honorably in the US military for at least a year, and if you have been discharged from the military, you must have been honorably discharged.
- Be a permanent resident at the time your application is reviewed.
- Be able to read, write and speak basic English.
- Learn about the history and government of the United States.
- Having been a person of high moral skills for all relevant periods under the law.
- Respect the principles of the Constitution, and contribute to the well-being and happiness of the United States.
- Have been a resident of the United States continuously for at least five years and have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of those five years, prior to the filing date of the application, unless you submitted the application while you were still on duty or within six months of the leave. In the second case, you will not have to meet the residency and physical presence requirements.
Step 4. Naturalization in times of hostility
Generally, members of the military who have served honorably for any length of time during specific periods of hostility (see below) are eligible for naturalization under Section 329 of the INA. To apply for citizenship, you will need to:
- Have served honorably and actively, or as a member of the Reserve Choice Reserve, for any period of time during a specified period of hostility and, if discharged, honorably discharged.
- Have been legally admitted as a permanent resident at any time after enrollment, or have been physically present in the United States or certain territories at the time of enrollment.
- Be able to read, write and speak basic English.
- Learn about the history and government of the United States.
- Having been a person of high moral skills for all relevant periods under the law.
- Respect the principles of the Constitution, and contribute to the well-being and happiness of the United States.
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There are no minimum age requirements for applicants for citizenship according to this section. The designated periods of hostility are:
- April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918
- 1 September 1939 - 31 December 1946
- 25 June 1950 - 1 July 1955
- February 28, 1961 - October 15, 1978
- 2 August 1990 - 11 April 1991
- 11 September 2001 - present
- The current period of hostility, which began on September 11, 2001, will end when the President of the United States issues an Executive Order.
- Note: Current members of the military who meet the requirements for naturalization under INA sections 328 or 329 can proceed with their application, whether they are in the United States or overseas.
- The naturalization process for those who have served in the military is quick. The United States government uses all available resources to speed up the response to the demands of the men and women who serve in the military. For more information, click here.
Method 4 of 4: Method Four: Citizenship Thanks to Parents
Step 1. Automatic citizenship at birth
Generally, the right of citizenship at birth is conferred under the following conditions:
- Both parents are US citizens at the time of birth And parents are displaced at the time of birth, and at least one parent lived in the United States or controlled territories prior to birth.
- One parent is a US citizen at the time of birth, the birth occurred after November 13, 1986 And the parents are married at the time of birth, and the U. S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States or controlled territories for at least five years prior to birth, including at least two years after the age of fourteen.
- One parent was a U. S. citizen at the time of birth, birth occurred before November 14, 1986, but after October 10, 1952 And the parents were married at the time of birth, and the US citizen parent was physically present in the US for at least ten years prior to birth, including at least five years after the age of fourteen.
Step 2. Automatic citizenship after birth but before age 18
Generally, the right of citizenship is conferred before the age of 18 under the following conditions:
- The child is under 18 or not yet born before February 27, 2001 And at least one parent is a US citizen, the child is currently under the age of 18, and resides in the US in the physical and legal custody of a US citizen parent.
- The son was under the age of 18 between December 24, 1952 and December 26, 2001 And the child resided in the United States as a Green Card holder and both parents were naturalized before the child's 18th birthday, or:
- If one of the parents died, the surviving parent was naturalized before the child was 18 years old.
- If the parents have legally separated, the parent who has obtained physical and legal custody of the child has been naturalized before the child's eighteenth year of age.
- If the child was born out of wedlock and paternity was not proven by law, the mother was naturalized before the child's 18th birthday.
- Note: The order of completion of the conditions does not matter if the child meets all the conditions before the age of eighteen.
Step 3. The child has been adopted
If the child was adopted by a U. S. citizen parent And the child legally resides in the United States in the physical and legal custody of the U. S. citizen parent and meets the following conditions after February 27, 2001 but before his 18th birthday:
- The adoptive parent adopted the child before his or her sixteenth birthday (or, in some cases, 18 years of age), obtained legal custody of the child and resided for at least two years with the child, or:
- The child was admitted to the United States as an orphan (IR-3) or Conventional adoption (IH-3) and his adoption was completed in full overseas.
- The child was admitted as an orphan (IR-4) or Conventional adoption (IH-4) in the United States following an application for adoption, and the child's adoptive parents completed the adoption before the age of eighteen.
- For more detailed information on citizenship through parents, click here.
Advice
- Citizenship test examiners will ask questions from a list of 100 questions on US history and government. You will need to answer the questions verbally or in writing. You can learn the answers to these questions on the net.
- Make sure you know how to carry on a conversation in English before the test. Practice talking about the weather, asking someone how they are doing, etc. This will show that you are able to interact with other people in English.
- Make sure you memorize all the information you entered on the N-400 form. You will need to know your permanent residence number and the departure and arrival dates of any trips you have made outside the United States after becoming a permanent resident. In addition, you will need to be able to provide the reasons for the trip. You will be asked questions about this information, so it is very important to know it perfectly.
- When you become a citizen, it is a good idea to register with the electoral register and get your passport quickly.
- Do not give up! Adjusting to life in the United States is a difficult undertaking but not without benefits. If you work hard and get help, you will be able to become a citizen!
- It is very important to read, understand and be able to explain the "Oath of Allegiance" in your own words. You may be asked for it during the exam. You can get help from a civics teacher.
- For a list of N-400 related forms and addresses, visit the USCIS N-400 Application for Naturalization page.
