A foreign national wishing to fully integrate into society in the United States may need to apply for U.S. citizenship. Obtaining U.S. citizenship affords a beneficiary several rights and privileges such as the ability to vote, hold a U.S. passport, and help their children obtain citizenship.
There are a few ways in which you can receive U.S. citizenship and those are:
- U.S. Citizenship by Birth
- U.S. Citizenship through naturalization
- U.S. Citizenship by marriage
Becoming a U.S. Citizen By Birth
You can become a U.S. citizen as long as you are eligible. There are three ways to get U.S. citizenship through birth and they are:
- You were born in the U.S. or certain countries that are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S.
- You were born to parents who are American citizens
- One or both of your parents previously got U.S. citizenship through naturalization. That means that if your biological or adoptive parents originally were foreign citizens but then became U.S. citizens before they turned 18 years of age
If in case none of these ways mentioned above are not applicable to you, you will need to go through the naturalization process to get U.S. citizenship.
Who Qualifies for U.S. Citizenship?
Applicants are eligible for U.S. citizenship through naturalization when they can:
- Prove that they have a good command of English language
- Demonstrate good moral character
- Provide supporting evidence that shows they have been living in the U.S. as a permanent resident for a minimum of five years prior to filing their naturalization application
- Show that they have lived at least thirty months in the U.S during five years
- Verify that at least three months have been spent in the same state or USCIS district
- Pass a test evaluating their knowledge of U.S. culture and history
- Can make an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S
How to Become a U.S. Citizen By Naturalization
Naturalization is known as the process in which an individual born in a foreign country chooses to become a U.S. citizen and it is the most used approach to becoming a U.S. citizen. If a person meets eligibility requirements when applying for U.S. naturalization, they can then start the application process.
When applying for naturalization an applicant will need to file a Form N400, pay the application fee and include supporting documents. After submitting the application USCIS will issue a notice to determine if a fingerprinting appointment is necessary. Failure to follow steps may result in a delay or denial of naturalization.
Applying for U.S. Citizenship Through Marriage
Under U.S. immigration laws foreigners who are married to U.S. citizens can apply for U.S. citizenship after three years of living in the U.S. as permanent residents. To qualify for this shorter period of time the foreign spouse must have spent three years residing in the U.S. with his U.S. citizen spouse.
How Best Can An Immigration Attorney Help
An immigration lawyer can assist by weighing out which option is best for the applicant. Contact Gambacorta Law Office at 1-847-786-2599, for an immediate consultation.