Anyone who is born in the United States is automatically a citizen under the 14th Amendment. So one question I get asked a lot, how do I become a citizen if I were not born in the United States. In this post, I will discuss citizenship through naturalization. So, here’s all you need to know about naturalization.
What Is Citizenship Through Naturalization?
Naturalization is the process under which a United States lawful permanent resident becomes a citizen of the United States. There are many requirements for eligibility for naturalization. These include:
- Be a lawful permanent resident for a certain period, which depends on the way you received your permanent residence, and it varies between three and five years
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a person of good moral character, which means that you do not have any disqualifying factors like arrests or convictions
- Meet the physical presence requirements, which is usually half of the statutory period. An absence from the United States between six and twelve months might prevent you from applying.
- Must demonstrate proficiency in the English language and United States civics
- Must be willing to take the oath of allegiance
How Long Does It Take To Get Citizenship Through Naturalization?
To become a naturalized United States citizen, you should file form N-400 with United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). The Service now allows an applicant to file the form online, which, in my opinion, is a better way to file. Online filing allows you to track the case and receive notices automatically and decreases the chances of notices being lost.
The current processing times varies because of the pandemic. You can go to americandreamlawoffice.com and check you case status online.
Is Naturalization And Citizenship The Same?
Naturalization is the process that leads to citizenship. Think about this like a bridge. Permanent residence will be the first stop and naturalization will be the body of the bridge that leads you to the destination, which is citizenship.
Checkout our Naturalization resources on the website. As always, call us at (888) 991-3336
to schedule a strategy session.
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