What are the 6 qualifications for U.S. citizenship? (2023)

What are the qualifications to become a United States citizen?

In general, you may qualify for naturalization if you are at least 18 years old and have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen) and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Be of the minimum required age (typically, at least 18) Continuously and physically live in the United States as a green card holder for a certain number of years. Establish residency in the state or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) district where they intend to apply. Have “good moral character”

You have been convicted of or admitted to a crime involving moral turpitude, such as fraud. You spent 180 days or more in jail or prison for any crime. You committed any crime related to illegal drugs other than a single offense involving 30 grams or less of marijuana.

Total time to naturalize: 18.5 months to 24 months

Completing your application right the first time — and getting started on the process as early as possible — is also crucial to a successful naturalization process.

Your tax returns are very important proof that you are eligible for naturalization. On the day of your interview, bring certified tax returns for the last 5 years (3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen).

With some exceptions related to age, length of time as a resident, and illness, it is necessary to speak English in order to become a US citizen.

What Is the Easiest Way to Become a US Citizen? Applying for a green card is the most common way most people begin the process of becoming a United States citizen. Citizenship through naturalization is traditionally how most immigrants become U.S. citizens.

A Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551)

Although some Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, contain no expiration date, most are valid for 10 years. If you have been granted conditional permanent resident status, the card is valid for 2 years.

You might lose your U.S. citizenship in specific cases, including if you: Run for public office in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Enter military service in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Apply for citizenship in a foreign country with the intention of giving up U.S. citizenship.

The background and security checks include collecting fingerprints and requesting a “name check” from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). In addition, USCIS conducts other inter-agency criminal background and security checks on all applicants for naturalization.

Can I be rejected citizenship?

Every year, an average of 2,000 applicants were refused for failing the Citizenship Test. Considering you will need to get 75% on the test to pass, it is highly advisable that you study the official materials that are available for applicants.

Any individual who has been convicted of an aggravated felony is permanently barred from obtaining citizenship or naturalization. Examples of aggravated felonies include: Drug trafficking.

A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.

Travel Abroad After Applying for Citizenship

Submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization will not affect your ability to travel abroad. Just because you're trying to become a naturalized citizen, it doesn't mean you're not allowed to travel anymore. After all, you are still a permanent resident.

3 Years of Continuous Residence. The spouse of a U.S. citizen residing in the United States must have continuously resided in the United States as an LPR for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application and up to the time of the Oath of Allegiance.

The U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) is not responsible for making sure you pay your taxes. However, many U.S. federal government agencies share information about people.

Immigration officials want to know that you have the financial fortitude to support the immigrant in the United States so that they do not become a public charge and financial burden to the government. That is why they want to see how much money you have in the bank to support yourself and any visa recipients.

$1,170. You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier's check. When filing at a USCIS lockbox, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

You will receive special consideration in the civics test if: You filed your application when you were 65 years or older. You have lived in the US for 20 years or more as a permanent resident (green card holder)

What happens if you fail the U.S. citizenship test?

If an applicant fails any portion of the English test, the civics test, or all tests during the initial naturalization examination, USCIS reschedules the applicant to appear for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination.

The fastest way of getting a second passport is participating in the St Kitts and Nevis or Vanuatu citizenship by investment program. The obtaining period is 2 months. In Vanuatu, it's easier to pass the Due Diligence check, but a St Kitts and Nevis passport provides more benefits.

It is hard because of the long processing times, the financial and personal costs involved, and the fact that most immigrants do not have a direct relative that is a citizen of the United States. The requirements of U.S. citizenship are also complex and may not be understandable to some immigrants.

Easy Countries To Get Citizenship by Descent

Italian citizenship by descent is one of the easiest to obtain. You may be eligible for citizenship if you have Italian heritage. To acquire citizenship, you must have an ancestor who was a citizen of Italy on March 17th, 1861 or was born in the country after that.

US citizens can travel without a visa to more than 170 countries worldwide. Because of this, many places have extended the same privilege to holders of the US permanent residence permit (Green Card).

You are eligible to receive federal benefits such as social security or education assistance. Permanent residents may apply for government-sponsored financial aid for education. Additionally, green card holders are entitled to in-state or resident tuition rates at certain colleges and universities.

If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you may leave the United States multiple times and reenter, if you do not intend to stay outside the United States for 1 year or more.

Dual Citizenship or Nationality

Dual citizenship (or dual nationality) means a person may be a citizen of the United States and another country at the same time. U.S. law does not require a person to choose one citizenship or another.

If you have gone through the naturalization process and receive your certificate, then it doesn't matter that you are divorced. You are a citizen. Citizenship is revoked only in very rare circumstances, such as committing fraud to obtain citizenship.

Introduction. Immigration law is rarely cut-and-dry, but in this case the answer is clear. A US citizen—whether he or she is born in the United States or becomes a naturalized citizen—cannot be deported.

What are 4 ways to become a citizen?

The four routes available include; citizenship by Naturalization, Citizenship by Marriage, citizenship through your parents and citizenship through the military. The U.S citizenship application process is complex, with each route having its own set of specific requirements.

Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws. Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others. Participate in your local community. Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.

In order to be naturalized, an applicant must first meet certain criteria to apply for citizenship. Then, the applicant must complete an application, attend an interview, and pass an English and a civics test. Upon successful completion of these steps, the applicant takes an oath of allegiance, and becomes a citizen.

$1,170. You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier's check. When filing at a USCIS lockbox, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

An applicant who does not qualify for a waiver of the English requirement must be able to communicate in English about his or her application and eligibility for naturalization. An applicant does not need to understand every word or phrase on the application.

What 5 things should one expect at a naturalization ceremony?

Naturalization is the process in which people who were born outside of the United States become U.S. citizens. Through the process of naturalization, you are granted lawful permanent residency from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To qualify for a green card, however, the applicant will need to fulfill other eligibility requirements, including the following examples: They must have physically lived in the United States for at least three years since receiving a U visa.

Luckily, there are various paths to U.S citizenship that immigrants could be eligible for. The four routes available include; citizenship by Naturalization, Citizenship by Marriage, citizenship through your parents and citizenship through the military.

A typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.