what does it take to be a citizen of the us

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Becoming a U.South. citizen is a dream for many, and there are unlike methods to achieve that. Nigh people will first employ to get a legal permanent resident and and so become a naturalized citizen. Nevertheless, you lot can also gain citizenship through marriage, your parents, or military machine service. If y'all have questions about becoming a citizen, contact an chaser who specializes in U.S. clearing constabulary.

1. i

   Obtain a green card. Before y'all can become a naturalized citizen, you need to become a legal permanent resident. This is called getting your "green card." You can get a green card in the post-obit ways:^[ane]

   • Greenish carte du jour through your family unit. A family member in the United States tin can sponsor you. If your family member is a U.S. citizen, and so they can sponsor their spouse, unmarried children under twenty-one years of age, and parents. They tin can also sponsor siblings, married children, and unmarried children over twenty-one years of age.
   • Greenish card through your task. If you lot have an offer of permanent employment, you lot are eligible to petition to get a green carte. Others with exceptional ability tin can petition themselves and don't need an employer to sponsor them.^[two]
   • Green card as a refugee or asylum seeker. Refugees and aviary seekers in the United States for 1 year may petition for a green bill of fare.

2. ii

   Satisfy residency requirements. You need to live in the The states for a certain amount of fourth dimension earlier you apply for naturalization. Bank check that you satisfy the following:^[3]

   • You must have been lawfully admitted into the U.S.
   • You must demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for at least v years immediately before you file for naturalization. For instance, if you want to utilize in January 2018, you must have been a resident since January 2013.
   • You must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least thirty months during those 5 years.
   • You must prove yous have lived for at least three months in the state or USCIS commune where you utilise.

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3. iii

   See personal requirements. Y'all must also run into certain personal requirements, such as the following:^[4]

   • Y'all must exist at least eighteen years old when yous file your application to become naturalized.
   • You should exist able to speak, write, and read in English language. Yous will take to pass an exam to demonstrate your proficiency in the language.
   • Yous must be a person of good moral character. Essentially, this means you are an upstanding member of society who works, pays their taxes, and doesn't suspension the law.^[5]

4. four

   Submit your naturalization application. Download Course Northward-400, Application for Naturalization, and either type the requested data or print neatly in black ink. Be certain to download and read the instructions ahead of time.^{[half dozen]}

   • You lot will have to submit supporting documents along with your application. Read the instructions to observe out what to supply. For example, you must supply a re-create of your permanent resident card.
   • Every bit of June 2017, the filing fee is $640. You also need to pay a biometric service fee of $85. Make your cheque or money club payable to "U.South. Department of Homeland Security." Don't use other initials.
   • To notice out where to file, call 1-800-375-5283.

5. 5

   Give biometrics. Most applicants will need to give their fingerprints, photograph, and signature. USCIS volition notify you if you practise. They will send a notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment.^[7]

   • Your fingerprints will be sent to the FBI for a background check.
   • Make certain to pick up your study booklet to prepare for your English language and civics tests.

6. 6

   Ready for your tests. Yous'll nourish an interview, where a USCIS officer will question you about your background and application. You will also take your English and civics exam at the interview. You lot should prepare for the tests advisedly.

   • Remember most attention an English or citizenship grooming class. To find your nearest form, visit this website: https://my.uscis.gov/findaclass.
   • You tin also take practice civics tests, which are available online.^[8]

7. seven

   Attend your interview. Y'all volition receive notice in the mail telling you the date and time for your interview. At the interview, you volition take the English language and citizenship tests. If you speak English well plenty in the interview, you might non need to sit the English language exam.^[9]

   • Gather required documents ahead of time. A checklist should be sent to you (Course 477).^[10]

8. 8

   Swear an oath. The last step is to swear the Oath of Allegiance. You'll receive Form 455, which will tell yous where and when to take the oath. You must answer the questions on the back of this form and review them with an officer when you attend your naturalization ceremony.

   • At the finish of the anniversary, you will receive your document of naturalization.^[11]

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1. 1

   Obtain a green menu through your spouse. Your spouse should submit Form I-130, Petition for Conflicting Relative to USCIS. Your spouse will need to submit proof of the spousal relationship, such as a matrimony certificate.

   • If you're already living in the U.S. afterward entering legally, then you lot tin can adapt your status at the same time. Complete and submit Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Condition. Your spouse can submit this form forth with Grade I-130.
   • If you're currently living outside the U.S., then yous'll need to wait for your visa to be approved. You'll attend an interview at the nearest embassy or consulate.^[12] One time admitted into the U.S., you can adjust your status by filing Form I-485.

2. ii

   Talk well-nigh your marriage in an interview. The U.Southward. regime is worried about sham marriages, and then you tin can expect to attend an interview where an official will ask personal questions. Common questions include the following:^[thirteen]

   • Where did you meet your spouse?
   • How many people attended your hymeneals?
   • Who does the cooking and who pays the bills?
   • What did you practice for your spouse'southward birthday?
   • What forms of birth control practice yous use?

3. 3

   Satisfy the residency requirements. You tin't immediately use for naturalization after receiving your green bill of fare. Instead, you must meet the post-obit residency requirements:^[14]

   • You must have been a green carte holder for the iii years immediately before you utilise for naturalization.
   • Yous must take been a continuous resident for the three years before you lot apply and take been physically nowadays in the U.Southward. for at least 18 months.
   • You must have lived in a marriage with your U.S. citizen spouse during the 3 years. Your spouse must have been a citizen during the entire time.
   • You must have lived within the land or USCIS district for at least three months before you file your application.

4. iv

   Meet other personal requirements. In improver to residency, y'all need to evidence that you lot have other personal characteristics to exist eligible. Cheque that yous satisfy the following:^[fifteen]

   • You must be at least xviii years of age.
   • You must exist able to write, read, and speak English.
   • Yous need to exist a person of good moral graphic symbol. Generally, this means y'all haven't broken a serious law and that you run into your legal obligations, such as paying taxes and child support.^[xvi]
   • Y'all must accept entered the country legally. For example, you can't exist in the Us illegally and get citizenship only because you married a denizen.

5. v

   Submit your naturalization application. Once you have satisfied the residency requirement, y'all tin submit Form 400, Application for Naturalization. Download and read the instructions before completing the application, bachelor hither: https://world wide web.uscis.gov/n-400. When you are ready to file, call ane-800-375-5283 to discover out the address.

   • Read the instructions to notice out what documents you lot must submit forth with your awarding.
   • Make payment to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." As of June 2017, the filing fee is $640 and the biometric fee is $85. Y'all can pay using money order or bank check.

6. half dozen

   Give fingerprints. USCIS will send yous a notice telling you where to requite your fingerprints and when.^[17] USCIS needs your fingerprints so that the FBI tin run a background check.

7. 7

   Attend an interview. Yous'll need to see with clearing officials to get over your application. USCIS is looking to ostend that your application is legitimate and that nothing has changed since you lot submitted information technology. You'll receive a checklist of documents to take with you lot to the interview, so gather everything ahead of fourth dimension.

8. viii

   Take your tests. Yous must pass exams in civics and English. You will take them at your interview, and you should prepare as much as possible. For case, look to see if a grooming class is offered near yous for either test. You can find the nearest classes at this website: https://my.uscis.gov/findaclass. Enter your zip code.

   • Several practice civics tests are available here: https://my.uscis.gov/prep/exam/civics.

9. nine

   Attend your naturalization anniversary. The last step is to swear the Oath of Allegiance at your naturalization ceremony. Course 455 volition tell you when and where the ceremony volition accept place. At the terminate of the ceremony, you'll receive your certificate of naturalization.^[18]

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1. 1

   Be born to U.Southward. citizens. You will automatically get a U.S. citizen even if you are built-in outside the U.s. if both of your parents are U.S. citizens at the time of birth and are married to each other. At least one parent must have lived in the U.South. or a territory before the kid's birth.^[19]

2. 2

   Have 1 parent as a U.S. citizen. A kid can too automatically qualify as a U.S. citizen at birth if ane parent is a U.S. citizen, provided the parents are both married to each other. This parent must have been nowadays in a state or territory for at least five years in their life earlier the child is born.

   • The parent also must take spent at to the lowest degree ii of those years in a state/territory after they were aged fourteen.^[xx]
   • The child must have been born on or after November 14, 1986.
   • There are some other circumstances, which you can read about at the USCIS website.

3. 3

   Qualify fifty-fifty if your parents are unmarried. A child can automatically qualify as a denizen at birth if their parents are single. Consider the following situations:^[21]

   • The mother is a U.S. citizen at the fourth dimension of birth and the mother has been physically present in the U.S. or an outlying territory for at least ane year.
   • The genetic father is a U.Due south. citizen at the fourth dimension of nascence. The child's mother tin can be an alien. Nevertheless, yous must prove with clear and convincing evidence that the father is the child'southward biological begetter, and he must agree in writing to provide financial support for the child until they are eighteen years of age. The begetter too must have been living in the United states of america for a certain amount of fourth dimension.

4. four

   Earn citizenship after nascence. A kid tin can automatically qualify for citizenship if they were built-in after February 27, 2001 and run across the post-obit requirements:^[22]

   • One parent must be a U.S. citizen.
   • The child must be under eighteen years of age.
   • The child should reside in the The states.
   • The parent who is the U.South. denizen must have legal and physical custody of the child.
   • If the kid was built-in before February 27, 2001, and so different requirements apply.

5. 5

   Get a citizen by adoption. A child living legally in the U.Southward. with parents who have legal and concrete custody can become a citizen by virtue of their adoption. One of the post-obit conditions must be met:^[23]

   • The parents adopted the child earlier the child's sixteenth altogether and reside with the child in the U.Southward. for at least ii years.
   • Alternately, the child was admitted into the U.S. as an orphan (IR-3) or Convention adoptee (IH-3) and the adoption was completed outside the U.S. The kid must have been adopted earlier their eighteenth birthday.
   • The kid was admitted into the country as an orphan (IR-four) or Convention adoptee (IH-four) who arrived to be adopted. The child must have been adopted before their eighteenth birthday.

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1. one

   Exercise good moral character. Good moral character mostly means that y'all don't break the police force and you see all of your legal obligations, such every bit paying taxes and making kid support payments. If you lot have a criminal conviction, consult with an immigration chaser.

2. 2

   Testify noesis of English and U.S. civics. Members of the war machine must show that they can read, write, and speak English. They likewise must show knowledge of U.Southward. government and history, called civics.^[24]

   • You'll take to laissez passer exams in both English and civics. You tin detect information near the exams online.

3. 3

   Serve in peacetime. If you served in peacetime, you can apply for naturalization if y'all meet the following requirements:^[25]

   • Serve honorably for at least one year.
   • Obtain a green card.
   • File an application while withal in service or within vi months of separation.

4. iv

   Serve during wartime. The requirements are different if you are serving during a period of hostilities. The U.S. has currently been in such a catamenia since 2002, and it will last until the President designates that information technology is over. In this situation, all members of the military can immediately apply to get naturalized.^[26]

5. 5

   Employ for citizenship. Every installation should have a person to contact. They will usually be in personnel or the Approximate Abet General'due south Office. You volition need to complete Form N-400 and Class N-426.^[27] Contact them and receive a parcel of information. Your filing fee is waived.

   • USCIS has client service specialists who can respond questions from armed services members and their families. Call one-877-247-4645 Mon through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
   • Y'all can likewise email militaryinfo.nsc@dhs.gov.

6. 6

   Swear an adjuration. Before yous tin go a citizen, you lot must show attachment to the U.S. Constitution past swearing an oath of fidelity.^[28]

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Add together New Question

• Question

  Will I automatically become a US citizen if I marry a United states of america citizen?

  

  No. You still need to apply for U.s.a. citizenship. Marrying a US citizen will brand the process easier, however.

• Question

  How long does it take to get citizenship?

  

  Bold you lot are a permanent resident of the U.South. for at least five years, the procedure takes anything from 3 months to over a twelvemonth. Bank check with your local USCIS office, since processing times vary considerably. If you lot are married to a citizen, then it only takes iii years instead of 5.

• Question

  My kid was built-in hither. Practice I become a citizen besides?

  

  No, you do non automatically become a citizen.

• Question

  Tin can I join the Ground forces before I become a US citizen?

  

  Yep, y'all can join the army earlier yous become a U.Southward. citizen, every bit long as y'all have a light-green menu. Joining the ground forces too helps yous go a citizen, as you merely have to live one year in America instead of three.

• Question

  How many years can I live in the US before I have to take the citizenship exam?

  

  You can live in that location as long as you want, every bit long as you renew your green card. Y'all never have to become a citizen and have the exam, unless you want to become a citizen.

• Question

  If my dark-green menu is expired, can I apply to exist a U.Southward. citizen?

  

  No. If your greenish card has expired, you cannot. Merely if you lot apply 6 months before the expiration, you tin can apply for citizenship and no longer need a greenish card.

• Question

  I was married to a U.S. denizen but am now divorced. Can I all the same become a citizen?

  

  This depends on when you divorced. If y'all've been in the U.S. for five years, you lot yet qualify. However, you might be trying to authorize for early citizenship after 3 years based on your wedlock. In that situation, you must notwithstanding exist married to your spouse earlier your naturalization anniversary.

• Question

  Tin my parents become citizens if I become 18 or 21 and file for their papers?

  

  No, your parents must file their ain papers.

• Question

  My green carte du jour doesn't have an expiration date. Is it valid for citizenship?

  

  You don't have an expiration date because you lot have one of the older light-green cards from the early eighties. They don't elapse, they are permanent, that's why you lot only have an consequence date.

• Question

  Practice I need to be a US citizen if I want to go to college in the United states?

  

  No, just you will need to use for a student visa. The college you want to attend should be able to give y'all more information, and so I would recommend contacting them.

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• If you have criminal convictions, consult with an immigration attorney to see if you can pursue becoming a denizen.

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About This Article

Commodity Summary X

To get a US citizen, you must be eighteen or older, good in English, and a constabulary-abiding person. If you run across those requirements, one way you can try to go a green menu is by having a family member who's already a citizen sponsor y'all. Another way to become a dark-green menu is through your job if you have an employment offer. You lot besides can petition for a light-green card if you have been in the Usa for 1 year equally a refugee or aviary seeker. For more information on becoming a US citizen, including past birth or marriage, go along reading!

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