Lawful permanent residents (people who hold green cards) will qualify to become citizens of the United States after a period of years in that status. This process is called “naturalization” and involves making an application to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services on form N400. The requirements vary depending upon the age of the applicant, the number of years spent as a permanent resident, and whether the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen.
An applicant for citizenship must have been a lawful permanent resident for five years, have been of “good moral character” for that period of time, and have been physically in the United States for at least half of that time. If he is married to a U.S. citizen, he can apply if he meets these same requirements for just three years (the marriage must exist during the three years and the spouse must be a citizen for all three years as well).
An applicant appears for an interview with an immigration officer and must pass a test of U.S. government and history, and an English test. Certain long-time permanent residents who are over certain ages may be able to have the English test waived. Also, those applicants with health problems preventing them from taking the tests may have those waived. Following a recommended approval of the application by USCIS, the applicant takes a citizenship oath, which is the moment that citizenship is formally acquired.
There are many important benefits to U.S. citizenship. Citizens may vote and hold public office (except naturalized citizens cannot become president). With respect to immigration, a U.S. citizen may sponsor parents, spouses, and minor children for rapid immigration. He or she may also sponsor adult children (both married and unmarried) as well as siblings for immigration that will take longer. Permanent residents whose immediate family is waiting to immigrate might speed their arrival by becoming U.S. citizens. Also, U.S. citizens whose children are about to turn 21 may lock in the child’s age for immigration purposes by sponsoring that child before his or her 21st birthday.
Most people are able to attend the citizenship interview by themselves. However, we generally recommend that anyone who has a criminal history at least consult with an attorney prior to applying for citizenship. Many offenses will not disqualify an applicant, but it is important to realize that people can be charged with deportability based on crimes that may have happened decades in the past. A fingerprint check will reveal any criminal history during the application process. A knowledgeable attorney can identify these issues before an application is filed.
We strongly encourage all immigrants to become U.S. citizens if they are eligible. It’s never too early to start studying, even if you are not eligible right now. USICS has materials available at: www.uscis.gov/citizenship.
