Qualifying to Apply for U.S. Citizenship
Naturalization is the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. Citizens of the U.S. have rights that other residents do not hold, including the right to vote, the right to participate in federal programs, the right to hold a U.S. passport, and certain security clearances. Before a person can begin the process of applying for U.S. citizenship, he or she must meet certain requirements. These requirements state that the person:
- Must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must have been a permanent resident for more than five years (or three years for those who obtained residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen) and resided in the U.S. for at least half of those years, with no absences lasting longer than six months.
- Must have resided for at least three months in the state where the petition for citizenship is filed.
- Must reside continuously within the U.S. from the date of filing the petition for citizenship until the time citizenship is granted.
- Must have a record of good moral character for the required years of residence.
- Must hold an elementary level of English literacy (with some exceptions).
- Must hold a general knowledge of basic U.S. government and history.
Other ways to attain U.S. citizenship include:
- Birth in the United States. Regardless of the status of parents, all persons born in the United States are legal U.S. citizens.
- Acquisition at birth. If one or both parents are U.S. citizens, a child born outside of the U.S. may attain U.S. citizenship at birth.
- Derivation through parents’ naturalization. When a child’s parents become naturalized, the child may also become a citizen.
Contact Us
For help with legal issues surrounding naturalization, contact the Orange County naturalization lawyers of Garg & Associates at 1-877-517-4275.
