Three Ways You May Already Be a Citizen of the United States
While the process of becoming a citizen of the United States is frequently a long and difficult one, there are some people who may already be US citizens without realizing it.
There are four ways in which an individual can gain US citizenship:
- Be born in the United States or any of its territories
- Be born to a parent who is a citizen of the US
- Completion of the naturalization process
- For minors, your parent’s completion of the naturalization process
These rules are usually quite exclusive, but some people may have met the qualifications without even realizing it. For example, you may already be a citizen without realizing it if:
- Your parents became naturalized citizens of the United States while you were living with them as a minor, and you had a valid green card at the time. In such a situation you automatically “derived” citizenship through your parents.
- You have a direct ancestor you were previously unaware was a US citizen. All children of US citizens automatically “acquire” citizenship through their parents, and thus you may have acquired citizenship already.
- You were born in the United States, but have lived abroad for most of your life. Many people mistakenly believe that US citizenship expires if you do not live in the country for an extended period, or have voted or served in the military elsewhere. This is untrue.
If you have questions or concerns about the status of your United States citizenship, an experienced attorney can help.
Contact Us
Citizenship rules and regulations can be complex and confusing, but the experienced and knowledgeable Orange County immigration lawyers of Garg & Associates, P.C., have the answers you are seeking. Call today at 949-540-6704 for assistance with any of your immigration needs.
