Naturalization is the process by which an individual becomes a country citizen. For example, in the United States, all eligible citizens (a) can become naturalized citizens and (b) may do so after living in the country for three or five years. This guide will explain exactly what you need to know to help you decide whether it is right for you.
What is Naturalization?
Naturalization is the process of becoming a United States citizen. You must be able to speak, read and write in English, and have basic knowledge about the U.S. Constitution and history.
The USCIS will issue a naturalization certificate if it approves your application. You can then use the certificate as proof of citizenship when applying for a U.S. passport, jobs, buying property, or traveling outside the U.S., among other things.
Who can become a Naturalized Citizen?
To become a naturalized citizen, you must meet specific eligibility requirements. The requirements vary depending on your country of origin.
You must:
- Be at least 18 years old and be able to read, write, and speak in English.
- Provide proof of your legal permanent residence in the United States.
- You must spend more than half of your five-year period as a Permanent Resident in the United States. You must spend more than half of the three years living in the United States if you are a Permanent Resident and married to a country citizen.
- You are required to abide by American law. The phrase “good moral character” refers to this. Even if someone violates the law, they may still be able to obtain citizenship (depending on the kind of law the applicant broke). Read more about this here. A lawyer can explain this rule to you.
Things you need to know about U.S. citizenship
Anyone born in the U.S., regardless of their parent’s status, is a U.S. citizen.
Most legal scholars agree that if you are born outside of the United States, and your parents aren’t citizens at birth, you cannot automatically be considered a citizen.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. Some people can apply for citizenship after being legally admitted into the country through marriage or other immigration options.
Congress has the power to decide which people can be naturalized.
The U.S. Congress has the power to decide which people can become naturalized. This means that Congress can make exceptions to the rules for naturalization, create new rules for naturalization, change existing laws for naturalization and even limit or expand the number of people on a given basis.
Congress has created exceptions and special rules for individuals who served in the U.S. armed force.
If you served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year at any time, you might be eligible to apply for naturalization. Not all the general naturalization requirements apply to members of the U.S. armed forces.
Steps to naturalization
- To become a U.S. citizen, you must apply and pay a fee. The application costs a price and can be filed by our attorneys. Your attorney will ensure that you have all the required documents before applying for naturalization so that your interview isn’t delayed because you forgot something important.
- After successfully passing the interview, a person becomes eligible to take an oath of allegiance to the United States. The oath is brought before a judge, essential to becoming a citizen. The oath is also known as “affirmation” or “solemnization” because it makes you commit to being loyal to your country and obeying its laws.
- The oath is the final step to becoming a citizen. It is a promise to support and defend the constitution of the United States, obey its laws, bear arms on behalf of the United States and take an active role in helping build America’s greatness.
The naturalization process begins with USCIS collecting information about you (your family history, educational background, etc.)
To determine if you’re eligible for citizenship. Then USCIS will schedule you for a naturalization interview. This letter says that you must appear at a USCIS Field Office for your naturalization test. A USCIS officer will review your application’s information and conduct the English and civics test. Once you pass it, you must attend your naturalization ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance. You are now a U.S. citizen!
Naturalization laws can change. So, you should always check with an attorney before applying for naturalization. Naturalization is a process that may take several years and requires many steps. If you are unsure of your eligibility, consult our attorneys in Tampa immediately.
Also, suppose you are not eligible under current law. In that case, the immigration officer may deny your application after receiving it.
You are in the right place if you do not want this rejection. Your chances of success will increase, and our immigration lawyers in Tampa will considerably ease the procedure.
We are a private law firm that only provides immigration-related services. We have answers for both families and companies.
Because we only focus on immigration law and relocation services, we are committed to supporting you as you navigate the system and achieve your goals.
Are you prepared to live the American dream? To get assistance, get in touch with us right now.
Conclusion
We hope this brief guide has given you a basic understanding of what citizenship entails and the requirements. Becoming a citizen can seem overwhelming, but navigating the system will be much easier if you have all your ducks in a row.
