How Do I Become a Naturalized Citizen?

Naturalization is the process by which foreign nationals can become US citizens. Before beginning the process, it is important that applicants meet all of the requirements for acquiring US citizenship. These requirements include:

• The applicant must be at least 18 years old
• The applicant must have held lawful permanent resident status for at least five years (unless you qualify for a shorter time requirement)
• The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirements, meaning the applicant may not have left the US for more than six months at one time (once continuous residence is broken, the time before the break does not count towards the five years required for naturalization)
• The applicant must meet the physical presence requirements, which means the applicant must have been actually present in the US for the last 30 months and resided in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) district where he or she submitted the naturalization application for at least the last three months
• The applicant must demonstrate good moral character, which generally means they may not have committed certain crimes, which can temporarily or permanently bar a naturalization application

If these basic requirements are met, the permanent resident can begin the application process, which includes:

Filing a naturalization application. All applicants for naturalization must submit an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) to the USCIS office for the district in which they live. Applicants are required to provide passport-style photographs with the application, a copy of the front and back of their Alien Registration Card (i.e. Green Card) and pay the filing fees.

Having your fingerprints taken. After the USCIS receives the naturalization application, the office will send the applicant a notice of the date, time and place to have his or her fingerprints taken. The fingerprints are used to conduct a criminal and security background check on each applicant.

Meeting with a USCIS officer for an interview. If the results from the background check are satisfactory, the applicant will receive notice of the date, time and place of his or her interview. During the interview, the USCIS officer will ask the applicant questions about his or her application and assess the applicant's ability to read, speak and write basic English. The applicant also will be tested on his or her knowledge of US history and government. The applicant must pass both the English and civics exams in order to become a naturalized citizen. (Applicants meeting certain age and residency thresholds may be exempt from the English requirement.) Normally, the applicant will be notified after the interview whether or not he or she has met the requirements for naturalization.

Taking an Oath of Allegiance. The last step to naturalization is taking the Oath of Allegiance, which requires applicants to disavow any foreign allegiances and pledge to uphold and protect the laws of the United States. After the Oath has been completed, applicants are naturalized citizens and receive a Certificate of Naturalization.

For more information on naturalization, visit the USCIS Web site at http://www.uscis.gov. An immigration attorney can help you fill out the application and answer any questions you may have about the process.

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