NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP

Permanent and Patriotic – Let Us Help You Become A U.S. Citizen

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U.S. citizenship grants certain unalienable rights to citizens of the U.S. Citizenship is a unique bond that unites people around civic ideals and a belief in the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most important decisions an immigrant can make. Depending on your situation, there may be different ways to obtain citizenship.

What is Naturalization?

You may qualify to become a citizen by applying for naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after they fulfill the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

To become a citizen through naturalization, you must be one of the following and meet all other eligibility requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years old when you apply
  • Show you have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S. for at least five years
  • Demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years immediately before you apply
  • Show you have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before you apply
  • Show you have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over your place of residence
  • Show that you are a person of good moral character and have been a person of good moral character for at least five years immediately before you apply
  • Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution
  • Be able to read, write and speak basic English
  • Have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and the principles and form of government of the U.S.
  • Take an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.

  • Be at least 18 when you apply
  • Be a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S. for at least three years immediately before you apply
  • Have been living in marital union with your U.S. citizen spouse during the three years immediately before you apply and your application is adjudicated
  • Have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over your place of residence
  • Have continuous residence in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for at least three years immediately before you apply
  • Reside continuously within the U.S. from the date you apply until the date you naturalize
  • Be physically present in the U.S. for at least 18 months out of the three years immediately before you apply
  • Be able to read, write and speak English and have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and of the principles and form of government of the U.S. 
  • Be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the U.S., and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. for at least three years immediately before the date you apply and until you take the Oath of Allegiance
  • Take an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.

  • An applicant that has served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year during a period of peacetime may be eligible to apply for naturalization. 
    • Have submitted a completed Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service at the time of application to demonstrate honorable service
    • Be a lawful permanent resident at the time of naturalization interview
    • Meet certain residence and physical presence requirements
    • Demonstrate the ability to read, write and speak English
    • Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government
    • Demonstrate good moral character for at least five years before applying through the day naturalized
    • Demonstrate an attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution
  • An applicant that has served during hostility
    • All current military service members or veterans who served honorably in active-duty status or the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve during any of the designated periods of armed conflict listed below:
      • Sept. 1, 1939 – Dec. 31, 1946
      • June 25, 1950 – July 1, 1955
      • Feb. 28, 1961 – Oct. 15, 1978
      • Aug. 2, 1990 – April 11, 1991
      • Sept. 11, 2001 – present
  • Applicant must establish that he or she meets all of the following criteria to qualify: 
    • An applicant may be of any age
    • Applicant must either be a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or have been physically present at the time of enlistment, reenlistment, or extension of service or induction into the U.S. armed forces:
      • In the U.S. or its outlying possessions, including the Canal Zone, American Samoa, or Swains Island, or
      • On board a public vessel owned or operated by the U.S. for noncommercial service.
    • Applicant must be able to read, write, and speak basic English
    • Applicant must demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government
  • Applicant must demonstrate good moral character for at least one year prior to applying until the time of his or her naturalization
  • Applicant must have an attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and be well disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. during all relevant periods under the law

There are two general ways to obtain citizenship through U.S. citizen parents: at birth and after birth but before the age of 18. Congress has enacted laws that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) to children born outside of the U.S.

The law in effect at the time of birth determines whether someone born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) is a U.S. citizen at birth. In general, these laws require that at least one parent was a U.S. citizen, and the U.S. citizen parent had lived in the U.S. for a period of time.

  • A child is generally defined for citizenship and naturalization provisions as an unmarried person who is one of the following:
    • The genetic legitimated or adopted son or daughter of a U.S. citizen
    • The son or daughter of a non-genetic gestational U.S. citizen mother who is recognized by the relevant jurisdiction as the child’s legal parent
  • A child born outside of the U.S. automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when all of the following conditions have been met on or after Feb. 27, 2001:
    • The child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization
    • The child is under 18 years of age
    • The child is a lawful permanent resident 
    • The child is residing in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent
    • A child who regularly resides outside of the U.S. is eligible for naturalization if all of the following conditions have been met:
      • The child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization
      • The child’s U.S. citizen parent or U.S. citizen grandparent meets certain physical presence requirements in the U.S. or an outlying possession
      • The child is under 18 years of age
      • The child is residing outside of the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent or of a person who does not object to the application if the U.S. citizen parent is deceased
      • The child is lawfully admitted, physically present, and maintaining a lawful status in the U.S. at the time the application is approved and the time of naturalization
  • Note: Children of U.S. citizen military members residing outside the U.S. may complete the entire process from abroad

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