Table Of Contents
What Are The Requirements For A Non-Citizen To Become A Naturalized US Citizen?
Every individual who travels to the United States for the purpose of work aims to become a citizen of the region after spending a certain period of time. You might also be wondering about the requirement that you might be required to become a US citizen.
In this article, we will provide you with all the necessary requirements to become a US citizen.
What Is Naturalization?
Naturalization is the process through which an immigrant to the US can become a US citizen. Only some citizens are eligible to become naturalized US citizen who has been holding a green card for three to five years or has met various military service requirements.
What Are The Requirements For Naturalized US Citizenship?
In order to become a US citizen, all naturalization applicants must meet the following requirements. The requirements are listed below:
- Be The Minimum Age Of At Least 18
If you are willing to become a US citizen, then you must be of the age of 18 years old. This is especially applicable if you are not applying based on the period of wartime military service; in this case, your age can be anything.
- Continuously And Physically Live In The United States As A Green Card Holder For A Certain Period Of Time
If you are aiming to become a citizen of the US, you must continuously live in the United States as a green card holder for a minimum period of five years or three years if married to a US citizen.
Continuously means you have not made any trips outside the US that have lasted six months or longer during your 3-5 years of continuous stay as a green card holder.
In other words, you are allowed to leave the US while holding the green card, but make sure that you do not stay away for more than six months.
In a circumstance, if you have stayed out of the US for more than six months, you will be required to provide evidence to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding your long stay outside the nation.
This means you will have to prove that you did not mean to abandon the US and settle abroad. To prove this, you can state the following:
- Kept your employment in the US and did not seek employment abroad.
- Have immediate family members who have remained in the US.
- Kept your housing in the US.
- Enroll your children in the US.
Important!
If you want to avoid the USCIS rejecting your application for the naturalization process by observing that you have stayed out of the nation for more than six months, you can always apply for a “re-entry permit.” By filling the Form I-131, you will have the liberty to travel outside the US without your citizenship application being hampered.
- Having Good Moral Character
The USCIS broadly defines good moral character as a measure of one’s character upto the standards of an average citizen. Some of the factors that are considered as a good moral character are as follows:
- You have not committed a certain kind of crime, like murder, illegal gambling, or defrauding the US government for immigration purposes. This is included in the three to five years prior to the naturalization process.
- You have not lied to a USCIS officer during your naturalization process.
- You have not received two or more DUI convictions in the three to five years before applying for naturalization and up until Oath of Allegiance.
- Having Proficiency In English And Civics Knowledge
As part of the naturalization process, you will be required to pass in two-part naturalization test. These two-part exams are:
- An English language test that evaluates your reading, writing, and speaking skills.
- A civics test that determines your knowledge of US history and government.
These two tests will allow you to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
- Having Allegiance To The United States
In order to become a naturalized citizen of the US, you will be required to demonstrate an attachment to the US Constitution. Attachment generally means that you will be respectful and defend the principles of the US Constitution by accepting the democratic processes and promising to obey the law.
Cost Of Naturalization
The current government filing fee for naturalization applications is $725; this includes $640 for processing and $85 for biometric services. Military applicants are exempt from both the application filing fee and the biometric fees.
Applicants who are aged 75 and older are exempt from the biometrics fees.
Benefits Of Naturalization
Once you have officially received your certificate of naturalization, you will have access to a number of benefits that were previously unavailable to you as a green card holder. Some of the benefits are listed below:
- Voting Rights
As a green card holder, you might have the capacity to vote in local municipalities. But with a certificate of citizenship, you have the ability to cast your votes in federal elections.
- Eligibility To Run For Office
By earning a certificate of naturalization, you will have the liberty of running for office. This means you can now participate in elections as a political candidate.
- Power Of A US Passport
As a citizen of the US, you will be entitled to a US passport, which comes with a variety of benefits. You will have access to 180 nations across the world without a visa.
And in an emergency, you will also have the facility of the US Consulate or embassy at your rescue.
- Automatic citizenship for children
If you are a naturalized citizen of the United States, your children will automatically become citizens of the US. But make sure you are informing the US embassy about your child who is born outside the US.
Final Thoughts!
Now, you have a better idea regarding the process through which you can become a naturalized citizen of the US. If you have met all the necessary aspects of being a green card holder aiming to become a naturalized citizen, you have to fulfill the USCIS guidelines.
Hope you have found this article useful and informative.
Read More:
