Did you know that the US is one of the countries that provides you with dual citizenship? So cool, right? 

Now imagine you’re working in the US for like 3 years. You hold a green card and even have a house in the country. It’s natural to seek permanent US citizenship right? 

Are you now intrigued to know how to get citizenship in this particular country? Well, hold your horses. This blog will demystify all the requirements to become a naturalized US citizen.

What Is Naturalization?

Now you’re thinking what is naturalization? Yes, we are coming to it. Naturalization is nothing but a mere process that makes immigrants US citizens. Some citizens can only become US citizens after holding a green card for more than three to five days. People who have also met the military service requirements can also be eligible for naturalization.

What Are The Requirements For Naturalized US Citizenship?

There are several requirements you need to meet to become a naturalized US citizen. Let’s see what they are: 

Be At least 18 years Old 

Stating the obvious, yes this is the first rule you need to follow is your legal age to become a US citizen. This is especially applicable if you’re not applying for wartime military service. If you’re applying for wartime military service- then good news, your age won’t matter here! 

Must Be a Green Card Holder 

Stating another obvious, yes you have to be a green card holder in the US to apply for citizenship in the country. You can even get married to an existing US citizen as well to gain naturalization. 

However, there is a catch. You need to continuously stay in the country for more than 3 to 5 years. You cannot make any trips outside the country for more than 6 months. Even if you do, you have to provide legitimate proof of your absence to USCIS. 

Tip

If you don’t want USCIS to reject your application, apply for a re-entry permit. For that, you have to fill out the form I-131. This is the form of a “re-entry permit”. By filling out this form, you can travel outside the country liberally without your citizenship being hampered. 

Maintaining a Good Moral Character 

Having a stellar moral character is critical in the US to gain naturalized citizenship. The USCIS measures it in this way: 

• You didn’t lie to USCIS about your naturalization process. 
• You haven’t committed any perjury. 
• You don’t have DUI convictions. 
• You have already taken up the Oath of Allegiance. 

Proficient in English and Civics

English proficiency is a must if you’re applying for citizenship in the US. The USCIS will test your knowledge in English as well as matters of the US government. If you ace both of them, you can get your naturalized citizenship. 

Swearing Allegiance to the USA 

You must show that you respect the US Constitution. You must defend the principles laid down in the US Constitution and your allegiance to democracy.

Steps To Become A Naturalized US Citizen 

You can become a naturalized US citizen once you follow these steps. 

Firstly, you have to download the form N-400 from the internet. Next, you have to fill it out properly and submit it to the USCIS. Make sure to get your biometrics done as well. 

If you pass the above criteria you will be called for an interview. In this interview, you have to answer all the questions with due diligence. 

After 9-12 months, you might receive a notification from USCIS about your naturalization. If you pass the test, you will have to take the Oath of Allegiance. There you go, now you’re a legitimate US citizen. 

What Happens If You Fail The Test? 

If you fail the test, don’t worry, you can apply for it again in 60-90 days. Just remember not to mess it up this time!

Cost Of Naturalization

The filing fee is currently $725. It is divided into $640 for processing and $85 for biometric processing. If you’re a military applicant, you won’t have to give any application or biometric fees.

Benefits Of Naturalization

Ding Ding Ding! You are now a naturalized US citizen. Now you must be wondering what are its perks. Well, there are many. Some of them you didn’t even get when you were a green card holder. They are:

• 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.

Dual Citizenship 

You might be wondering what this means. Well, let’s discuss it in detail. 

By dual citizenship, you can become a citizen of two different countries. The USA grants you dual nationality by default. You won’t even have to give up the citizenship of your origin country. 

However, there are some exceptions to this. Countries like China and India don’t recognize US citizenship. In other countries, you might even lose your citizenship once you become a US citizen. 

So be you’re an Indian Arabian or even Russian, know about the rules and regulations of your country’s origin before you apply for citizenship in the US. Remember, one of the most integral rules of submitting Form N-400 is to still remain a citizen of the country of origin and also be a part of the US.

Final Thoughts!

Now, you have a better idea regarding the requirements to become a Naturalized US citizen 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 Also:

• Steps To Safeguard Your Employee Rights
• All You Need To Know About The Bill Of Rights
• What Does An Immigration Lawyer Do? When To Hire Them?