If you were born in the United States and don`t have a birth certificate, you`ll need several different documents to prove your citizenship: This form is the main one you need to use to apply for naturalization or citizenship. You can find it on the USCIS website here. You can follow the instructions on the form, fill it out and sign it. Add two passport photos if you live outside the United States. Physical presence refers to the number of days you must be physically in the United States during the legal period and up to the date of submission of naturalization. USCIS wants to know that you really want to become a citizen. As residency continues, the physical presence requirement helps you show that you have begun to integrate into the American community and intend to stay in the United States. Therefore, you must be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of submission of N-400, application for naturalization. It is impossible to become a U.S. citizen without taking the oath of allegiance.
You may be able to complete it on the day of your interview, but if not, USCIS will send you a notification when you can take it. It`s best to attend the ceremony if USCIS plans to, but if you can`t, you should let them know. To do so, submit Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization. Attach a letter explaining why you cannot attend the ceremony at this time. USCIS will then review it and postpone the ceremony. “Good moral character” is broadly defined by USCIS as one that meets the standards of average citizens. Whether an applicant meets this requirement is decided by the government on a case-by-case basis. There are also exceptions for certain military candidates (see here for details). Specifically, good moral character means that you: The English component combines the naturalization interview with the reading and writing tests. You will be asked for specific answers you gave on your citizenship application, and you will also be asked to write and read simple sentences dictated to you by a USCIS official.
You must complete this last step before you can become a U.S. citizen. It costs $725 to become a U.S. citizen. There are two main fees that you must pay when applying for U.S. citizenship. One fee is the citizenship application fee of $640 and the other is the biometric fee of $85. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for naturalization – unless you are applying for military service during the war, in which case you can be at any age. Our naturalization guide provides more details on eligibility and exemptions. It should be noted that you can follow this immigration route even if you did not get your green card through marriage. For example, you may have obtained your status from your employer before you got married. In this case, you are still entitled to a shorter citizenship application process.
Your swearing-in of allegiance ceremony will take place approximately two to six weeks after your application for U.S. citizenship is approved. The total cost to become a U.S. citizen is $725. This includes $640 for your application processing fee and $85 for biometric services. If you have been abroad for a year or more, you will not be able to submit any other documents to support your application. Once you return to the United States, you will have to wait before you can apply for citizenship again. You may also be eligible for a re-entry visa if you have spent more than two years outside the United States for reasons beyond your control. Generally, you must have lived in the country for at least five years as a green card holder before you can apply for U.S. citizenship. Your eligible period begins on the date of issue printed on your green card.
Call us today to schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys and begin your journey to U.S. citizenship. CitizenPath`s self-managed service makes it easy to prepare USCIS forms. Our lawyer-developed platform will help you eliminate common mistakes that lead to delays, rejections, and even rejections. The low-cost service also provides alerts if you answer a question in a way that might be a problem. We make sure you meet all citizenship requirements before you apply. Most people can prepare the naturalization package in a few hours. In other words, it can take up to 2 years for you to become a U.S. citizen.
It is important that you complete your application correctly the first time. For this reason, it is always advisable to seek legal advice. Have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least five years at the time of filing the application OR for at least three years if you meet all the requirements to file as the spouse of a U.S. citizen After becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in the United States and holding a green card, you are free to live in the country. The disadvantages are that you have to renew your green card and travel with a foreign passport. The best next step, once you are eligible, is to become a U.S. citizen. For people outside the U.S., the difference between a U.S. citizen and a U.S. citizen may seem irrelevant, or you can`t even see that there`s a difference at all. However, for those who live or are associated with the United States, this status is of particular importance to their daily lives, as privileges and duties depend heavily on status in the United States. Learn the steps to becoming a U.S.
citizen, including how to apply, sample test questions, and what the naturalization process is. You`ll also find information about dual citizenship, how to get proof of your U.S. citizenship if you were born abroad, or how to replace your lost or stolen citizenship certificate. This infographic provides a step-by-step guide to the naturalization process for a person to become a U.S. citizen. All U.S. citizens are automatically U.S. citizens, but not all U.S. citizens are automatically U.S. citizens. You were born in a U.S.
territory and have a birth certificate issued by that territory. If you do not have a birth certificate from your region of birth, you may be able to verify your citizenship status using other documents. It sounds a bit like a cliché to many. But this is not the case. Remember, if you are a U.S. citizen, you are also a U.S. citizen. This means that you cannot be a U.S. citizen without first being a U.S. citizen. Meet certain eligibility requirements, including: Citizenship and naturalization certificates are proof of your U.S. citizenship.
To become a U.S. citizen, all applicants for naturalization must meet the following requirements (unless they qualify for an exemption or are applying based on their U.S. citizenship).