Becoming a United States Citizen

There are many advantages of US Citizenship

• Right to vote
• Reunite with family in the US
• Obtain citizenship for children born abroad 
• Ability to travel into and outside of the US freely
• Collect benefits
• Become a federal employee
• Become an elected official 

In order to be a US Citizen, you must meet certain requirements either at birth or after birth.

At Birth

• Have been born in the US or in certain US territories that are subject to US jurisdiction.
• Have parents who were legal US citizens at the time of your birth.

After Birth

• Apply for derived citizenship through parents
• Apply for naturalization 

Naturalization 

Requirements
-Must be 18 years or older
-Be a permanent resident for a certain length of time (Usually 5 years)
-Be a person of good, moral character
-Have a period of continued residence and physical presence in the US
-Be able to read, write and speak basic English (Some exceptions)
-Understand and be knowledgeable of basic US history, and US citizens' rights and responsibilities.


When to apply
When at least 18 years and have been a permanent resident of the US for

1. 5 years
2. 3 years and married to a US citizen
3. While honorably serving for the US military for at least 1 year

How to apply

-File an application form N-400 Application for Naturalization 

-Submit supporting immigration and naturalization documents to prove that you meet residency and visa requirements

All information was found from sites below, visit for more information:

-http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B3en.pdf

(UCIS  B3. Customer Guide - How do I apply for U.S. Citizenship?)

-http://www.us-immigration.com/cart/category/us-citizenship.html