In order to qualify for
citizenship in the United States through
naturalization, you must meet the following
requirements:
- Be a permanent resident of the U.S. (have a
green card) Exception: Honorable service in
active duty status in the U.S. military during a
time of war if in the U.S. at the time of
induction or enlistment.
- Have continuous residence (not physical
presence) in the United States for at least five
years immediately preceding the filing of the
application.
Exception: The
requirement is only three (3) years if you are
married to a U.S. citizen.
- Maintain a residence of at least (3) months
immediately preceding the filing of the
naturalization in the state in which the
petition is filed. The requirement is met
concurrently with the above residency
requirement.
- Have been physically present in the U.S. for
an aggregate total of at least one half of the
required period of the qualifying continuous
residence. This translates to two and a half
years or one and a half years for qualifying
spouse of a U.S. Citizen. You must account for
every absence from the U.S. with the exact
starting and termination date for each trip.
There are a limited number of exceptions to this
requirement.
- Have the ability to read, write and speak
ordinary English. Exceptions: Those who are
physically unable to comply because of a
disability such as blindness, deafness, etc.;
those who are over fifty (50) Years old on the
date of filing for naturalization and have lived
in the U.S. for a total of at least twenty (20)
years after becoming a permanent resident; those
who are over fifty-five (55) years old and have
been a permanent resident living in the U.S. for
at least fifteen (15) years.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the
fundamentals of the U.S. history and government.
This is determined by passing a test of basic
knowledge administered at the time of your
naturalization interview.
- Have good moral character and commitment to
the principles of the U.S. Constitution. This is
interpreted to include the following: filing all
required tax returns, paying court ordered child
support, registering for selective service and
having committed no criminal offenses.
- Be eighteen (18) years old at the time of
filing. Exception: Certain children who are
naturalized with their parents and certain
spouses of U.S. citizen.
The application for
naturalization can be filed up to three (3)
months before you meet the residence
requirements described above. The application is
filed with the DHS Regional Service Center. The
Service Center will review the application and
then send your case to the local DHS office for
further processing.
Shortly after you receive a receipt, you will
receive an appointment to have your
fingerprints/biometrics taken. Thereafter, you will
be notified when and where your interview will take
place. At the examination interview, the DHS
examiner will:
- Go over the application in detail and ask
questions regarding any problem areas.
- Test your ability to speak and write
English, usually through conversation and
sometimes through asking you to write a few
sentences.
- Test your knowledge of U.S. government and
history through the use of standard questions.
The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS
Officer will ask you up to 10 of the 100 civics
questions. You must answer 6 out of 10 questions
correctly to pass the civics portion of the
naturalization test. You will also be evaluated
on your ability to speak, read, write, and
understand English at your interview.
If there is a problem with either the English or
government and history portions of the application,
you will be scheduled to return for another
examination within 120 days. If there are any
questions regarding any of your answers on the
application form, additional documentation may be
required. If the examiner is satisfied that you have
met all of the naturalization requirements, the
application will be approved.
When the application is approved, you will be
scheduled for a Naturalization Oath Ceremony. You
may elect to legally change your name at the time of
naturalization.
In the ceremony, you will take an oath of
allegiance to the United States. The oath is as
follows:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely
and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and
fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or
sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been
a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend
the Constitution and laws of the United States of
America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United
States when required by law; that I will perform
noncombatant service in the armed forces of the
United States when required by law; that I will
perform work of national importance under civilian
direction when required by law; and that I take this
obligation freely without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
If you have religious training or beliefs that
preclude you from bearing arms or performing
noncombatant service, you may obtain a waiver of
these provisions of the oath.
After you take the oath, you will be issued a
Certificate of Naturalization as evidence of your
U.S. citizenship. To travel outside of the United
States, you must obtain a U.S. passport.
Citizenship is a serious step that results in new
rights and responsibilities. If you have any
questions regarding these issues, please feel free
to contact our office.
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