By: Richard Hanus, Esq.
Published August 22, 2021
Are you thinking about applying for U.S. citizenship? You’re far from alone. The United States has long been recognized as a country that boasts plenty of opportunities and as a safe place for families to grow and thrive.
That said, the process required to get into the United States has many legal requirements before you’re admitted into the country as a citizen. If you don’t know what you’re getting into, you could quickly get yourself confused during the process.
Luckily, this process becomes much easier when you know what to expect. This helpful article will show you the key components of how to apply for U.S. citizenship. Read on to find out more!
1. Determine Your Eligibility
Although there are plenty of people who wish to be a part of the American citizenry, not everyone is eligible to join. To find out if you can be a citizen, you first need to determine your eligibility.
First, check to see if you’re already a citizen since there is a chance that you could derive your citizenship from your parents after birth. If this isn’t the case, you’ll want to review the naturalization eligibility sheet to make sure you can still qualify.
2. Check the Status of Your Stay
The next thing that you’ll want to do is check the status of your stay in America. To be a citizen, U.S. citizenship requirements state that you have to reside in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least five years. For certain qualifying green card holders who have been married to and living with U.S. citizens, that requirement might only be three years. Out of the qualifying five or three year eligibility period, you must be residing in the U.S. for more than half of of this time, and ideally, no single departure from the U.S. should be exceed six months.
In addition to length of residency, there’s a long list of additional eligibility factors, including criminal history and other “good moral character” indicators. Make sure your residency in the United States meets these and all of the basic requirements before you consider applying for citizenship.
3. Complete Your Form N-400
The Form N-400 is the most important form that you’ll complete when submitting your U.S. citizenship application. This is your application for naturalization, and you’ll be filling out various information to help determine your eligibility.
This information includes your personal information, information about your U.S. residency, your biographic information, your marital history, and any more information that they need to grant you citizenship.
Get started on your U.S. Citizenship
Now that you know the key steps to take for your U.S. citizenship, you’ll have no problem addressing your American citizenship requirements. However, knowing the basics is just the start, and you’ll likely want to find out everything you can so you can stay informed.
At USA Visa Counsel, you’ll be able to do exactly that. Our site is where you want to go to learn about immigration services as well as the nuances of immigration law and the latest news on all matters relating to U.S. immigration and citizenship.
Ready to get started? Make sure to take a look around our site for more info, or reach out to us if you have any questions. Let’s get you on the track to becoming a U.S. citizen today!
PUBLISHED August 22, 2021– “IMMIGRATION LAW FORUM” Copyright © 2021, By Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago, Illinois