Citizenship

The final step in the immigration process is to become a naturalized United States citizen.

There are many benefits and protections that result from obtaining citizenship that people often overlook. The rights that you will obtain include the right to vote, the right to travel with a U.S. passport for an unlimited period of time, and to be eligible for federal grants and scholarships. Additionally, you will have more protection from being deported than those who are in lawful permanent resident status.

To determine whether you are eligible to apply for citizenship you first look to the date that you became a lawful permanent resident. You can find that date on your lawful permanent resident card. The general rule is that you must be in lawful permanent resident status for five years to be eligible to apply for citizenship.

However, there are a few exceptions. The most common exception is for an individual who gained their LPR status through marriage to a U.S. citizen. Under those circumstances, you can apply for your citizenship after three years. Also, those who were in refugee status prior to becoming an LPR can use up to one year of refugee status towards the five year requirement.

Finally, another exception applies for those who are serving in the military, navy, National Guard and other armed forces. Those individuals may qualify for citizenship immediately upon obtaining the proper certification from their respective branch.

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Now that you have a general idea of whether you are eligible, here are the other technical requirements:

physically present in the United States for at least half of the qualifying time period;
lived in the district or state where you are filing your application for at least three months;
have not continuously spent more than a year outside the United States;
have not made your primary home in another country;
at least 18 years old;
good moral character;
able to speak, read, and write in English;
able to pass a test covering U.S. history and government;
willing to swear that you believe in the principles of the U.S. Constitution and to be loyal to the United States.

Too many people are hesitant to apply for citizenship because they are intimidated by the application process, cannot afford the filing fees, have past criminal convictions, or they are not confident that they can pass the test.

All these issues are understandable, but you cannot afford to let them prevent you from obtaining equal opportunity and superior rights for you and your family. There is a fee waiver available for those who cannot afford to pay the filing fees and immigration has published a Spanish language guide and list of possible questions to help you study.

If you believe you qualify do not hesitate, act now, or you could regret it later. The entire process from filing the application to attending the interview has currently been approximately 3-4 months, so it’s not too late to bring in the New Year as a United States citizen.

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