How to Become a US Citizen | All You Need to know in 2022

How to Become a US Citizen: As a foreign, becoming a US citizen journey is too far and difficult. It takes a long time and you have to work hard for it.

However, many people who live, work, generate employment, and pay taxes in the nation are eligible for citizenship, but a lack of understanding of how the process works, along with high legal fees, might make the idea unattainable.

This is where reading this article comes to play.

In this article, we’ll discuss different ways you can become a US citizen and also walk you through the procedure and steps required.

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How hard is it to become a US citizen?

It should not be difficult to become a US citizen, but owing to the lengthy procedure time, financial and personal difficulties, and the fact that most immigrants do not have a direct relative who is a US citizen. USCIS’s standards are also complicated and may be difficult to comprehend for outsiders.

Everyone’s attention is focused on the Trump administration’s tightening immigration restrictions.

Leaving your homeland and relocating to a new location is a difficult decision to make. Some people accuse persons who migrate overseas of being disloyal. However, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your life for any reason.

Moving to a foreign country is perfectly acceptable whether you want to pursue a brighter future and your country does not provide you with the opportunity to do so or you require specific liberties that are not available where you reside.

Thus;

It is sometimes necessary to transport a family member to another country in order for them to receive the best medical care available. Those that make this decision face challenges, but they are courageous in their efforts to better their lives. Many people fail to do so and accept their circumstances, no matter how difficult they are.

For a variety of reasons, people have traditionally placed the United States at the top of their list of possible destinations. To begin with, everyone has heard of the American Dream and wants to try their hand at it.

Secondly, America has traditionally been renowned as a land of liberty, a place where people are free to live their lives as they like, free of religious and societal constraints.

Outsiders are drawn to New York because of its vibrant city life. However, because the immigration system is so complicated, becoming a lawful permanent resident of the United States is not easy.

What are the prerequisites for citizenship in the United States?

To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must:

Meeting these requirements qualifies you to become a citizen of the United State of America.

Are there responsibilities and obligations of US Citizenship?

Yes, there are obligations and responsibilities expected of a US citizen to perform. Now, by swearing allegiance to the United States By signing the Constitution, you agree to a set of responsibilities that come with being a citizen.

To “ensure that America remains a free and prosperous nation,” you must:

What are the rights of being a citizen of the United States?

In performing your obligations with commitments and dedication, there are a number of rights and advantages that you will share equally with all other citizens. These includes:

Having understood your duties and rights as a US citizen and the requirements, let’s take a look at different ways you can get citizenship in the United States of America.

Ways on How to Become a U.S. Citizen

The four basic methods to become a US citizen includes:

NOTE

Naturalization is the procedure by which most immigrants in the United States become citizens. In reality, about one million permanent residents apply for citizenship every year on average.

Taking a broader look at each of the ways:

#1. Citizenship by Birth

Under US law, anybody born in the United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) is automatically granted US citizenship. Children whose parents are foreign diplomats or members of a sovereign Native American tribe are excluded.

The United States Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment ensures that citizens have the right to vote. “All people born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” according to the Constitution.

Because the majority of Americans are born in the United States, this is certainly the most common route to become a citizen. The next three options are for foreign nationals who want to become citizens.

#2. Citizenship by Acquisition

 In some cases, even if the child was born outside the United States, the child will automatically “acquire” citizenship. When a child is born, at least one of the parents must be a US citizen and must meet several other conditions. When this child marries and has children, these children can also obtain US citizenship at birth.

How a child becomes a US citizen generally includes:

Both parents are US citizens

 Both parents must be US citizens when the child is born and the parents are married at the time of birth and before the child is born. There is at least one parent who lives in the United States or its territories or both.

One parent is a US citizen

One parent is required to be a US citizen when the child is born; and the child was born on or after November 14, 1986; the parents were married at the time of birth; you have lived in the United States or its territories for at least five years, of which at least two years are after your 14th birthday.

To get someone from the government from the US via one of the above methods. Once the official documents for US citizenship are obtained, the applicant must submit Form N600 to request proof of citizenship.

Over the years, the law has changed many times. Therefore, you should research the laws that went into effect on the child’s date of birth (and the birth of the parents, if the grandparents are US citizens).

#3. Citizenship through Derivation

When a parent naturalizes, his or her children (under the age of 18 and living with the parent at the time) may immediately “derive” US citizenship if they are also permanent residents.

Furthermore, a child who obtains citizenship in the United States by derivation is not required to attend a naturalization ceremony.

In general, foreign-born children under the age of 18 automatically become citizens of the United States if three conditions are met:

Furthermore,

the regulations governing children’s automatic naturalization have changed over time. Whether or whether the law applies to you is determined by the law in effect at the time of your parent’s naturalization.

However, citizenship cannot be obtained through stepparents. And If you have a complicated circumstance or can’t find the relevant paperwork, you should seek the help of an expert immigration attorney who can guide you through the process.

Naturalization is the process through which a person who was not born in the United States voluntarily becomes a citizen of the United States. Naturalization is the most popular way for foreign-born people to become citizens of the United States.

 Before an individual can petition for citizenship, he or she must meet a number of conditions.

Applicants must be 18 years old and fit into one of three main eligibility categories:

These are the three most common eligibility categories; the vast majority of naturalized citizens come through one of the above paths. 

Dual Citizenship or Nationality

A person can have dual citizenship (or dual nationality) if they are citizens of both the United States and another country. A person is not required by US law to choose between two citizenships.

If you are a citizen of another country, contact the embassy or consulate of that country for information on its: Laws Policies Mandatory military service for information about dual nationality from the perspective of another country, contact the embassy or consulate of that country.

How long does it take to become a citizen of the United States?

The usual citizenship process in the United States is lengthy and can take up to a year. In fact, it entails a number of steps and may necessitate a lengthier schedule.

Although processing times vary from case to case, this is a rough estimation of the complete procedure.

To put it another way, naturalization as a US citizen could take up to two years. It’s critical to get your application right the first time. As a result, it’s always a good idea to obtain legal counsel.

Having gotten that, let’s wrap it up with the necessary steps required for becoming a US citizen.

Steps to Becoming a Citizen of the United States of America

#1. Find out if you are eligible for citizenship in the United States.

The first inquiry is whether you have a green card in the United States (lawful permanent residence). With a few exceptions, you must first get a green card before applying for citizenship.

To be eligible for U.S. citizenship as a lawful permanent resident, you must complete additional conditions. These include the amount of time you’ve spent in the United States as a green card holder, your good moral character, your ability to pass an English and history and government of the United States test, and more.

You can take out time to improve your English if you’re not from English speaking country.

#2. Make Yourself Eligible

It’s possible that you won’t be able to become a citizen right now. Because you committed a minor offense, you may be unable to demonstrate excellent moral character. Alternatively, you may have disrupted your residence’s continuity by spending too much time outside the United States.

It’s possible that simply waiting longer will make you eligible for citizenship, or that you’ll need to take further measures. In the worst-case scenario, you may have been awarded lawful permanent residency while you weren’t entitled to it, in which case filing for citizenship could result in USCIS discovering this and removing you. For a complete analysis, see an immigration attorney.

#3. File USCIS Form N-400

Fill out Form N-400 from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

After you’ve determined your eligibility, you’ll need to submit some papers to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (USCIS). The N-400 is the first step in the process. As of late 2020, it costs $640 to file the application for naturalization, plus an $85 biometrics (fingerprinting) charge; but USCIS has recommended a rate raise

You will also need to attach a copy of your green card to your application, and any documents showing that you warrant an exception or the like.

Soon after your application has been accepted, you will be mailed a date for your biometrics appointment.

#4. Attend the Biometrics Consultation

A background check will be required in order to complete your application. You’ll be given a date and an address to go to a local office to get fingerprinted. For a background check, your fingerprints will be processed through the FBI and similar databases.

#5. Visit a USCIS office for a citizenship interview.

You should receive an appointment date and address for an interview with a UCSIC officer a few weeks following your biometrics appointment.

The officer will go over your N-400 with you and confirm your responses to all of the questions as well as your basic eligibility during this interview. Moreso, The officer will also check over your immigration file for any previous problems. The officer will then put your English and civics knowledge to the test.

#6. Participate in the Oath Ceremony

Congratulations if you are approved at (or shortly after) your USCIS interview, but you are not yet a citizen. First and foremost, you must keep your eligibility. If you are arrested for a significant offense before the swearing ceremony, for example, you may lose your eligibility.

You will be summoned to a major public ceremony where you and others will be administered the oath of allegiance to the United States. Then you’ll be granted a certificate of naturalization, proving that you’re a citizen of the United States.

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