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Citizenship Eligibility
U.S. citizenship is highly prized internationally and is the goal of most immigrants in the U.S.
A U.S. citizen is usually a person who is either born to U.S. citizens, born in the U.S., or has successfully undergone a naturalization process.
Naturalization is restricted to two broad categories of people:
- Immigrants who have continuous residence in the U.S. (immigrants with permanent resident status) for at least five years. If married to a U.S. citizen, they must be continuous residents for three years.
- U.S. military personnel (members of the armed forces) who meet specific requirements
A qualifying lawful permanent resident may apply for naturalization 90 days before their fifth or third permanent resident anniversary date.
Read along for a simple breakdown of the naturalization process, and if you require citizenship lawyer help, Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, is just a phone call away.
Who Is Eligible for U.S. Citizenship?
According to US citizenship laws, green card holders become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization if they have maintained a continuous physical presence in the U.S. for five years.
However, the eligibility time period is reduced to three years for those married to U.S. citizens. Other requirements under this category include the following:
- You must have stayed in the U.S. for at least 18 months out of three years
- Your U.S. citizen spouse must have been a U.S. citizen for at least three years
- You must have stayed with that spouse for the entire three years
Lawful permanent residents who qualify for naturalization can file their citizenship application as early as 90 days before their naturalization eligibility date.
What Are the Naturalization Eligibility Requirements?
Naturalization applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have had lawful permanent residence for at least five years.
- Have resided in the U.S. for a continuous five-year period immediately before submitting a naturalization application.
- Have been physically present in the U.S. for 30 months at a minimum out of the five years preceding the filing date for citizenship by naturalization.
- Have lived for three months at a minimum in the state where the application is being made. This period must be immediately before the application is filed.
- Be a person of good moral character.
- Pass the English language and the U.S. civics test.
How to Apply for Naturalization?
Before applying, ensure you are eligible and have the required supporting documents.
Once you determine your eligibility, you can follow the steps below to apply for naturalization.
Complete and Submit the N-400 Form
To initiate the naturalization process, you must file Form N-400 with the U.S.C.I.S. either by mail or online and pay the filing fee. Unless you are exempt from the biometrics fee, the filing fee is $725. With your U.S.C.I.S online account, you can check your naturalization application status and upload any requested evidence.
The Biometric Appointment
After your application is submitted, you will receive an email containing information about your biometrics appointment. Your biometrics appointment will usually be set for about a few months after your application. The U.S.C.I.S. will take the photographs that will be used on your naturalization certificate and fingerprints to perform a background check.
The Interview and Test
It normally takes about 14 months before you are invited to attend your citizenship interview. You are also required to write a two-part test at the U.S.C.I.S. office.
The Citizenship Interview
At your interview, the U.S.C.I.S. officer will ask questions to ensure that the information you provided in the N-400 is truthful and accurate.
The Citizenship Test
The test includes a basic English language test that assesses your English proficiency as well as a civics test. The civics test will assess your knowledge of the U.S. government and history.
If you pass the interview and test, the U.S.C.I.S. officer will either approve your application or, on rare occasions, ask for additional information and schedule a second interview.
Taking the Oath of Allegiance
Once your naturalization application has been approved, you will be invited to attend your Oath of Allegiance ceremony. You will hand in your green card and be issued a naturalization certificate. Congratulations, you have become a U.S. citizen!
Green Card to Citizenship Timeline
USCIS Processing Time can vary depending on several factors, including their current workload.
On average, it takes 18 to 24 months to process naturalization applications and become a U.S. citizen. About 80% of applications are processed within ten months in Dallas and Houston, Texas.
You can check the processing time at your local U.S.C.I.S. center using the USCIS processing times tool.
Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law Can Help
If you need help determining your naturalization eligibility or filing your citizenship application, consider consulting an experienced immigration lawyer from Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law.
Our legal team can help you with all immigration-related issues and concerns. Whether you intend to apply for a green card, are facing deportation, or need any of your immigration questions answered, our team of passionate and empathic lawyers is here for you.
We want to assist you in achieving your immigration goals. Contact us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Citizenship and Naturalization the Same?
Many people confuse the terms citizenship and naturalization.
Simply put, citizenship describes the status of a person born in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens. However, naturalization describes the process through which a qualifying immigrant can attain citizenship status. A permanent resident whose naturalization application is approved becomes a naturalized citizen.
What Is Form N-600 Used For?
Form N-600 is used by those born abroad to U.S. citizens to apply for a citizenship certificate.
What is Form N-400?
Eligible green card holders file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, with the U.S.C.I.S. to become U.S. citizens.
USCIS provides a naturalization eligibility tool for you to check whether you are eligible to submit a naturalization application.
What Is the Naturalization Approval Rate in the U.S.?
According to the U.S.C.I.S. performance data for the month of April 2023, 61,313 naturalization applications were approved out of 71,137.
