What Does it Take to Become a U.S. Citizen?
The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to almost all individuals born in the United States or one of its territories, or to U.S citizen parents. However, many other people become citizens through other paths.
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Adoption
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You can become a U.S citizen if you are under the age of 18 and are adopted by a U.S citizen and immigrate to the United States. You acquire immediate citizenship according to the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) passed by Congress in 2000.
Naturalization-Permanent Residents
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You can apply for a green card to be a permanent resident under certain circumstances. A family member who lives in the United States can petition for you, an employer in the United States can petition for you. If you are a refugee or have asylum status, you can apply by yourself. It can take several years to be approved for a green card and you have to go through several interviews and background checks with the American Embassy in your native country.
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Naturalization- Military Personnel
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If you are a member of the U.S Armed Forces, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship under special provisions provided for in the Immigration and Nationality Act. You must be a permanent resident and have no felonies to enter the Armed Forces.
After the Green Card
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Once you have been living in the United States for five years as a permanent resident or three years as the spouse of a U.S citizen, you are eligible to become a citizen. The application can take six to 18 months and you will have to pay a fee, undergo American history and government tests and go through several interviews.
Criteria for Naturalization
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To apply to become a citizen, you must, among other things, be at least 18 years old, be of good moral character and be able to speak, read and write basic English.
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