How Does a Person Get US Citizenship?
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U.S. Citizenship by Birth
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There are two major ways a person can get U.S. citizenship. The first, and most common way to gain U.S. citizenship is through birth. People born in the United States usually qualify as U.S. citizens. Also, people born in another country to U.S. citizens are usually U.S. citizens as well. If you are born in a U.S. territory, however, you are usually known as a U.S. "national" and are not a U.S. citizen by birth.
Naturalization
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The second way to gain U.S. citizenship is through a process called naturalization. People who have lawful permanent residence (LPR) status may apply for citizenship through the process of naturalization. However, people in this category must have lived in the U.S. under LPR status for a certain number of years. For example, if you gained LPR through marriage, you will have to wait approximately three years to apply for citizenship. If you gained LPR status through some other avenue, you typically have to wait for five years. Also, in order to apply for citizenship through naturalization, you must be at least 18 years of age, be literate in English, show good moral character, adhere to constitutional principles, and pledge allegiance to the United States.
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Applying for Citizenship
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If you meet all of the requirements for naturalization, you can start the process by filling out a naturalization application known as form N-100. You must then obtain two photographs of yourself that meet immigration service requirements. After your application has been processed, you will have be fingerprinted and then begin the interview process. For the interview process, you will have to complete an exam that will test your English and Civics knowledge. You will also have to answer questions about your application and your background. Finally, if you have completed all of the steps, you will have to take a pledge of allegiance to the United States. It is extremely important to be sure that you qualify for U.S. citizenship before beginning the process. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek legal counsel to review your status.
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