How to Gain American Citizenship
Naturalization is the process by which someone who was not born an American citizen gains American citizenship. Here are the steps to getting an American citizenship.
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Instructions
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First, make sure that you are eligible. In order to file for American citizenship, an individual needs to have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for at least 5 years (there are exceptions, depending on circumstance, but this is the standard). The person looking to gain American citizenship also needs to be at least 18 years old.
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Another step in the eligibility process involves where the person has spent the last 5 years. 30 of those 60 months need to have been spent living within the United States, with no more than 6 months at a time being abroad.
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Examine your English skills. In order to gain American citizenship, one must be able to read, write, and speak in English. English proficiency is also crucial due to the fact that the citizenship test is given in English.
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Take the American citizenship test. There are 2 options; the old 10 question test, or the newer test that has been offered since November of 2008 that directly tests the individual's working knowledge of the English language and the society that they applying to become a part of. There are free study tests for both that are available online; see the link below for the United State Immigration Support website.
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Purchase an American citizenship guide and application from the United States Immigration Support website. This is how you will actually begin the filing process.
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