The naturalization course of is the trail by way of which a international nationwide can voluntarily grow to be a U.S. citizen. As a way to start the naturalization course of, an applicant should first meet a number of necessities. Then, she or he should file an software for naturalization, attend an interview, and cross an English and a civics check.
Practically 782,000 everlasting residents filed an software to naturalize within the earlier 12 months in accordance with USCIS data. In reality, practically 1,000,000 individuals grow to be naturalized U.S. residents annually.
Examine Eligibility to Begin Naturalization Course of
Earlier than you start the naturalization course of, you’ll must verify your eligibility to grow to be a U.S. citizen. If you happen to’re a lawful everlasting resident (inexperienced card holder) who has lived in america for the previous 5 years, you’ve handed the most important hurdle. Though there may be an exception for everlasting residents who’ve been married to a U.S. citizen for the previous three years and navy personnel, most individuals grow to be eligible for the naturalization course of after 5 years of steady residence.
To efficiently full the naturalization course of an applicant should assembly the next standards:
- Be no less than 18 years outdated
- Be a everlasting resident (inexperienced card holder) for no less than 5 years
- Dwelling throughout the identical U.S. state for no less than 3 months earlier than submitting the appliance
- Have steady residence within the U.S. as a everlasting resident for five years earlier than submitting the appliance
- Have been bodily current within the U.S. for no less than 30 months out of the 5 years earlier than submitting the appliance
- Have the ability to cross the English check in addition to U.S. historical past and authorities check
- Be an individual of excellent ethical character
For a extra detailed rationalization of those standards, learn U.S. Citizenship Necessities for 5-Yr Everlasting Resident. Or should you’re able to dive in, begin our naturalization eligibility quiz. There’s no value to start out the appliance and decide your eligibility.
Put together and File Utility for Naturalization
A everlasting resident who desires to grow to be a U.S. citizen should put together and file Kind N-400, Utility for Naturalization, with USCIS. The 20-page software must be fastidiously crammed out. USCIS will use the appliance to evaluate your historical past as a everlasting resident. Be thorough and ensure your solutions are constant along with your supporting documentation. Discrepancies and inconsistencies may cause confusion, delays, and even the suspicion of fraud.
Price of the Naturalization Course of
On the time of writing this text, the entire USCIS price for naturalization (for many candidates) is $725. It’s a one-time price, and also you received’t must pay anymore USCIS charges sooner or later. If you happen to stay a everlasting resident, you’ll be required to resume your inexperienced card each 10 years. That provides up rapidly. It could shock you.
See the Citizenship Price Calculator.
Everlasting residents with a felony document or blemished immigration historical past ought to all the time seek the advice of with an immigration legal professional earlier than submitting any USCIS type. However most individuals can put together Kind N-400 with out the help of an legal professional. Those who need some additional reassurance that they’re doing the whole lot appropriately can use CitizenPath.com. Immigration attorneys designed CitizenPath’s on-line preparation software program to make the method simpler and assist remove most of the widespread errors that trigger delays and rejections.
The method of naturalization formally begins once you mail in your Kind N-400. USCIS will initially evaluate the appliance to make sure it’s full. If you don’t fully fill out the N-400 software, you’ll not set up a foundation in your eligibility and USCIS might reject or deny the appliance.
Attend a Biometrics Appointment
Shortly thereafter, USCIS will robotically schedule you for a biometrics appointment. USCIS staff on the software help heart will gather {a photograph}, fingerprints, signature and different particulars. USCIS will make the most of this data for an FBI felony background verify.
The biometrics screening is a brief, 20- to 30-minute appointment. Nonetheless, poor preparation can delay your case. Keep away from rescheduling the appointment except completely obligatory. Take all objects listed on the appointment discover. Usually, you’ll must take the appointment discover (Kind I-797C), your inexperienced card and one other type of identification (driver’s license, passport, or state ID).
Full the Naturalization Interview & Exams
The interview and check happen close to the tip of the naturalization course of. USCIS will schedule you for an interview appointment at an workplace nearest you. A USCIS officer will place you below oath and ask about your:
- Background
- Proof supporting your case
- Place and size of residence
- Character
- Attachment to the Structure and
- Willingness to take an Oath of Allegiance
Among the finest methods to arrange for this interview is to easily evaluate your Kind N-400. The USCIS workplace will more than likely ask questions in regards to the software. Since it’ll have been a couple of months because you crammed out the appliance, take a while to evaluate your solutions earlier than the interview.
English Take a look at
Your skill to reply the interview questions might be a part of your English check. In all, the officer will check your skill to learn, write and communicate English (except you might be exempt). To check your skill to learn in English, you could learn one sentence, out of three sentences, in a fashion suggesting to the USCIS officer that you simply perceive the which means of the sentence. Likewise, to check your skill to write down in English, you could write one sentence, out of three sentences, in a fashion that might be comprehensible as written to the USCIS officer.
RECOMMENDED: English Take a look at Portion of the Naturalization Course of
Civics Take a look at
The USCIS officer may even provide you with a civics check in English to check your information and understanding of U.S. historical past and authorities. The officer will ask you to reply a set of civics questions. To cross the check, you could appropriately reply six out of 10 civics questions. The excellent news is that the entire questions can be found to check! USCIS selects your questions from a set of 100 potential questions.
RECOMMENDED: Civics Take a look at & Research Questions
Most often the USCIS officer will let you know the way you probably did. If you happen to handed, the officer will usually let you recognize that she or he is recommending that you simply be granted U.S. citizenship. You’ll obtain official notification within the mail and an invite to attend an oath ceremony.
Take the Oath of Allegiance
If USCIS approves your Kind N-400, Utility for Naturalization, they may require you to attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance. In reality, you aren’t a U.S. citizen till you’re taking the oath. You’ll additionally must give up your inexperienced card on the oath ceremony. After getting recited the oath, USCIS will difficulty you a Certificates of Naturalization. The certificates is proof of your U.S. citizenship and can be utilized to acquire a U.S. passport.
After receiving your Certificates of Naturalization, it’s a good suggestion to:
- Replace your citizenship standing in your Social Safety document. Discover the closest SSA workplace by calling 1-800-772-1213 or at www.socialsecurity.gov.
- You received’t be capable of journey overseas till you have got your U.S. passport. Apply for a U.S. passport from the U.S. Division of State.
The time line for the naturalization course of is roughly 8 to 12 months, relying on USCIS workload and your specific case. Among the finest methods to make sure a brief processing time is to fastidiously put together your software, ensuring that you simply put together Kind N-400 appropriately and file it with USCIS in accordance with the directions.
CitizenPath offers easy, inexpensive, step-by-step steerage by way of USCIS immigration functions like Kind N-400. People, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or cellular gadget to arrange immigration kinds precisely, avoiding expensive delays. CitizenPath permits customers to strive the service without cost and offers a 100% money-back assure that USCIS will approve your software.
Get began in your N-400 software without cost. You possibly can all the time strive it out and decide your eligibility for gratis. You received’t must pay till you attain the tip and determined to obtain the absolutely ready software or your customized submitting directions.
Word to Reader: This publish was initially revealed on June 27, 2017, and has been modified with enhancements.