Immigration Laws

In the U.S. naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen for a foreign citizen or national after meeting the requirements established by Congress. Usually the applicant must be a permanent resident before filing for the status. There are a number of ways to qualify for naturalization. One of these is if you have been a U.S. citizen at least for five years and meet the other requirements.

Another way is if you have been a citizen for three years, or more, meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. resident. Third, you have the necessary qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meet all other requirements. Fourth, your child may qualify if you are a U.S. citizen and your child was born outside the U.S. The child currently lives outside the U.S. and meets all other requirements.

If any of the requirements are met then the person must meet the basic elegibility requirements. These include the following: the applicant must be 18 years of age, or older; be a permanent resident; have lived within the state for at least three months prior to the date of filing the application; be a continuous resident in the U.S. for at least five years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application; be physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the preceding five years; reside continuously in the U.S. from the date of application; be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government; be a person of good moral character.

Parents who have not been naturalized might be happy to know that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens. It does not matter where the parents were born, their status, and so forth. This is true under all circumstances no matter if the parents are citizens, green card holders, students, tourists, or illegal aliens. If a child was born outside the U.S. and one or both of the parents are U.S. citizens, the baby can acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. If the parents have become naturalized citizens of the U.S., and the child is born outside the U.S. the child can become a citizen by virtue of the naturalization of his/her parents.

The most recent rules for members of the U.S. armed services require that the member has served one or more years of service. The one year requires that the applicant served honorably. Additionally, the member must be of good moral character.