How to obtain citizenship in the US

You are from another country and want to become a legal United States Citizen like others, many people visit and then they decide to live here permanently. You may live here for a while, but eventually you will have to become a citizen. This means you will have to give up your citizenship in your country.

Two main routes to become citizen

There are actually two ways to become a citizen: either by birth or by law. If you are born here then nothing needs to be done. However, if your parent is a US citizen that happened to be overseas at the time of your birth or your birth was never recorded as a United States citizen at the U. S. Consulate, then you will have to apply for citizenship. You are able to download all forms needed online from the Immigration Law Center Website to help you get started. This is a very important matter and you may want to hire an immigration lawyer to help you. You can find a reliable one through the American Immigration Lawyers Association. They will find a lawyer in your area to help you become a United States Citizen!

Several factors that you must meet to obtain your citizenship include:

• You have to be 18 years of age and hold a green card
• You have to hold 5 years of residency before the date you file
• If you have been removed from conditional permanent resident status. This being based on a marriage to a U.S. Citizen for one year after the condition was removed.
• You cannot leave the United States after your application until you become a citizen.
• You must have good moral character.
• You cannot have had a deportation order
• You must be able to read, write, and speak English along with understanding simple phrases or words in English.
• Have an understanding of U. S. History and the government
• You must also support the values of the US Constitution and swear allegiance to the United States of America.

Literacy test

You will have to take a literary test showing you understand the English language unless you are unable because of a disability, are more than 50 years old, and have been here for 20 or more years, and you are 55 and have lived here more than 15 years. In addition, another test of the U. S. History and government, unless you have a documented disability or are 65 years or older and have been here for 20 years.

If you fail the test, you can try again in 90 days. You have 120 days for them to give you a decision on your tests.