Randall Law PLLC - Citizenship, Apply for Citizenship, Naturalization Application

Most people become U.S. citizens either by birth in the United States, by birth abroad to U.S. citizen parents or by a process called naturalization. Citizenship in the United States gives a person all of the rights that the United States has to offer. For example, a U.S. citizen has the right to vote, the right to petition for family members to immigrate, and the right to live abroad without losing your right to return. To become a U.S. citizen, you must first have lawful permanent residence in the United States (a "Green Card"). You must also meet the other requirements listed below.

People who are born in the United States are automatically citizens at birth. There are a few exceptions for those who are born to foreign heads of state or on foreign vessels in U.S. waters.

Certain people who are born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may also be citizens at birth. The rules for automatic citizenship for those who are born abroad are extremely complicated and vary depending upon the year in which the individual seeking citizenship was born. If you were born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, contact Randall Law PLLC about your eligibility for automatic citizenship.

All individuals applying for citizenship through naturalization must be at least 18 years old and:

Have continuously resided in the U.S. for five (5) years after becoming a lawful permanent resident (three (3) years if married to a U.S. citizen);
Have spent at least half of the past five (5) years (three (3) years if married to a U.S. citizen) as a lawful permanent resident physically in the United States;
Must have lived for at least three (3) months in the jurisdiction where the application is filed;
Must demonstrate good moral character for the entire period of required residence (5 or 3 years), and an attachment to the principles embodied in the U.S. Constitution; and
Must possess basic English skills and knowledge of the history and government of the United States (certain exceptions apply); and
Must be willing to take the Oath of Citizenship.

Certain people are not eligible for citizenship even if they have met the above requirements. These include people who have held certain ideological beliefs and people who have deserted the U.S. military. Some criminal offenses may also interfere with a person’s eligibility to obtain citizenship through naturalization.