Applying for U.S. Citizenship

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If you are already a certified U.S. citizen you are entitled to gain some privileges that a non-citizen cannot have. When you are already a citizen you can have the right to vote during election, you can be able to petition your family member from another country or stay out of the country without losing the right to come back in any time you wish. However, citizenship cannot be easily obtained.

For you to become a U.S. citizen there are several qualifying requirements and green card or permanent address is the most important requirement for you to file for U.S. citizenship. There might be some exceptions wherein the individual can get in the country with no citizenship or status, this is applicable for those individuals who born in the United States or through their parents.

There is some several eligibility criteria needed for you to be able to apply for U.S. citizenship. Some of the criteria are:

• At least you have stayed in the country as a permanent resident status for five years (there are exceptions in the case of political asylum, refugees, spouse of a citizen in the U.S and U.S. military personnel)
• Should be physically present, it means you must not leave the country for at least half of the required time frame.
• You must be in legal age, which is at least18 years old and have a good moral character.
• Able to speak, read and write in English.
• You have to pass the examination that covers the U.S. history as well as government and should believe the principles and the constitution of the country.

One very important thing to remember, when you apply for citizenship, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS will thoroughly inspect your background or history. If they have proven that you did something wrong particularly if you falsify some documents just to gain green card or lived outside the United States without permit can be the grounds of deportation.

If you already determined that you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, you can now file your application together with a certified copy of green card, required photos as well as the fees needed for filing. After filing the application, you will surely wait for several months. Usually this will depend on your local USCIS office. After waiting, you will be contacted for fingerprinting process then the schedule for interview.

During the interview, the USCIS official will asses your ability to speak, write or read in English (if you are over 50, you are exempted). They will also test your familiarization with U.S. government and history. If you are disabled, you may have the freedom to have some sign language interpreter and other ways on how you can be comfortable during the interview.

Lastly, if you passed with the interview, the USCIS will provide you appointment for the swearing-in ceremony. After the ceremony you are now a certified citizen of the United States, you can now have some privileges like to vote or petition your immediate family member.