Requirements to Become a US Citizen
Before a person can become a citizen of the United States, they must meet the following requirements:
Be at least 18 years of age
Show that you have been physically and continuously present in the United States as a legal permanent resident
Be a legal permanent resident for at least five years or three years if you obtained legal permanent residence by marriage to a US citizen whom you are still married to
Show that you are a person of “good moral character” by not having a serious criminal record, not owing overdue taxes, child support, or other fines
Register for the military service if you are a male of a certain age
Pass the civics test in which you will be asked a total of 10 questions from a pool of 100 potential questions
Show that you are proficient in the English language
Swear allegiance to the United States
The requirements listed above are general guidelines that one must meet before being eligible for naturalization. Naturalization applications require a thorough review of your history as a legal permanent resident. Further, a USCIS officer can ask you questions about your time as a legal permanent resident at your naturalization interview. Having an attorney prepare your naturalization package as well as accompany you to the interview is crucial to ensure that you answer all questions correctly and are granted citizenship.
This article is written by immigration attorney Matias G. Bebeni, Esq. Matias has spent years uniting and keeping families together through his legal assistance both with USCIS and in immigration court. If you have any questions about your immigration process, contact our offices at (917) 861-3667.
