There are a variety of different requirements for immigrants that want to become naturalized citizens of the United States. First of all, an immigrant can become naturalized if he or she is 18 years old or older and has been a permanent resident for the past five years. Immigrants that fall into this category typically have no circumstances. To qualify, you must have lived in the United States as a permanent resident without ever leaving the U.S. for a trip of six months or longer. Over 90% of all immigrant applicants who petition for naturalization fall into this broad category.
If you are at least 18 and are currently married to a U.S. citizen and have been living with that person for the past three years, then you may be able to petition for naturalization using this set of circumstances. You will need to prove that you have been a permanent resident for at least three years without leaving the United States for more than six months, and your U.S. spouse needs to have been a U.S. citizen for the past three years in order to make this a valid reason for naturalization.
Also, if you served in the armed forces or will be filing your petition within six months of an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, you may be able to get naturalization. You will need to prove that you served the United States in one of the branches of the military for one year or more, and you must be a permanent resident on the day of your interview. If you qualify under these circumstances, you are not required to have any continuous residence.
If you are at least 18 years old and were in the U.S. Armed Forces for less than a year or were in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than one year but were discharged more than six months ago, then you will need to wait five years as a permanent resident before applying for naturalization and eventual citizenship. Continuous residence for five years is required, but if you served overseas in the military this will not count against you regarding your permanent residency.
Also, immigrants who performed active military duty in World War I, World War II, the Persian Gulf, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, or after September 11th, do not need to be a permanent resident to apply for naturalization. Also, if you were married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of active duty service in the Armed Forces then you will be able to apply for naturalization based on this circumstance.
Lastly, if you are a U.S. national and have become a resident of a state in America and are otherwise qualified for naturalization then you have the right to apply for naturalization based on this. Any immigrant wishing to become a citizen of the United States has to apply for naturalization using the Application for Naturalization or a Form N-400.
Do you want more information about naturalization or the process of become a citizen of the United States? Then you need to talk with an attorney today to learn more! A local immigration attorney may be able to assist you in determining how to best handle your case or best state your case for naturalization.
If you can prove that you deserve to be naturalized based on any of the qualifications above, then you will be able to take the oath of citizenship and complete the civics and English language tests that are required of all applying citizens. Don't hesitate to contact a lawyer at an immigration firm near you today!