How does one become a US citizen?
| An individual may become
a citizen of the United States as follows:
Birth in the United States: a child born in the United States is a citizen regardless of the parent or parents citizenship or immigration status. Birth Outside the United States: a child born outside the United States to a United States citizen parent or parents may acquire United States citizenship. Derivative Citizenship: a child born outside the United States may become a United States citizen through the naturalization of his or her parent or parents. Administrative Naturalization: naturalization, is an administrative procedure, whereby a lawful permanent resident alien acquires United States citizenship by meeting certain legal requirements. The general requirements for naturalization include: - minimum age of eighteen to file the application; - five years (married to US citizen – three years if certain conditions are met) of continuous residence after becoming a lawful permanent resident alien; - one half of the five years (30 months) must be physically present in the United States; - three months resident in the state where application is filed; - must be a person of good moral character; and - having basic English language skills, and knowledge of history and government of the United States. There are certain exceptions to some of the above stated rules; however, those exceptions are not discussed herein. |