How to Become a U.S. Citizen

Citizenship is automatically acquired in two ways: born in the United States or born to U.S. citizens. However, a foreign citizen or national can voluntarily become a U.S. citizen after he or she fulfills certain requirements established by Congress. The general requirements for naturalization include:

1. You must be at least 18 years old.
2. You must have been a Lawful Permanent Resident for the past five years or for the past three years if status was obtained through marriage to a U.S. citizen. Your time as a Lawful Permanent Resident begins on the date you were granted permanent resident status.
3. Your residence must be continuous without leaving the United States for six months or longer. If you leave the United States for one year or longer, you will need to restart your continuous residency requirement. However, if you return within two years, you may count up to 364 days of your time out of the country toward your continuous residency requirement.
   NOTE: If you are eligible under certain professions and travel or reside out of the United States for more than one year, you may apply to maintain your continuous residence with Form N-470. You must have resided and been physically present in the United States for at least one uninterrupted year.
4. You must be physically present in the United States for at least half of the five years (2.5 years) that you have been a Lawful Permanent Resident or half of three years (1.5 years) if status was obtained through marriage to a U.S. citizen. (NOTE: Physical presence is the total number of days you are inside the country. Each whole day outside the country does not count. However, partial days in the United States count as whole days.)
5. You must live in the USCIS district or state in which you are applying for at least three months before sending in the application. (Students may apply either where they go to school or where their family lives, but only if they are still financially dependent on their parents.)
6. You must be a person of good moral character for five years or three years if status was obtained through marriage to a U.S. citizen. Maintaining good moral character is defined as someone who has never:
   
   ◊ committed any crime against a person with intent to harm, against property or the government that involves fraud or evil intent, or two or more crimes for which the aggregate sentence was five years or more;
   ◊ violated any controlled substance law of the United States, any state or any foreign country; principally derived their income from illegal gambling or been convicted of two or more gambling offenses during the time good moral character is being established;
   ◊ been a habitual drunkard;
   ◊ engaged in prostitution;
   ◊ been married to more than one person at the same time;
   ◊ lied to gain immigration benefits;
   ◊ failed to pay court-ordered child support or alimony payments;
   ◊ been confined in jail, prison or a similar institution for a total of 180 days or more during the past five years, or three years if status was obtained through marriage to a U.S. citizen;
   ◊ failed to complete any probation, parole or suspended sentence before applying;
   ◊ been involved in terrorist acts or assisted in the persecution of anyone because of race, religion, national origin, political opinion or social group; and
   ◊ knowingly or willingly failed to register with the Selective Service.
   NOTE: If you are a male who has lived in the United States in any status other than as a lawful nonimmigrant at any time between the ages of 18 and 26; and been convicted of desertion or evaded the draft during a time of war.
7. You must demonstrate the ability to read, write and speak ordinary English. Special exceptions are available for the disabled, members of the military, veterans, spouses married to U.S. citizens living overseas, and Lawful Permanent Residents who work for certain organizations that promote U.S. interests abroad. Similar exemptions from the English language requirements are available for those 55 years and older who have lived in the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident for 15 years, or are 50 years and older and have lived in the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident for 20 years.
8. You must have knowledge of U.S. history and government. Sample questions can be found here.
9. You must be attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution. A copy of the Constitution can be found here.

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