U.S. Citizenship Requirements

From Permanent Resident to U.S. Citizen

As a lawful permanent resident, you have the right to work, live, and travel in and out of the U.S. You also have access to certain government benefits, including lower tuition fees than international students. You also enjoy many constitutionally protected rights, such as the right to freedom of expression. However, there are still some limitations.

You cannot leave the country for over a year at a stretch and are more heavily scrutinized at the border than citizens. You cannot sponsor non-immediate relatives for green cards, and all relatives of U.S. citizens take priority over yours when processing green cards.

Furthermore, you can’t exercise one fundamental right – the ability to vote and be voted for. Fortunately, the U.S. immigration law allows permanent residents who meet specific requirements to naturalize as citizens. While some choose not to take this step, many others do because of the numerous benefits of holding a United States citizenship.

Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

Anyone who is born in the U.S. is considered a citizen unless they are born to a foreign diplomat or other foreign government officials. However, for a permanent resident to acquire citizenship through naturalization, you must have been a permanent resident for at least five years. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you must have lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least three years at the time of your application.

You must meet the following requirements set forth by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (U.S.C.I.S.):

• Be of the minimum age, which is 18.

• Be a continuous resident in the U.S. for the required number of years. This continuous residence requirement does not necessarily mean you must not have traveled out of the country. However, a trip abroad must have been temporary, with your permanent residence being in the United States.

• Be physically present in the U.S. for two and half years out of five years or 548 days out of three years.

• Be a permanent resident, also known as a green card holder.

• Prove that the jurisdiction where you filed the citizenship form has been your continuous residence for at least three months. For example, if you filed your application at the USCIS Atlanta office, you must prove that you have been residing in Atlanta or one of the counties served by this office.

• Demonstrate allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and be ready to swear the Oath of Allegiance.

• Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the history and government of the United States.

• Have good moral character and the ability to speak, read, and write basic English.

Note that the requirements for naturalization through military service are slightly different. You can find out more on the U.S.C.I.S. website.

Tadeo & Silva Immigration Attorneys: Your Atlanta Naturalization Attorneys

An immigration attorney is very instrumental to your naturalization process. An attorney can help you file your application correctly and prepare you for your test. Furthermore, one of the vital stages of the application is the interview, and an experienced attorney or law firm can prepare you for success. For a top immigration lawyer in Atlanta, look no further than Tadeo & Silva Immigration Attorneys.

We can help you with the interview and provide many other immigration services at our immigration office in GA to ensure the smooth processing of your citizenship application. We also help with appealing cases if your application is denied. Time is of the essence if you’re planning an appeal, so contact us now!