How to Become a US Citizen

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a dream for many, and there are different methods to achieve that. Most people will first apply to become a legal permanent resident and then become a naturalized citizen. However, you can also gain citizenship through marriage, your parents, or military service. If you have questions about becoming a citizen, contact an attorney who specializes in U.S. immigration law.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Becoming a Naturalized Citizen

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    Obtain a green card. Before you can become a naturalized citizen, you need to become a legal permanent resident. This is called getting your “green card.” You can get a green card in the following ways:[1]
    • Green card through your family. A family member in the United States can sponsor you. If your family member is a U.S. citizen, then they can sponsor their spouse, unmarried children under twenty-one years of age, and parents. They can also sponsor siblings, married children, and unmarried children over twenty-one years of age.
    • Green card through your job. If you have an offer of permanent employment, you are eligible to petition to get a green card. Others with exceptional ability can petition themselves and don’t need an employer to sponsor them.[2]
    • Green card as a refugee or asylum seeker. Refugees and asylum seekers in the United States for one year may petition for a green card.
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    Satisfy residency requirements. You need to live in the United States for a certain amount of time before you apply for naturalization. Check that you satisfy the following:[3]
    • You must have been lawfully admitted into the U.S.
    • You must demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years immediately before you file for naturalization. For example, if you want to apply in January 2018, you must have been a resident since January 2013.
    • You must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least thirty months during those five years.
    • You must prove you have lived for at least three months in the state or USCIS district where you apply.
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    Meet personal requirements. You must also meet certain personal requirements, such as the following:[4]
    • You must be at least eighteen years old when you file your application to become naturalized.
    • You should be able to speak, write, and read in English. You will have to pass an exam to demonstrate your proficiency in the language.
    • You must be a person of good moral character. Essentially, this means you are an upstanding member of society who works, pays their taxes, and doesn’t break the law.[5]
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    Submit your naturalization application. Download Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and either type the requested information or print neatly in black ink. Be sure to download and read the instructions ahead of time.[6]
    • You will have to submit supporting documents along with your application. Read the instructions to find out what to supply. For example, you must supply a copy of your permanent resident card.
    • As of June 2017, the filing fee is $640. You also need to pay a biometric service fee of $85. Make your check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” Don’t use other initials.
    • To find out where to file, call 1-800-375-5283.
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    Give biometrics. Most applicants will need to give their fingerprints, photograph, and signature. USCIS will notify you if you do. They will send a notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment.[7]
    • Your fingerprints will be sent to the FBI for a background check.
    • Make sure to pick up your study booklet to prepare for your English and civics tests.
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    Prepare for your tests. You’ll attend an interview, where a USCIS officer will question you about your background and application. You will also take your English and civics test at the interview. You should prepare for the tests carefully.
    • Think about attending an English or citizenship preparation class. To find your nearest class, visit this website: https://my.uscis.gov/findaclass.
    • You can also take practice civics tests, which are available online.[8]
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    Attend your interview. You will receive notice in the mail telling you the date and time for your interview. At the interview, you will take the English and citizenship tests. If you speak English well enough in the interview, you might not need to sit the English test.[9]
    • Gather required documents ahead of time. A checklist should be sent to you (Form 477).[10]
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    Swear an oath. The final step is to swear the Oath of Allegiance. You’ll receive Form 455, which will tell you where and when to take the oath. You must answer the questions on the back of this form and review them with an officer when you attend your naturalization ceremony.
    • At the end of the ceremony, you will receive your certificate of naturalization.[11]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Gaining Citizenship Through Marriage

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    Obtain a green card through your spouse. Your spouse should submit Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS. Your spouse will need to submit proof of the marriage, such as a marriage certificate.
    • If you’re already living in the U.S. after entering legally, then you can adjust your status at the same time. Complete and submit Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status. Your spouse can submit this form along with Form I-130.
    • If you’re currently living outside the U.S., then you’ll need to wait for your visa to be approved. You’ll attend an interview at the nearest embassy or consulate.[12] Once admitted into the U.S., you can adjust your status by filing Form I-485.
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    Talk about your marriage in an interview. The U.S. government is worried about sham marriages, so you can expect to attend an interview where an official will ask personal questions. Common questions include the following:[13]
    • Where did you meet your spouse?
    • How many people attended your wedding?
    • Who does the cooking and who pays the bills?
    • What did you do for your spouse’s birthday?
    • What forms of birth control do you use?
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    Satisfy the residency requirements. You can’t immediately apply for naturalization after receiving your green card. Instead, you must meet the following residency requirements:[14]
    • You must have been a green card holder for the three years immediately before you apply for naturalization.
    • You must have been a continuous resident for the three years before you apply and have been physically present in the U.S. for at least eighteen months.
    • You must have lived in a marriage with your U.S. citizen spouse during the three years. Your spouse must have been a citizen during the entire time.
    • You must have lived within the state or USCIS district for at least three months before you file your application.
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    Meet other personal requirements. In addition to residency, you need to show that you have other personal characteristics to be eligible. Check that you satisfy the following:[15]
    • You must be at least eighteen years of age.
    • You must be able to write, read, and speak English.
    • You need to be a person of good moral character. Generally, this means you haven’t broken a serious law and that you meet your legal obligations, such as paying taxes and child support.[16]
    • You must have entered the country legally. For example, you can’t be in the United States illegally and get citizenship simply because you married a citizen.
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    Submit your naturalization application. Once you have satisfied the residency requirement, you can submit Form 400, Application for Naturalization. Download and read the instructions before completing the application, available here: https://www.uscis.gov/n-400. When you are ready to file, call 1-800-375-5283 to find out the address.
    • Read the instructions to find out what documents you must submit along with your application.
    • Make payment to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” As of June 2017, the filing fee is $640 and the biometric fee is $85. You can pay using money order or check.
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    Give fingerprints. USCIS will send you a notice telling you where to give your fingerprints and when.[17] USCIS needs your fingerprints so that the FBI can run a background check.
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    Attend an interview. You’ll need to meet with immigration officials to go over your application. USCIS is looking to confirm that your application is legitimate and that nothing has changed since you submitted it. You’ll receive a checklist of documents to take with you to the interview, so gather everything ahead of time.
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    Take your tests. You must pass exams in civics and English. You will take them at your interview, and you should prepare as much as possible. For example, look to see if a preparation class is offered near you for either test. You can find the nearest classes at this website: https://my.uscis.gov/findaclass. Enter your zip code.
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    Attend your naturalization ceremony. The final step is to swear the Oath of Allegiance at your naturalization ceremony. Form 455 will tell you when and where the ceremony will take place. At the end of the ceremony, you’ll receive your certificate of naturalization.[18]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Obtaining Citizenship Through Parents

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    Be born to U.S. citizens. You will automatically become a U.S. citizen even if you are born outside the United States if both of your parents are U.S. citizens at the time of birth and are married to each other. At least one parent must have lived in the U.S. or a territory before the child’s birth.[19]
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    Have one parent as a U.S. citizen. A child can also automatically qualify as a U.S. citizen at birth if one parent is a U.S. citizen, provided the parents are both married to each other. This parent must have been present in a state or territory for at least five years in their life before the child is born.
    • The parent also must have spent at least two of those years in a state/territory after they were aged fourteen.[20]
    • The child must have been born on or after November 14, 1986.
    • There are some other circumstances, which you can read about at the USCIS website.
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    Qualify even if your parents are unmarried. A child can automatically qualify as a citizen at birth if their parents are unmarried. Consider the following situations:[21]
    • The mother is a U.S. citizen at the time of birth and the mother has been physically present in the U.S. or an outlying territory for at least one year.
    • The genetic father is a U.S. citizen at the time of birth. The child’s mother can be an alien. However, you must prove with clear and convincing evidence that the father is the child's biological father, and he must agree in writing to provide financial support for the child until they are eighteen years of age. The father also must have been living in the United States for a certain amount of time.
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    Earn citizenship after birth. A child can automatically qualify for citizenship if they were born after February 27, 2001 and meet the following requirements:[22]
    • One parent must be a U.S. citizen.
    • The child must be under eighteen years of age.
    • The child should reside in the United States.
    • The parent who is the U.S. citizen must have legal and physical custody of the child.
    • If the child was born before February 27, 2001, then different requirements apply.
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    Become a citizen by adoption. A child living legally in the U.S. with parents who have legal and physical custody can become a citizen by virtue of their adoption. One of the following conditions must be met:[23]
    • The parents adopted the child before the child’s sixteenth birthday and reside with the child in the U.S. for at least two years.
    • Alternately, the child was admitted into the U.S. as an orphan (IR-3) or Convention adoptee (IH-3) and the adoption was completed outside the U.S. The child must have been adopted before their eighteenth birthday.
    • The child was admitted into the country as an orphan (IR-4) or Convention adoptee (IH-4) who arrived to be adopted. The child must have been adopted before their eighteenth birthday.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Becoming a Citizen Through Military Service

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    Exercise good moral character. Good moral character generally means that you don’t break the law and you meet all of your legal obligations, such as paying taxes and making child support payments. If you have a criminal conviction, consult with an immigration attorney.
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    Show knowledge of English and U.S. civics. Members of the military must show that they can read, write, and speak English. They also must show knowledge of U.S. government and history, called civics.[24]
    • You’ll have to pass exams in both English and civics. You can find information about the exams online.
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    Serve in peacetime. If you served in peacetime, you can apply for naturalization if you meet the following requirements:[25]
    • Serve honorably for at least one year.
    • Obtain a green card.
    • File an application while still in service or within six months of separation.
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    Serve during wartime. The requirements are different if you are serving during a period of hostilities. The U.S. has currently been in such a period since 2002, and it will last until the President designates that it is over. In this situation, all members of the military can immediately apply to become naturalized.[26]
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    Apply for citizenship. Every installation should have a person to contact. They will usually be in personnel or the Judge Advocate General’s Office. You will need to complete Form N-400 and Form N-426.[27] Contact them and receive a packet of information. Your filing fee is waived.
    • USCIS has customer service specialists who can answer questions from military members and their families. Call 1-877-247-4645 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
    • You can also email militaryinfo.nsc@dhs.gov.
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    Swear an oath. Before you can become a citizen, you must show attachment to the U.S. Constitution by swearing an oath of allegiance.[28]
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What is the advantage of becoming a U.S. citizen?
    Valery Cury
    Valery Cury
    Immigration Attorney
    Valery Cury is an Immigration Attorney based in Santa Ana, California. With over seven years of experience, she specializes in affirmative cases. Valery earned her Master’s Degree from Brooklyn Law School and her Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic. She is licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. She’s also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Dominican Bar Association (DBA).
    Valery Cury
    Valery Cury
    Immigration Attorney
    Expert Answer
    You don't have to worry about long periods of staying abroad; instead, you can travel and be abroad for as long as you wish without having to worry about abandoning your residence status.
  • Question
    Will I automatically become a US citizen if I marry a US citizen?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. You still need to apply for US citizenship. Marrying a US citizen will make the process easier, however.
  • Question
    How long does it take to get citizenship?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Assuming you are a permanent resident of the U.S. for at least five years, the process takes anything from three months to over a year. Check with your local USCIS office, since processing times vary considerably. If you are married to a citizen, then it only takes 3 years instead of 5.
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Warnings

  • If you have criminal convictions, consult with an immigration attorney to see if you can pursue becoming a citizen.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/greencard
  2. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job
  3. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/learn-about-naturalization
  4. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/learn-about-naturalization
  5. ↑ https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/good-moral-character-and-immigration-status
  6. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf
  7. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/citizenship/what_to_expect
  8. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/prep/test/civics
  9. ↑ http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2013/03/how-to-become-a-us-citizen-by-marriage.html
  1. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/citizenship/what_to_expect
  2. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/citizenship/what_to_expect
  3. ↑ http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/how-get-green-card-after-marriage-citizen.html
  4. ↑ http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/what-happens-green-card-marriage-interview.html
  5. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/naturalization-spouses-us-citizens
  6. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/naturalization-spouses-us-citizens
  7. ↑ https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/good-moral-character-and-immigration-status
  8. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/citizenship/what_to_expect
  9. ↑ https://my.uscis.gov/citizenship/what_to_expect
  10. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
  11. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
  12. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
  13. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
  14. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
  15. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service
  16. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service
  17. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service
  18. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service
  19. ↑ http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/how-get-citizenship-through-military-service.html

About This Article

Valery Cury
Co-authored by:
Valery Cury
Immigration Attorney
This article was co-authored by Valery Cury. Valery Cury is an Immigration Attorney based in Santa Ana, California. With over seven years of experience, she specializes in affirmative cases. Valery earned her Master’s Degree from Brooklyn Law School and her Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic. She is licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. She’s also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Dominican Bar Association (DBA). This article has been viewed 1,467,009 times.
2 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 83
Updated: December 15, 2022
Views: 1,467,009
Categories: Citizenship and Immigration
Article SummaryX

To become a US citizen, you must be 18 or older, proficient in English, and a law-abiding person. If you meet those requirements, one way you can try to get a green card is by having a family member who's already a citizen sponsor you. Another way to get a green card is through your job if you have an employment offer. You also can petition for a green card if you have been in the US for 1 year as a refugee or asylum seeker. For more information on becoming a US citizen, including by birth or marriage, keep reading!

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