Preferred Ways to Citizenship
Many immigrants wish to become U.S. citizens. The road to citizenship generally takes two tracks. One track is for those immigrants who received permanent resident status through their U.S. citizen spouse. Provided they are still married and have continuously lived with their spouse, they are eligible for U.S. citizenship ninety days prior to the three-year anniversary from the date they received their resident status. Most others must wait until ninety days prior to the five-year anniversary from the date they received their green card.
Prerequisites for Applying for Citizenship
Current rules and regulations require the applicant to be 18 years old, be of good moral character, be able to read, write, speak and understand English, and have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government. In addition, the applicant has to have been physically present in the U.S.A. for 30 months (15 months if their permanent resident status was obtained through their U.S. citizen spouse) and, generally, cannot have resided outside of the U.S.A. for more than six months at a time. Exceptions to some of these requirements are available for U.S. military personnel, long-term permanent residents over 55 years old, or residents with disabilities.
Some individuals are U.S. citizens at birth (children born in the U.S.A. or born of U.S. citizens) or acquire citizenship through their parents who become U.S. citizens (if under 18 at the time their parents become citizens). Other children become U.S. citizens automatically upon becoming permanent residents if their status was obtained through a U.S. citizen parent.
Contact us for further information regarding U.S. citizenship.