Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Requirements for U.S. citizenship (naturalization)

  1. Be at least 18 years old at the time of filing for U.S. citizenship.
  2. Be a permanent resident (have a “Green Card”) for at least 5 years.
    • Only three (3) years of residency are required if you are married to a US citizen.
  3. Language: Be able to read, write, and speak basic English. 
    • Exceptions:
      • Those over the age of 50 who have been permanent residents for 20 years or more may take the exam in their native language.
      • Those over the age of 55 who have been permanent residents for 15 years or more may take the test in their native language.
  4. Civics Questions:  Pass an exam on the history and government of the United States. (Answer 7 of 10 questions correctly. The officer can choose from 100 questions that are prepared by USCIS).
    • Those over the age of 65 who have been permanent residents for 20 years or more only study a portion of the 100 questions.
    • If you have a mental or physical disability, you may not need to take the test.  Contact our office for more information.
  5. Be a person of good moral character.  Contact us if you have a criminal history (arrests, convictions for felonies or misdemeanors, jail, etc.).
  6. Be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the nation, the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and the patriotic symbols of the United States.
If one of your parents became a U.S. citizen before you turned 18, you may already be a US citizen. Call our office if you have questions (909) 554-3578.

For more information you can visit the official USCIS website.