How to Become a US Citizen

Gaining citizenship of a country like the United States is a matter of pride and honor. The United States is truly one of the greatest countries in the world with a great history. And being able say that you're not merely one with a permanent residential status, but also a citizen, is something so many people crave for.

Eligibility for Becoming a US Citizen
Like in many countries, a person can become a US citizen in two ways: by birth and by naturalization. The first one is quite simple. If you are born in the territory of the United States, you are a citizen of the US and the state in which you are born. The tough one is about naturalization. Naturalization is for those who have entered the US after immigration. The problem with understanding the process of naturalization is that, it is different for different people. The rules and requirements for people who try to become US citizens differ, based on whether they are married to a US citizen, or if they are staying in the US as legal permanent residents.

You first need to understand how you can become eligible for citizenship. When you obtain the LPR, the government of US basically keeps you on probation. This means that you are residing in the US, but do not enjoy some constitutional rights which citizens enjoy. You may also be facing the risk of deportation, as you are not a citizen. So the government first keeps you on a probationary period before you actually become eligible for gaining citizenship. This eligibility criteria is different for ordinary LPRs and LPRs that are married to US citizens.

If you are a LPR, you need to be physically present in the US for a period of at least 30 months out of the past 5 years. If you are a LPR married to a US citizen, things move faster for you as you become eligible for citizenship, if you have had physical presence in the territory of the United States for up to 18 months out of the last 3 years. An absence from the territory of the US for over 6 months might mean that you have to start your tenure all over again.

During this tenure, the US government monitors your behavior to see if citizenship should be granted to you or not. There are some broad parameters on which the US judges your behavior. If you commit any of the following crimes (known as permanent bars to naturalization), you will never be granted citizenship of the US. These crimes include murder, rape, sexual abuse of a child, treason, violent assault and trafficking in drugs, firearms, or people. So, if your behavior stays above board throughout your LPR, you will become eligible for citizenship.

Becoming a US Citizen
Count the days in your final year (3/5th). When you are 90 days from the completion of your tenure, you are eligible for applying for citizenship. You will have to fill out the N-400 form. This is an application form. You have to fill it carefully, without any mistakes and submit it to your local processing office. You will then get a notification from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services department, acknowledging the receipt of your application. They will scrutinize your form and tell you the date for your citizenship test. This exam tests your knowledge of the laws and American history. This test can make or break your chances of getting a citizenship, so you ought to study for it well.

If you pass the test you will receive a notification, saying that you have passed and an interview date will be given. In case you fail, you can give the test again in 90 days. The interview stage is to scrutinize your documents and ensure that you have not supplied any fake information. Take all the original documents with you to the interview. Once you pass the interview, you will receive the date of your oath, which is the final step getting the green card.