Who Can Apply for U.S. Citizenship

Find out who is eligible for U.S. citizenship and how to apply to naturalize.

By , J.D. · University of Washington School of Law

U.S. citizenship gives a person as many rights as the U.S. has to offer; for example, the right to vote in U.S. state and federal elections, petition for family members to immigrate to the U.S., and to live abroad without losing the right to return. For these reasons, U.S. citizenship is not easy to obtain. (For the law on who is eligible, see 8 U.S.C. § 1427.)

Unless you are among the lucky few who qualify automatically for U.S. Citizenship by Birth or Through Parents, you will need to apply to become a U.S. citizen, through a process known as naturalization. Before applying, however, you must first have had a green card (lawful permanent residence) for a number of years and meet other eligibility requirements, listed below.

Basic Eligibility Criteria for U.S. Citizenship

If you are interested in applying for U.S. citizenship, first make sure that all of the following apply to you:

    cautionApplying for citizenship opens your whole immigration history to review. This is not a risk-free process. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will carefully investigate your background. If it discovers something wrong—for example, that you used fraud to get your green card or abandoned your residency by making your home outside the United States—it can strip you of your green card and send you out of the country.

    Tests You'll Need to Pass to Become a U.S. Citizen

    After submitting your application (as described below), you'll also need to be ready to pass two exams. These will be held during your citizenship interview, at a USCIS office. They are meant to test whether:

    If you don't pass one or both of these tests the first time, you'll normally get one more chance, typically within 60 to 90 days of the first interview.

    Application Process for U.S. Citizenship

    In order to apply, you will need to complete a citizenship application on USCIS Form N-400 (see Filling Out USCIS Form N-400) and send it in with a copy of your green card, the required photos, and the appropriate fee. After filing your application, you will probably wait many months, depending on backlogs at your local USCIS office. First, you will be called in for a fingerprint (biometrics) appointment, and later an interview appointment.

    At the interview, a USCIS officer will test your English language ability (unless you fit within an exception) and your knowledge of U.S. history and government (though with a shorter list of possible question if you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident of the U.S. for at least 20 years).

    Applicants who are disabled can ask for accommodations at the interview, such as a sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility.

    If all goes well at the interview, you'll receive an appointment for your swearing-in (oath) ceremony. At that time, you actually become a citizen, and receive a certificate of naturalization to prove it.

    As a citizen, you can petition to have close family members join you in the United States. For details, see Green Cards for Your Family: Sponsorship Rules.

    Further Resources About U.S. Citizenship

    For more on the eligibility and application requirements for citizenship, including important exceptions, the rights of disabled persons, and the details of how to apply, see, Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & Interview, by Ilona Bray (Nolo).

    Also see When Do You Need an Immigration Lawyer?.

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