Who Is Legally Eligible for Naturalized U.S. Citizenship

The eligibility requirements to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Understanding the various rules on how long you must have held a green card before submitting Form N-400.

Men and women in uniform can often apply for citizenship early, and gain other rights in honor of their service.

Whether you've accompanied your military spouse on an overseas posting or are the surviving family member of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, learn what special rights you have regarding U.S. citizenship.

If you've applied to go from conditional to permanent residence based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, long delays might make it worth applying for U.S. citizenship yourself before receiving USCIS approval of your permanent green card.

If you spent two years as a U.S. conditional resident, find out the circumstances under which you can count these toward the required years of residence you must have before applying to naturalize.

Battered spouses may qualify to apply after only three years with a green card.

Get help with every aspect of evaluating your eligibility for citizenship, preparing your application, and successfully passing the exams.

Be careful about applying for U.S. citizenship if you have used fraud, have a criminal record, are a Communist Party member, and so on.

When you apply for U.S. citizenship (naturalization), you must show that you meet the basic requirements for good moral character. Fortunately, lawful receipt of public benefits is not a problem.

If you are a green card holder applying for U.S. citizenship through the process known as naturalization, one important question will be whether you have ever been prosecuted for a crime or committed some other unlawful act.

The N-400 application form that green card holders must  fill out in order to apply for U.S. citizenship asks various questions about group and party memberships, some of which are problematic for eligibility.

If you are a man who lived in the U.S. or got your green card at any time between the ages of 18 and 26, you were probably expected to register with the U.S. Selective Service System.

Cheating on one's spouse may be seen as evidence of bad moral character.

U.S. immigration law frowns on being married to more than one person at the same time, and prohibits both bigamists and polygamists from becoming naturalized citizens.

Whether on a nonimmigrant visa or green card, committing certain acts or crimes can make a person deportable from the U.S.