A Step-by-Step Guide On How to Become a US Citizen

Over the last decade, more than 7.2 million people became US citizens. So many people are naturalized every year but still there remains the mystery of how complicated and complex the process of citizenship actually is.

The American Dream to live in the United States has remained strong and it can be a very important time in someone’s life when they chose to become a US citizen.

So, we’re here to shed some light on the process to show you it’s not as complicated as you may think.

A US Citizen

What does it mean to be a US citizen? As a citizen of the United States, you show allegiance to the country, you are entitled to its’ protection, and you must execute the rights and responsibilities of the country.

Rights and responsibilities include defending the Constitution, obeying the laws, participating in the democratic process, having the freedom to express yourself, and many more.  

If you do not currently hold US citizenship, the primary way to attain it is through naturalization. 

Become a US Citizen: Naturalization

Naturalization is defined as the process through which a person not born in the US voluntarily becomes a US citizen. The process of naturalization is not as complicated as some may think and can be achieved by applying for citizenship with an N-400.

However, there are still quite a few requirements to be eligible for US citizenship. If you have already lived in the US for 5 or more years and hold a Green Card, then you are already that much closer to becoming an American citizen.

Here, we will break down a guide explaining the requirements and process.

Eligibility

In order to become a US citizen, you must have the following requirements. You must be a permanent resident, which means have held a Green Card for at least 5 years. If you are filing as a spouse of a US citizen, then you only need to have held a Green Card for 3 years. 

You must be of at least 18 years old when filing for the Naturalization application, as well as a basic understanding of English (reading, writing, speaking), good moral character, and an understanding of US history and civics. More eligibility requirements can be referred to on the official US Citizenship site. 

The Naturalization Process

Once you have determined if you fit all the eligibility requirements, then you can begin with the Form N-400 application which is the first step in the Naturalization process. The overall process can be broken down into a total of 10 steps. 

But first, let’s understand what the N-400 is and how you can get started with it.

Form N-400

An integral part of applying for US citizenship is the government form that Green Card holders will prepare and submit when they are ready and eligible to become a citizen. 

You cannot complete a Form N-400 if you are the child of US citizen parents but live abroad. Follow the N-400 instructions carefully as this is an important part to becoming an American citizen.

How Long Does the Filing Process Take?

Be prepared that the filing process of your Form N-400 may not be speedy. The average processing time is 10 months or longer. However, there are certain methods you can take to potentially file early. The 90-day early filing rule states you can file with the USCIS as early as 90 days before the end of your 3 year or 5 year period of holding a Green Card.

Either way, it’s important to find out the N-400 processing time that relates to your specific situation.

Submitting the Form

You can send in your Form N-400 through both online or by mail. For mail, the USCIS site will direct you with the appropriate address to send your submitted materials to.

If you are filing online, it’s important to note you cannot be abroad. To file, you can create an online account with the USCIS site and you will sign electronically at the end. This may end up being a much simpler method for you and can make the application process a lot smoother. 

Supporting Documents

When you send in your Form N-400, you will also have to include several supporting documents with your application. For an online application, you can submit these documents as scanned photocopies. 

You will need to include a copy of your Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) and the application fee payment (either through a check, money order, or credit card). 

Once you have all the documents in order, then there are a few other parts of the naturalization process that you should prepare for.

The US Naturalization Test

After you have completed the Form N-400 and sorted the other supporting documents, you can prepare for the US Naturalization Test. There are four parts testing your abilities in speaking, reading, writing, and civics. 

You can make use of study tools online and on the USCIS site such as practice tests, 100 Civic Question and Answers, and resources to help you understand the scoring guidelines for the tests. 

With a better understanding of the naturalization process and test components, you are giving yourself a head-start with achieving US citizenship while being fully prepared for everything to expect. 

A Milestone of a Lifetime

Once you have determined whether you have all the eligibility requirements then you can begin taking the steps in order to become a US Citizen. If you have a good understanding of the process of naturalization and how the Form N-400 works, then you are that much closer.

Becoming a citizen of the United States may be the most important milestone of your lifetime and we hope this helped make the process more clear for you.

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