One can acquire US citizenship through birth, derivation, or naturalization. US citizenship can be acquired by being born on US soil. An individual who has lived in the US as a lawful permanent resident for 5 years may acquire citizenship through naturalization. Certain special situations, such as being married to and living with a US citizen for the past 3 years, may allow you to obtain citizenship sooner. Citizenship status will extend to minor children currently living with you, who will automatically acquire citizenship by derivation.

When a person acquires citizenship, they also acquire certain rights and privileges. You will have the right to vote and to access loans, schools, and employment positions that require U.S. citizenship. You will also have the right to petition for permanent resident status for parents, spouses, children, or siblings. Individuals with criminal convictions should consult an attorney before submitting an application. Certain crimes may permanently bar naturalization. In other cases, it may be possible to show that individuals have "good moral character" as defined in immigration law. These cases are typically reviewed on a case-by-case basis by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Important information:

To establish continuous residence, you must be able to prove that you haven’t left the country at any point during the period of continuous residence for over a year. Furthermore, if you didn’t leave for a year but left for a period of 6-12 months, you will need to provide evidence that you did not abandon residence. It is highly recommended that you find proper legal representation if you fall under this category. (If you break continuous residence, you will have to wait 4 years and one day after you return to the US until you are eligible to reapply. The waiting period is 2 years and one day for the spouses of US citizens.

Eligibility for Citizenship

To apply for citizenship through naturalization, an individual:

  • Must be a lawful permanent resident.

  • Must be 18 years or older.

  • Must have established continuous residence over the last 5 years. This is called the statutory period. Applicants who have lived with their spouses for the last 3 years and are currently living with spouses who have had US citizenship for the last 3 years will have a 3-year statutory period. The three-year period also applies to lawful permanent residents who achieved LPR status through marriage and were physically abused.

  • Must be physically present in the US for at least half of the 5-year statutory period. (Spouses of US citizens will need to show physical presence for half of the 3-year period.)

  • Must have lived in the state or USCIS district where the application is filed for at least three months prior to the application’s official filing date.

  • Must have good moral character.

  • Must be able to read, write, and speak English and pass a simple test of US History and Government. Certain exceptions exist based on age, duration of stay, or medical disabilities.