ALEJANDRO ROQUE., ESQ. | IMMIGRATION & CRIMINAL LAW ATTORNEY

Citizenship

Citizenship

The United States has a long history of welcoming people from around the world. The contributions of immigrants continue to enrich this country and maintain its legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity.

Citizenship in the United States is a unique bond that unites people around civic values and belief in the rights and freedoms provided by the U.S. Constitution. The promise of citizenship is based on the fundamental premise that all people are equal and acts as a unifying identity that allows people of all backgrounds, native or foreign-born, to have an equal stake in the future of the United States.

The U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Service (USCIS) is charged with enforcing citizenship and naturalization laws and policies by:

• Provide accurate and relevant information to applicants for citizenship and naturalization; increase awareness and understanding of citizenship; and adjudicate applications for citizenship and naturalization consistently and correctly.
• As a result, before recognizing the acquisition or derivation of U.S. citizenship, USCIS evaluates all applications for citizenship and naturalization to determine whether: Foreign-born children of U.S. citizens by birth or naturalization meet the conditions of eligibility.
• Individuals who apply for naturalization based on their status as lawful permanent residents are eligible to become U.S. citizens.
• Applicants for citizenship (with resident status) who are married to a U.S. citizen and meet the qualifying requirements, such as having three (3) years of marriage, qualify for naturalization under the provisions for spouses of U.S. citizens.
• Members of the United States armed forces and their families are eligible for naturalization, and military rules ensure that suitable candidates are naturalized as quickly as possible.
• Individuals who work abroad for certain entities, including the U.S. government, meet the eligibility requirements for certain exceptions to the general naturalization requirements.

Who can apply for naturalization?

The ultimate goal for most immigrants is to become citizens of the United States. We all come to this nation with the hope and dream of working hard and earning the right to become citizens of the United States. To apply for naturalization and become a United States citizen, you must first:

• You must be at least 18 years old when you apply.
• Have been a legal permanent resident for three or five years (depending on the naturalization category you are applying for);
• Have a permanent address and physical presence in the United States;
• You should be able to read, write and speak basic English.
• Demonstrate good moral character for the 5 years preceding your application date; demonstrate knowledge and understanding of United States history and government; demonstrate commitment to the ideals of the United States Constitution; and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.

• Citizenship in the United States can be obtained or acquired at birth.

Additionally, those born outside the United States may be U.S. citizens at birth if one or both parents were U.S. citizens at the time of their birth. Naturalization allows people who were not born in the United States to become citizens. Naturalization is the process of acquiring U.S. citizenship after birth by any method.

Generally, an applicant files an application for naturalization, and once the application is adjudicated, USCIS grants citizenship. A person may become naturalized by operation of law in some cases. This is commonly referred to as acquiring citizenship. In any case, the applicant must meet all standards imposed by Congress. A person cannot become naturalized in most situations unless he or she has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.

One of the most important decisions an immigrant can make is to become a U.S. citizen. Naturalized U.S. citizens have equal access to the rights and benefits of U.S. citizenship. Citizenship in the United States allows immigrants to:

• Vote in federal elections;
• Vote in federal elections;
• Obtain some state and federal benefits that are not available to non-citizens;
• Be eligible for employment in federal and specific law enforcement;
• Obtaining citizenship for minor children born outside the United States;
• and Expand and accelerate their ability to bring family members to the United States.