US citizenship

In order to become a U.S. citizen, an individual usually must complete the process of naturalization. The requirements for naturalization are as follows:

» The applicant must be a lawful permanent resident.
» The applicant must be 18 years or older.
» The applicant must have been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years
Exception: If an individual obtained permanent residence through marriage to a U.S. citizen, he or she may be eligible for naturalization after only 3 years if:
» a. The couple has been married for 3 years;
» b. The U.S. citizen spouse was a U.S. citizen during the full 3 year period;
» c. The couple remains living in marital unity.

» The applicant must have resided for at least 3 months in the state where the citizenship application was filed.
» The applicant must have been physically present in the United States for at least one half of the 5 years.
» The applicant must be a person of good moral character throughout the 5 years.
» The applicant must possess basic skills of reading and writing in English.
» The applicant must pass a test of basic knowledge of the U.S. government and history.