A Short Overview on Naturalization Citizenship

Naturalization citizenship is the process by which a non-citizen becomes a citizen of a particular country. This process is usually characterized by a legal process through which a person renounces his or her allegiance to the country of origin and acquires the citizenship of the new country.

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a naturalized citizen is one who is allowed to live and work permanently in the United States after fulfilling the legal requirements as stipulated in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

In this article, we will take a short overview of naturalization citizenship, the process of naturalization, eligibility requirements, the benefits of naturalization, and the application process.

The Process of Naturalization

The process of naturalization begins with the completion and submission of the USCIS Form N-400. The form contains personal information such as name, address, birth date, and social security number.

An applicant must also answer a series of questions concerning eligibility requirements, criminal history, and marital status. Once this form is filed, the applicant must be prepared to appear before a USCIS officer to determine eligibility for naturalization.

During the interview, the USCIS officer will ask questions relating to the applicant’s background, English proficiency, civic knowledge, and adherence to the principles of the U.S. Constitution. The applicant must demonstrate a good understanding of civics by answering any six out of ten questions correctly.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for naturalization, one must meet specific requirements, which include:

‍Residence and Physical Presence in the United States

An applicant must have resided in the United States for at least five years as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) before applying for naturalization. However, if one is married to a U.S. citizen, the required period is three years of residency.

Additionally, applicants must show physical presence in the United States for at least half of this period. This means that they must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months in the past five (or three) years before filing their application.

Good Moral Character

An applicant must demonstrate that they have a good moral character throughout the five years before the application. Good moral character includes being truthful, law-abiding, and not involved in any criminal activity, including traffic violations and other minor offenses.

English Language Proficiency

One must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to read and write simple words and phrases.

Civics Knowledge

‍Applicants must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of the U.S. Constitution and the history and government of the United States. They must pass a civics test that consists of ten questions, out of which, they must answer six correctly.

Application Process

After meeting the eligibility requirements, an application must then submit an Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, along with the required fees and documents. After submission, the USCIS will schedule an appointment for biometrics (fingerprints and photographs).

After this, applicants receive an appointment for a naturalization interview with a USCIS officer. The interview will include an English language test, followed by a civics test.

Applicants will receive notification of their application status after the interview. If approved, they must attend the naturalization ceremony, where they will take the oath of allegiance to the United States.

Benefits of Naturalization

Besides obtaining full citizenship rights, naturalization citizenship also offers several benefits. These include:

Voting Rights

‍Naturalized citizens have the right to vote in all federal, state, and local elections. Additionally, they can run for public office, which opens up more opportunities for civic engagement.

Travel Freedom

Naturalized citizens can travel, work, and live abroad without any restriction or fear of losing their citizenship status. They can also take advantage of visa-free travel to other countries, which is not available to non-citizens.

Eligibility for Federal Government Jobs

‍Some federal jobs require U.S. citizenship. Naturalized citizens can apply for these jobs and perform their duties without any restriction.

Protection from Deportation

‍Naturalized citizens are afforded full protection from deportation. This means that they cannot be removed from the United States unless their citizenship was obtained through fraud.

Access to Social Services

Naturalized citizens can access public benefits, including social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They also can enjoy tax and other benefits that are only available to citizens.

Conclusion

Naturalization citizenship has numerous benefits in terms of civic and economic engagement that extend far beyond the basic rights of a non-citizen. With the right resources, understanding the process, eligibility requirements, and benefits can make the process smoother and more comfortable. Obtaining citizenship should be seen as a powerful and essential step for a non-citizen who wishes to achieve the American dream.

One of the great realities of the institutions of naturalization in the United States today is that regardless of where people are born, where their parents came from, or the color of their skin, they may become full citizens just like those people whose families have been in the country for generations.

The naturalization process is generally reserved for those who entered the country legally.

American immigration law provides some basic laws of naturalization. The applicant must live in the country for at least five years, without pause, to apply for naturalization. Exceptions are made, however, as applicants that are married to a legal citizen generally wait for a duration of three years and children are often naturalized alongside their parents. Naturalization laws surrounding marital applicants have become stricter in many regards, especially when considering past abuses of the system.

If the applicant is permitted to apply for naturalization, they will have to go through an interview and corresponding test. This examination includes basic knowledge of English and the American political system/history. In some cases, aside from swearing allegiance to the United States, a new citizen will have to forfeit their citizenship in their country of origin.

Process of Naturalization Naturalization StatisticsThough some legal and illegal immigrants give little credence to naturalization rates, statistics on the numbers of foreign-born individuals seeking American citizenship may yet be fruitful in helping gain support among Americans for immigration as a whole and deterring those non-Americans that believe there is little chance of them successfully coming to live permanently in the United States.

Overall, total immigrant numbers in America are approaching 40 million residents. In fact, 2008 saw over a million foreign-born applicants secure citizenship, many of them coming from Mexico, the Philippines and India. In other demographic terms, more women than men were naturalized, and most achieved this goal through petition by a family member or employment.

Some rights of naturalized citizens may not be an apparent necessity for immigrants to the United States, but when considering their full implications, the move to apply for citizenship becomes more clearly valuable. The ability to vote in federal elections is an important symbol of the American people to choose someone who will represent their core interests.

The power to bring family to American shores on legal terms is vital for the preservation of family that is so important to the nation’s foundation. Having a travel visaNaturalization Lawyer
Though the naturalization process is given little thought by a number of Americans who became citizens by being born, it should be noted the processes of immigration and naturalization can be quite trying on the individual applicant. A good source of support, especially with regard to acquisition of citizenship, is a naturalization lawyer, who often prove well worth their fees.

In the pre-application stages, a naturalization lawyer can review a citizenship-seeker’s identification and records for any glaring weaknesses or red flags. The same, coincidentally, applies for the actual completion and sending of the N-400 Application for Naturalization to the Department of Homeland Security. On top of this, a naturalization lawyer makes for an excellent advocate for the applicant during his or her interview, especially if the legal professional perceives his/her client’s rights are being abused.

Benefits of Dual Citizenship

Rather than willingly acceding to a waiver of their original nationality, some people will actually try to preserve citizenship in two separate locations. Such is the essence of dual citizenship. In truth, being a citizen of multiple nations can work against a person, but in certain circumstances, it may also work to his or her advantage. If nothing else, dual citizenship may be a token of the emotional bond an individual shares with both lands.

Then again, having citizenship in a foreign country might be somewhat of a safeguard in the event of legal troubles or political imprisonment. More than that, it opens doors to employability and governmental benefits where only seasonal jobs and stipends may have previously applied. For those who can seek dual citizenship, the merits and limitations of adopting two nationalities must weighed in full before making any commitments.