4 Ways To Become a US Citizen
The United States of America is a land of promise and opportunity, attracting people from all over the world. For many, becoming a citizen of the United States is a dream come true. Being a U.S. citizen comes with many privileges including the right to vote, the ability to sponsor family members for immigration, and protection under the U.S. Constitution. In this article, we will explore four ways to become a U.S. citizen.
1. Birthright Citizenship
The simplest and most straightforward way to become a U.S. citizen is through birthright citizenship. If you are born on U.S. soil, you automatically become a U.S. citizen, regardless of your parents’ immigration status. The same goes for children born to U.S. citizens anywhere in the world or to permanent residents in the United States.
2. Citizenship Through Naturalization
The most common way for people to become citizens after birth is through a process called naturalization. Naturalization is available to people who are at least 18 years old and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for at least five years. During this time, you must maintain continuous residence in the U.S., stay out of trouble with the law, and pass a language and civics test.
3. Citizenship Through Derivative Status
In some cases, people can become citizens of the United States through a process called derivative status. This applies in cases where a parent becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization or birth, and their children below the age of 18 automatically acquire citizenship.
4. Citizenship Through Military Service
Another way to become a U.S. citizen is to serve in the military. This pathway is available to non-citizens who have served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year. After serving, they can apply for citizenship under a fast-tracked process.
Conclusion
Becoming a U.S. citizen is an admirable goal for many immigrants who have made America their home. Through birthright citizenship, naturalization, derivative status, and military service, there are different ways to secure your citizenship. It’s important to understand the requirements, process, and eligibility for each of these four ways, so as to take the appropriate steps to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.
While immigration and naturalization service technicians do not mark potential citizens on the basis of “partial credit,” as all citizenship requirements must be satisfied, and it is impossible to bluff the acquisition of citizenship, the relevant part of the analogy is that there are multiple solutions to the immigration and naturalization service problem. Like math problem-solving strategies, some may take longer than others, but all are a means of crossing the proverbial Finish line. They include:
1. Citizenship through right of birth or adoption – For those born in this country, there were never any conscious contemplations of citizenship requirements. Those were satisfied by being born within the confines or jurisdiction of the United States of America. Still, even if you did not acquire citizenship through country of origin since you were born in another country, you may be able to claim citizenship through a parent’s identity as a citizen. For adoptees, under the Child Citizenship Act enacted by Congress in 2000, a foreign child under the age of eighteen immediately becomes a citizen upon arrival at an American port of entry. In this instance, citizenship requirements are solely age-based, and immigration and naturalization service processing is, for the most part, rendered moot.
2. Citizenship through naturalization – Among the citizenship requirements for a lawful permanent resident of the United States are being eighteen years of age or older (here, age-based requirements are involved but reversed) and being a resident of the United States for five years. There are additional restrictions based on total time spent in the country during a period of permanent residence, but often, this is not a concern if continued residence is evidenced. Tests for health, knowledge of American history and government and literacy will be required by immigration and naturalization service officials, so it is recommended that adequate preparation is given to the testing process.
3. Citizenship through marriage
4. Citizenship through participation in the Armed Forces – While this would certainly be more uncommon, the participation of a lawful resident in a branch of the Armed Forces, concordant with fairly recent amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Acts, helps to expedite the naturalization process.
