Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Foreign citizens are eligible for naturalization if:
- One has been a permanent resident for at least five years and meets all other eligibility requirements including:
- attaining age eighteen or older at the time of filing
- having lived within the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over the applicants place of residence for at least three months prior to the date of filing
- having continuous residence in the U.S. as a green card holder for at least five years immediately preceding the date of filing
- being physically present in the U.S. for at least thirty months out of the five years immediately preceding the filing
- residing continuously within the U.S. from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of naturalization
- being able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government
- being a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. during all relevant periods under law.
- One has been a permanent resident for three years or more and meets all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen including having been living in a marital union with the same U.S. citizen spouse, along with the general criteria listed above.
- One has qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meets all other eligibility requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- One’s child may qualify for naturalization if one or more of the parent(s) are U.S. citizens and all other eligibility requirements are met.
One may also qualify through other paths to naturalization if even though he/she does not fall into the categories described above. More information can be found in A Guide to Naturalization on the USCIS Policy Manual Citizenship and Naturalization Website.