Naturalization
Exercising the option to become a US citizen is a decision that should be considered for any eligible person who plans to spend their life in the United States.
Permanent Residents (green card holders) have less legal protections than United States citizens do. The lives of Permanent Residents are far less stable than those of United States citizens as the rules Permanent Residents operate under are subject to change depending on the political climate. Permanent Residents can be removed (deported) from the United States for a variety of infractions that can be changed by Congress at any time. Many times life long residents of the United States are sent back to their countries of birth or citizenship for relatively minor infractions.
The requirements to become a US citizen vary depending on how a person gained their Permanent Residency. Generally, a person must wait approximately 3-5 years after they become Permanent Resident before a naturalization application may be filed.
An interview will be scheduled sometime after the naturalization application is filed. The interview may occur many months after the application is filed. Times vary depending on location.
Part of the interview process consists of taking an oral US civics exam and a basic English exam consisting of a written statement. Generally, these exams must be passed before US citizenship will be granted. However, depending on an applicants age and length of time present in the US, or certain medical conditions, these requirements may be waived.
The USCIS provides a set of sample civics questions that should be studied before the interview here.
If you are interested in exploring the naturalization process, please contact our office.