The United States of America is a world power, and the American dream is also the dream of many people who live in other countries and want to emigrate to the land of Uncle Sam.
There are many forms of visas to travel to the US, but many are wondering how to get american citizenship. Is there a simple way available for immigrants to obtain the US citizenship?
The United States is a land full of opportunities, whether to study, work or entrepreneurship. This makes many people look for space in the US.
In this post we will evaluate the possibilities and feasibility of achieving this citizenship
Advantages of the U.S. citizenship
By acquiring an US citizenship, the beneficiary begins to enjoy some benefits, which is why many people look to this category to be compared to any US citizen.
Some benefits are:
• Maintenance of residency: The right of the US citizen to remain in the United States cannot be withdrawn.
• Federal Grants and Scholarships : Many grants, such as scholarships and special grants offered by the government for certain purposes, are available only to US citizens.
• Public benefits: Some government benefits are available to US citizens,
• Public Offices: Only citizens can run for federal office and for most state and local public offices.
• Citizenship for Foreign Born Children: In most cases, a foreign born child, the daughter of a US citizen, is automatically a US citizen.
• Bringing family members to the United States: United States citizens generally have a priority in bringing family members to live permanently.
• US Passport: The US passport allows US citizens to obtain assistance from the US government abroad, if needed.
• Participation on juries: Only US citizens can serve on federal juries. In most states, only US citizens can serve on juries, as this is a very important responsibility.
• Vote: Only US citizens can vote in federal elections. In most states, this is also the case.
However, the benefits do not come alone, when an immigrant receives US citizenship, he also acquires some duties to fulfill.
Some obligations that an immigrant who obtains U.S. citizenship must fulfill:
• Continuous residence: living in the United States as a permanent resident for a period.
• Physical Presence : Show that you are physically present in the US for specified periods of time.
• Time in a USCIS state or district: Show that you have lived in your USCIS state or district for a specified period of time.
• Good moral character: demonstrate that you behave in an acceptable manner and within the law.
• English and civics: know basic English and have knowledge of the history and government of the United States.
• Dedication to the Constitution: Understand and accept the principles of the American Constitution.
You can see that US citizenship has many advantages, as well as many duties, but US citizenship is not the same as the Green Card.
What is the difference between US citizenship and a green card?
US citizenship is granted to citizens born in the US OR children of Americans born outside the country.
If for any reason you have US parents, you can apply for US citizenship.
Citizenship is also granted through applications for naturalization, which is a more complex procedure since it involves the entire US government and security apparatus.
In order to enter this application, a person must be legally living in the US for 5 years, during the entire period of the citizenship application, and to legally live in the country for all this time, they need a Green Card.
The Green Card is just a device that legalizes the stay of an immigrant.
What are the ways to become a US citizen?
There are three ways to become a U.S. citizen:
• Live in the US for at least 5 years legally.
• That one of your parents has US citizenship.
• Born in the USA or in any territory that belongs to the country.
All of them can and should be done independently, you do not need to legally live in the country for 5 years, if you were born on American soil.
How do I apply for US citizenship?
If you have read this far and fit into any of the ways to apply for your US citizenship, there are steps you need to take to do so.
To follow these steps, you will contact an agency of the US state government, called USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration).
Step 1 – Form
You will go to the USCIS website and fill out an N-400 form
Step 2 – Documents
Once the form is completed, it is necessary to send some documents with it to the USCIS, which are:
• Copy of the marriage certificate, if any.
• Copy of permanent resident card
IMPORTANT: the documents and the form must be duly translated with certified translation.
A certified translation is a document issued by a professional translator confirming in writing the fluency of the documentation. The person responsible for the document cannot do the translation, even if qualified, for the sake of impartiality.
Certified translation is not the same as a legalized translation.
The certified translation is an official document, recognized by the government, with public faith, which can only be carried out by a qualified translator, who is the certified public translator.
Some organizations require sworn translations, so always check with the organization what type of translation they require.
During the process, it may happen that the USCIS requests other documents, it will depend on each situation. All documents in the foreign language must be translated into English by a certified translator.
Step 3 – Fee
To enter the process, it is necessary to pay a fee, in the amount of 725 dollars, $640 are related to the registration, while $85 are related to the biometrics that will be carried out when your registration is accepted.
Step 4 – Biometrics
At this stage, the person will perform the fingerprint registration and perhaps photographs.
Step 5 – Interview
At this stage, the immigrant must have a conversation with an official of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the interview serves to confirm all the information recorded on the form, and language and citizenship tests will be performed.
In the language test, the individual will do an evaluation, where he must read some sentences and write others spoken by the department official.
Some people are exempt from taking the English test, they are:
• 65 years or older, with at least 20 years living in the US.
• 55 years or older, with at least 15 years living in the US.
• Greater than or equal to 50 years, with at least 20 years living in the US.
The civics test is mandatory in all situations, the above mentioned persons can take the civics test in their own language.
The civics test consists of 10 questions, where the person must hit 6 to pass, and will also be entitled to a second attempt.
IMPORTANT: if by chance the individual is exempted from the English test, he must bring his private translator for the civic test.
Step 6 – Ceremony
In this phase, after your application is granted, it is necessary to attend a naturalization ceremony, at the ceremony, the person must take an oath of allegiance to the United States, and at the end will receive a certificate of naturalization.
USCIS will send form N-445, which will contain information with the date and location of the ceremony. Simply fill it out and take it with you on the day of the event, also, if the individual has the Green Card, he must return it at the time of the ceremony.
After that stage, the person ceases to be an immigrant and becomes a US citizen.
It is important to check how your country views dual citizenship, some countries do not allow dual citizenship or allow it with some exceptions.
Not everyone necessarily needs US citizenship, sometimes the green card itself has already met what the person needs, so each case must always be analyzed individually.
Enjoy and learn more about how to get a Green Card.