In order to be naturalized, an applicant must first meet certain criteria to apply for citizenship. Then, the applicant must complete an application, attend an interview, and pass an English and a civics test. Upon successful completion of these steps, the applicant takes an oath of allegiance, and becomes a citizen.
Declaration of Intent: Also called First Papers or just a Declaration, this step generally could be completed after a person had lived in the United States for at least 2 years. Final Papers: Also called Petition for Naturalization or Petition and Record, this is the step that actually granted full citizenship.
Determine your eligibility to become a U.S. citizen. In general, you may qualify for naturalization if you are at least 18 years old and have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen) and meet all other eligibility requirements.
The naturalization oath is the final step in becoming a U.S. citizen, and applicants must swear allegiance to the United States of America before they can become citizens.
Be of the minimum required age (typically, at least 18) Continuously and physically live in the United States as a green card holder for a certain number of years. Establish residency in the state or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) district where they intend to apply. Have “good moral character”
The Five R's are the foundation of citizenship: rights, roles, resources, responsibilities, and relationships.
Step 4: Oath of Allegiance
Once your application is approved, you will attend an Oath of Allegiance ceremony. It's very important that you complete this step. You are not a U.S. citizen until you have taken the Oath of Allegiance.
$640. (Add the $85 biometric fee for a total of $725, where applicable. See exceptions below.) If you file your Form N-400 online, you may pay your fee online.
A naturalized U.S. citizen has the same status and privileges as a native-born citizen, with a few exceptions. For example, only a native-born citizen may become president, but naturalized citizens may hold any other elective or appointive post.
Many people from outside the United States want a green card because it would grant them permanent resident status, which would allow them to live and work (lawfully) anywhere in the United States and qualify for U.S. citizenship after three or five years.
Follow the 10-step naturalization process from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You will learn: If you are eligible for naturalization. How to fill out Form N-400 to apply for naturalization.
Most people who apply for a Green Card will need to complete at least two forms—an immigrant petition and a Green Card application (Form I-485). Someone else usually must file the petition for you (often referred to as sponsoring or petitioning for you), although you may be eligible to file for yourself in some cases.
It takes 7 to 33 months to process a Green Card application.
The Green Card processing time depends on the type of Green Card you are applying for, the location of the processing office and other factors. Family Preference Green Cards processing takes from 1 to 10 years depending on the wait time and yearly caps.
A person who is a citizen of India owes allegiance to the Constitution and government of India. Citizenship stands terminated if a person does any act which puts the security of the nation at stake, or is against the functioning of state machinery.
Can I reapply for naturalization if USCIS denies my application? In many cases, you may reapply. If you reapply, you will need to complete and resubmit a new Form N-400 and pay the fee again. You will also need to have your biometrics taken again.
Processing times
90% of applications are processed within 11 months.
have passed a citizenship test (unless over the age of 60) be a permanent resident at the time of application, and also, at time of decision. satisfy the residence requirement. be likely to reside, or to continue to reside, in Australia or to maintain a close and continuing association with Australia.