All about US citizenship application

Applying for the US citizenship is a major step in someone's life. It is a privilege and an honour to become a US citizen, provided that you are eligible for taking such an important and life-changing step. Given the complexity of the US immigration system, this article highlights the key steps of the application process.

Eligibility

A person not born in the United States becomes a US citizen through the naturalisation process if certain requirements are met. Some of them are: - be at least 18 years old at the time of filing the Application for Naturalisation, Form N-400
- be a permanent US resident for at least five years (or three years in case you are married to a US citizen)
- demonstrate continuous permanent residence and physical presence in the US
- have basic English knowledge
- have a basic knowledge of US history and civics Preparing for the naturalisation process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offer a lot of educational resources to help you prepare for the naturalisation process, particularly the naturalisation test. There are materials available to support in preparation for the English, Civics and US history tests.

Application process

Filing for naturalisation is costly and the whole process takes roughly six months. If the eligibility requirements are met, the applicant may submit Form N-400, the Application for Naturalisation, along with the relevant fees (between $600 and $700) and additional documents which may be required such as: marriage or birth certificates. Naturalisation interview and test You will be invited to the naturalisation interview, where an immigration officer will discuss your background and your application with you. Make sure you bring your passport and your permanent resident card along with you. He orshe will also test your English knowledge as well as your US Government and history knowledge. Oath ceremony Once the interview has finished successfully and your Form N-400 has been approved, you will be invited to come in for your oath ceremony. Some USCIS offices may schedule your oath ceremony on the same day of your interview. Become a US citizen Taking the oath of allegiance is the final step in becoming a US naturalised citizen. After that, you will hand out your lawful permanent resident card to USCIS and you will be given the Certificate of Naturalisation. From this moment on, you are officially a US citizen with all the rights and responsibilities which come with this privilege. Final word Naturalised citizens are an important part of the United States democracy and USCIS welcomes newly naturalised citizens every day. For more details on the US Citizenship application process visit the Citizenship Resource Center on uscis.gov