United States naturalization

NATURALIZATION

What is Naturalization?
Naturalization is the process whereby a permanent resident of the U.S. submits his application for naturalization with INS for the purpose of becoming a U.S. citizen.

What is the immigration form use to apply for naturalization?
A permanent resident of the U.S. must submit form N-400 to the INS Service Center with jurisdiction over the applicant's residence in the U.S.

What are the requirements to become a U.S. citizen?
It is impossible to include in this web site all of the requirements for an individual to qualify for adjustment of status in the U.S. Some of the requirements are as follows:

The applicant must be 18 years of age at the time of filing his application for naturalization.
The applicant must be a permanent resident of the U.S.
The applicant must have been a permanent resident for a period of five years immediately preceding the filing of the application for naturalization. Persons married to U.S. citizens must reside in the U.S. for three years instead of five. The couple must be married and living in marital union for the entire three years, and the U.S. citizen spouse must have been a U.S. citizen throughout this period.
The applicant must he physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the required residence time preceding the date of filing the application ( 30 months out of the five years, or 18 months out of three years if based upon marriage to a U.S. citizen).
The applicant must be a person of good moral character.
The applicant must have maintain continuous residency in the U.S. during the above stated 5 or 3 years period. Absences abroad for six months or less does not break the continuous residence requirement.
The applicant must be able to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language.
The applicant must have knowledge of the history and form of government of the U.S.
The applicant must take a full oath of allegiance to the U.S. and to support the U.S. Constitution.

What are the filing fees for an application for naturalization?
The filing fees for an application for naturalization is $225.00 The applicant must also submit $25.00 to cover the cost of taking his fingerprints. This amount may be paid via a certified check or money order payable in U.S. currency.

Disclaimer:
The information contained herein is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. You must consult with an attorney to obtain specific, comprehensive legal advice. Also note that the INS fees are subject to change without notice. For current INS fee information contact the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service directly.