Immigration - Frequently Asked Questions
How can I become a United States citizen?
A person may become a U.S. citizen through birth or by naturalization. People are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the United States or if they are born to a U.S. citizen. If you were born in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you are an American citizen at birth (unless you were born to a foreign diplomat). Your birth certificate is proof of your citizenship.
What is Naturalization?
The act of making a person a citizen of the United States who was not born with that status. An application for citizenship is an application for Naturalization.
How do I become a naturalized citizen?
If you are not a U.S. citizen by birth, you may be eligible to become a citizen through naturalization. People who are eighteen years and older use the "Application for Naturalization" (form N-400) to become naturalized. Children who are deriving citizenship from naturalized parents use the "Application for a Certificate of Citizenship" (Form N-600) to become naturalized.
What are the requirements for naturalization?
You may apply for naturalization if you have been a lawful permanent resident for five years; you have been a lawful permanent resident for three years; have been married to a U.S. citizen for those three years; and continue to be married to that U.S. citizen; you are a lawful permanent resident child of U.S. citizen parents; or you have qualifying military service. Children under 18 may automatically become citizens when their parents naturalize.
How long will it take to become naturalized?
The naturalization process may be completed in two years.
If I am naturalized, is my child a citizen?
If children are Permanent Residents they can derive citizenship from their naturalized parents. In most cases, your child is a citizen if all of the following are true:
The other parent is also naturalized, you are the only surviving parent (if the other parent is dead) or you have legal custody (if you and the other parent are legally separated or divorced.) and the child was under eighteen when the parents naturalized, the child was not married when the parent(s) naturalized and the child was a Permanent Resident before his or her eighteenth birthday.
What is an Immigrant?
A person coming to the U.S. to remain or permanently or for an indefinite period of time and to make the States the primary place of residence. A permanent resident of the U.S. is an immigrant. A person who plans to become a permanent resident is an intending immigrant.
What is a Visa?
An authorization issued by a U.S. consul permitting a person to come to a U.S. port or inspection point to apply to be admitted to the U.S. for the purpose of the particular visa. A visa does not give the bearer the right to enter the U.S. but only the right to apply to be admitted at an inspection point.
What is an Immigrant Visa?
An Immigrant visa is the visa given to a person by a U.S. consul after qualifying for permanent residence. After arriving in the U.S., the person will receive a green card. Immigrant visas are issued to those who qualify for residence in the States. There are various applications for residence, including: Employment Based Visas; Special Ability Visas; Family Relations Visas; Lottery Diversity Visas; Religious Worker Visas; Investors/Entrepreneur Visas; and Refugee/Asylum/Protected Status Visas.
What is a Nonimmigrant?
A person coming to the U.S. for a limited period of time who intends to return to another country after the stay in the U.S. ends. In addition, a class or type of visa issued for a non-immigrant purpose such as visitor, student, and diplomat.
What is a Permanent Resident?
The status held after qualifying and registering with the Immigration Service which allows the person to live permanently in the States, to travel in and out without a visa, to work at any job, and to accumulate time toward U.S. citizenship. An individual with this status is also referred to as being in possession of a green card.
Is dual citizenship possible?
Yes, if you have been a dual citizen from birth or childhood, or you became a citizen of another country after already having U.S. citizenship, you may qualify for dual citizenship. If the country in question does not have any laws requiring you to formally renounce your U.S. citizenship before U.S. consular officials, the current U.S. law unambiguously assures you right to keep both citizenships for life.