People can apply for USCIS citizenship by submitting the naturalization application and N-400 form. People have to meet specific requirements for USCIS citizenship. There are modifications and exceptions to the naturalization requirements, which are accessible to qualified people. USCIS gives modifications or accommodations to people having mental and physical impairments.
How to apply for USCIS citizenship
Naturalization application:
Naturalization is a procedure for U.S. citizenship for a person born outside of the United States. It is the initial step toward becoming a U.S. citizen. A person needs to fill out and mails the application. He can apply online. For online submission, a person must create an online account with naturalization services and U.S. citizenship.
USCIS online application benefits:
A person can easily track his green card’s case status, get case updates and electronic notifications, and update the mail address by using an online account. He can enter his information using a computer or tablet and check the status online. The person could avoid mistakes and correct the document if he submitted false documents unintentionally.
Naturalization application requirements:
Before starting the naturalization application (N-400 form), a person must answer specific questions to determine the eligibility criteria. These are the naturalization requirements for eligibility, which may include:
- The required minimum age is typically 18 years while applying for U.S. citizenship.
- The person has not taken six months of travel outside the U.S. during the waiting period of 3-5 years.
- A person should be an inhabitant of the United States for at least three months.
- The person has a good moral character. Generally, it means a person has no criminal records, such as illegal gambling and murders.
- A person needs to pass the naturalization test. For example, the English language exam (IELTS or TOEFL). The exam evaluates the English language proficiency of a person by testing his listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. The other is a civics test to assess a person’s knowledge of government and the history of the U.S.
- The person must be prepared to perform military services for the United States.
- A person must be ready to defend a U.S. constitution.
Steps of the Naturalization application:
A person must meet all the naturalization eligibility requirements and check the modifications and exceptions before applying for USCIS citizenship. These are the steps of the Naturalization application, which may include:
- Determine if a person is already a U.S. citizen from birth or not and acquire citizenship from his parents after birth.
- Determine if a person is eligible for a naturalization application for taking USCIS citizenship.
- After reading the specific instructions, a person needs to prepare his N-400 form and naturalization application. It is necessary to collect all the essential documents for the application. A person must take two passport-size photographs and manages the document checklist to collect the vital documents.
- When a person submits his N-400 form, USCIS sends a receipt notice. He pays his fees online and checks the case status and processing time.
- USCIS takes biometrics by sending the appointment notice to the person, including location, time, and date. Usually, a person’s fingerprints have taken at the USCIS office. The biometric appointment has been scheduled for about one month after the filing date of the citizenship application.
- After completing the requirements, USCIS takes a person’s interview to finalize the naturalization application. USCIS gives an appointment for the interview and informs them about the person’s location, time, and date. An interview has been scheduled after 14 months of the naturalization application submission. The duration depends upon the field office that handles the person’s case. During this citizenship interview, the USCIS officer reviews all the information on a naturalization application. In addition, a citizenship interview has known as the citizenship exam. The reason is that USCIS officer gives two exams to a person, such as the English language exam to evaluate spoken and written English skills and a civics test. These are basic exams, and USCIS gives additional materials for preparations.
- A person receives the decision notice from USCIS and can access the information electronically in the account. USCIS grants citizenship if a person is eligible for all the requirements and approves the N-400 form. Furthermore, USCIS continues the application if a person has not submitted the correct documents or failed an English or civics test. USCIS denies the N-400 form when a person is not eligible for the requirements of a naturalization application.
- If USCIS grants U.S. citizenship, a person receives a notice to attend a naturalization ceremony. USCIS mails a person about the scheduled ceremony’s location, time, and date. Generally, this ceremony is scheduled on the same day as a person’s interview.
- The person could not take USCIS citizenship if he didn’t take the oath of allegiance in the naturalization ceremony. A person completes the naturalization notice and receives the certificate in this ceremony. After taking a certificate, the person begins his life as a U.S. citizen, bringing several benefits like employment opportunities, voting rights, office running, and citizenship for kids. He needs to review the completion certificate before leaving the ceremony to avoid errors on it. A person needs to take an oath of allegiance to get USCIS citizenship.
- A person should understand and follow all the basic responsibilities and rights of the citizens. Both citizens, by birth or by choice, should respect each other.
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