You’re interested in applying for citizenship, but you’re not sure if you qualify. Though everyone won’t be approved, it’s important to make sure that you actually meet the criteria before applying.
So, what are the criteria? They include:
1. You need to show that you have good morals and are generally a person of good character.
2. You cannot be under 18 years of age.
3. You must have put in five years living in the United States with a green card before applying.
4. If you did leave at times during those five years, that’s fine, but you need to have at least 30 months in the country.
5. You’re also applying in California, so you need to have lived there for at least three months. Even if you’ve been in the U.S. for five years, if you just moved to California, you need to wait.
6. You need to know basic English. This means not just speaking and understanding it, but writing and reading it, as well.
7. You need to understand the basics of how the U.S. government works and know the country’s overall history.
8. You need to show that you support the U.S. Constitution and the ideals it promotes. You’ll also have to swear your allegiance to your new country.
In essence, the process is geared around making sure that you’re really interested in being an invested member of the United States. This isn’t something you should take lightly. Make sure you really understand the criteria, your legal options and what steps you should take to successfully apply for citizenship.
Source: USA.gov, “How to Become a U.S. Citizen,” accessed Sep. 19, 2017
