The process of becoming a citizen of the United States is challenging, so you have to be sure that you are taking the time to prepare. Your journey is going to start with ensuring that you fill out the paperwork completely. Any oversights or misstatements can mean that you are denied for the citizenship that can better your life.
You must ensure that you meet the requirements for seeking citizenship. There are several of these that apply to all cases. While these are the basic requirements, there might be others that you also have to meet:
- You are 18 years old or older
- You have a valid green card
- You have been in the U.S. for at least five years (a few exceptions apply)
- You have a good moral character
- You haven’t spent a year or longer outside of the U.S. during the five years
- You have lived in your current state three months
- You can pass a U.S. history and government test
- You will pledge allegiance to the country
- You can speak, write and read English
- You haven’t established a primary home in another country
- You have been in the U.S. for at least half of the previous five years
You also have to remember that it will take time for your application to become a citizen to go through the process. You might have to wait for months before you are able to have your fingerprint appointment or interview.
Remember that your behavior while you wait is a large factor in what happens. You must stay out of legal trouble because any legal issues could lead to a denial of your application.