Читать книгу U.S. Citizenship For Dummies - Jennifer Gagliardi - Страница 24

Naturalization, the process by which lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens, is the next step in the immigration process. Many lawful permanent residents stop before achieving citizenship, but if you bought this book, chances are you’re interested in going all the way.

As a naturalized citizen, a person has the exact same rights, responsibilities, and benefits of natural-born U.S. citizens, with one exception: Only natural-born citizens may become president or vice president of the United States.

In most cases, naturalization applicants must prove they can meet these requirements:

 A designated period of continuous residence in the United States (usually three or five years immediately prior to applying) as a lawfully admitted permanent resident.

 Physical presence in the United States for at least half the designated time.

 Residence in a particular USCIS district prior to filing, usually for at least three months. Districts are geographical areas serviced by local USCIS offices. You can get up-to-date information about districts at www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices.

 The ability to read, write, and speak basic English.

 A basic knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government.

 Good moral character. Applicants for naturalization must be “of good moral character,” meaning that the USCIS will make a determination based on current laws. Conviction for certain crimes will cause you to lose your eligibility for citizenship. If you have ever been convicted of murder or convicted of an aggravated felony (committed on or after November 29, 1990), you may never become a citizen of the United States. Other lesser crimes may delay your immigration or citizenship goals because they prevent you from applying until a specified amount of time has passed since you committed the crime. In 2014, USCIS added additional questions about violent activities and war crimes as per U.S. national security laws. These additional questions doubled the size of the N-400 Application for Naturalization from 10 to 20 pages’ worth of questions that will be asked during your naturalization interview! In determining good moral character, however, the USCIS can consider conduct that would have been a crime even if you were never arrested, charged, or convicted. (You can find more on good moral character in Chapter 3.)

 Attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and a favorable disposition toward the United States. This means that you must be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, giving up any prior allegiances to other countries.