IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION

 The United States receives near a million applications for citizenship each year.  There are over 22 million naturalized citizens in the country.  These are immigrants from around the world.  Of the million applications, between 50 and 100,000 are turned down each year. 

I thought you might like to know the criteria that our United States Citizenship & Immigrations Service (USCIS) uses when reviewing requests to become naturalized citizens of this country.

#1  Residency and Physical Presence.  Normally, it requires that you have had a green card for 5 years and spent not more that 30 months outside the country.  If you are married to a citizen, the requirement drops to 3 years.  Minor children of citizens can apply immediately.

#2  Form N-400 must be filled out completely and correctly. Pay the form fee.

#3  Criminal background check.  The FBI runs the checks covering the time in our country and before.

#4  Extreme Financial Distress.  Not paying debts can remove you from consideration  e.g. taxes and child support.

#5  Civics Test.  Everyone must pass the test.  After a failure, it can be taken again in 2-3 months.  

This whole process takes about 15 months, so, perspective applicants need to get started that early.

These are the USCIS rules.  This process takes lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or legal aliens and turns them into citizens. 

This has almost nothing to do with refugees crossing our borders or persons with temporary visas.

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