Citizenship and naturalization

Who can apply to naturalize

In general you can apply if you are at least 18 and have been a permanent resident for five years, or three years if for all of that time you have been married to and living with a spouse who was a U.S. citizen throughout. You also need to show continuous residence and physical presence in the United States, good moral character, and the ability to read, write and speak basic English and pass a civics test.

There are exceptions to the English requirement based on age and years as a resident, accommodations for disabilities, and separate rules for people who served in the U.S. military.

What can complicate an application

USCIS reviews everything, not just the last five years. The issues that most often cause problems are:

• Long trips abroad, which can break continuous residence.
• Any arrest or conviction, even an old or minor one, and even if it was dismissed.
• Unpaid taxes or child support.
• Problems with how the green card was originally obtained.
• Having claimed to be a U.S. citizen or registered to vote.

Citizenship through a parent

Some people are already citizens and do not know it. A child can acquire citizenship at birth abroad through a U.S. citizen parent, or derive it automatically when a parent naturalizes while the child is a minor, a permanent resident, and living in the United States in that parent's legal and physical custody. The rules depend on the law in force at the time, so the dates matter. If this applies to you, the process is to document the citizenship you already have rather than to naturalize.