Are you considering becoming a citizen of the United States of America? If so, you need to take action today. Applying to become a citizen of this country takes over a year and can cost a pretty penny. So start by applying for a green card and make sure you are saving money so that you can get started on your new life in a new country. A new beginning is closer than you might think.
Continue reading to learn what you need to know about the process for U.S. Citizenship.
How to Become a Citizen
Naturalization is the process that immigrants must go through to become U.S. citizens. The process is dependent on immigrant eligibility and can take between 16 and 22 months to get through all the steps.
Green card holders are able to apply for naturalization based on:
- The length of time they’ve held a green card
- The length of time they’ve lived in the U.S.
- Whether they served in the military or not
Before you can begin your Application for Naturalization, you have to be a permanent resident/green card holder. So, What Is A Green Card and How to Get One? Check out this guide for more information.
Once you have all of that figured out, the steps to becoming an American Citizen is rather straightforward.
Costs of Citizenship
The naturalization process costs $725. This is a $640 processing fee along with the $85 fee for biometrics. The entire amount is waived for military personnel. The cost of biometrics gets waived for applicants 75 years and older. Low-income individuals may get the fees reduced or even waived completely.
Applying for Naturalization
The first step involves filing the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) and paying the filing fee. Approximately one month after filing the application, the second step occurs. You will attend your Biometrics Appointment where the USCIS will have your fingerprinting done.
The third step involves the Citizenship Interview and Exam. The two events will occur simultaneously about 14 months after the application is submitted. The interview is meant to verify that all of the information on the application is correct.
The exam consists of two parts. The first is the English Language Test where your reading, writing, and speaking abilities get tested. The second part focuses on Civics where your knowledge of U.S. history and the government is tested. After you take the exam, you will get a letter in the mail stating whether you’ve passed or failed.
The final step, once you’ve passed the testing stage, is to attend a ceremony where you pledge your allegiance to the United States. At the ceremony, you will turn in your green card and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Once complete, you are an American citizen.
Are You Ready to Become an American Citizen?
The sooner you have a U.S. citizenship status, the sooner you will be able to reap the rewards of being an American citizen. Once you are a citizen, you can no longer be deported, you can apply for a passport, and you can sponsor a relative’s green card.
If you found this post to be helpful, make sure to check out our other articles about travel, law, and finance.
