How do you be an American citizen?

Answer 1

The easiest way to become an American is to be born in America.

Note that strictly speaking anyone attached to North or South America is an "American" but the apparent intent of this question is to ask how one becomes a citizen of the United States of America so that is the question that will be answered.

A "natural born citizen" is one who is one of the following:

• born within one of the states of the United States or its territories (including Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D. C.) - except children born to foreign ambassadors or to hostile soldiers on U.S. territory. Note that the USA is rare in this instance. Nearly all nations of the world besides the USA do NOT grant citizenship just because someone was born on their soil.
• born to US citizens living temporarily abroad - such as US people working for foreign subsidiaries, diplomats and military personnel

People can become US citizens if the are eligible and go through the process. Details of the process. are available from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services. The URL is https: // www . uscis . gov / us-citizenship / citizenship-through-naturalization / guide-naturalization

People can be eligible if they are at least 18 years old and:

• Have been a Permanent Resident (green card holder) for the past 5 years
• Are currently married to and living with a U.S. citizen; and have been married to and living with that same U.S.citizen for the past 3 years; your spouse has been a U. S. citizen for the past 3 years
• Have served in the US Military for a year and are or will be a permanent resident when they apply
• Married to someone serving on active duty in the US Military and are a permanent resident at the time of application
• Were married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of honorable active duty service in the US. Armed Forces
• Performed active duty US military service during WW I (almost no surviving people fall in this category), WW II (very few surviving people fall in this category), Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, or in general anything after September 11, 2001
• Serve on a vessel operated by the US or registered by the US and owned by U.S. citizens or a US corporation
• Working for the U.S. government on contract
• Are a person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a religious denomination or an interdenominational organization with a valid presence in the US
• Employed by one of the following: An American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General; An American-owned firm or corporation engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce for the United States; or A public international organization of which the United States is a member by law or treaty (if the employment began after you became a Permanent Resident).
• Have been employed for 5 years or more by a US nonprofit organization that principally promotes the interests of the United States abroad through the communications media.

There are some details including residency requirements and length of visits which differ between the different categories.

Children under age 18 can also be eligible through their parents who are applying for citizenship.

Potential citizens must also

• Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics). People over age 50 who have lived in the US for more than 20 years as a Permanent Resident or over 55 who have lived in the US for more than 15 years may be exempt.
• Be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law

If a person is eligible they need to:

1. prepare Form N-400 "Application for Naturalization" including completing and signing the form, getting 2 passport-style photos taken if residing outside the US, and collecting necessary documents to demonstrate eligibility of naturalization,
2. Submit required documentation including N-400 and biometric services fees if applicable, form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions (if seeking an excepiton to the English and/or civics requirement because of a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment), any additional evidence demonstrating eligibility for naturalization, 2 passport-style photos if residing outside the US. Keep copies to use during the naturalization interview.
3. USCIS requires applicants to be fingerprinted and photographed for the purpose of conducting Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal background checks. All applicants must have background checks completed before USCIS will schedule an interview. The applicant should receive an appointment notice that will include the biometrics appointment date, time, and location. Arrive at the designated location at the scheduled time. Have biometrics taken. At a later date, you receive an appointment notice for the naturalization interview(s).
4. Complete the interview. Once all the preliminary processes on your case are complete, USCIS will schedule an interview with you to complete the naturalization process. You must report to the USCIS office at the date and time on your appointment notice. Please bring the appointment notice with you. It is very important not to miss your interview. If you have to miss your interview, you should write to the office where your interview is to be conducted as soon as possible and ask to have your interview rescheduled. Rescheduling an interview may add several months to the naturalization process, so make all attempts to attend your original interview. If you change addresses after submitting the application you are responsible to notify the USCIS office of that change within 10 days of your relocation by filing Form AR-11, Change of Address, with USCIS, otherwise the appointment notice will go to the wrong address and you won't be getting an interview. You have to do this EVERY time you relocate. At the interview, you will meet with a USCIS officer and answer questions about your Form N-400.If you are requesting a medical exception to the English and civics testing requirements, submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions if you did not submit it at the time you filed your Form N-400. You will take the English and civics tests, unless exempt. Normally USCIS will provide you with a notice of interview results following your interview.
5. In some cases, the USCIS officer will not be able to make a decision on your Form N-400 the day of your naturalization interview. In those cases, the USCIS officer will continue your case. This may include a request for you to provide additional evidence or require a second interview. You may also require a second interview if you fail the English or Civics test. If you fail the test a second time the application gets denied and you have to start all over again.
6. You will be issued a written notice of decision... either: Granted - USCIS may approve your Form N-400 if the evidence on record establishes your eligibility for naturalization or Denied - USCIS will deny your Form N-400 if the evidence on record establishes you are not eligible for naturalization.
7. If denied, you will receive a notice from USCIS explaining the reason for your Form N-400 denial. If you believe that USCIS incorrectly denied your Form N-400, you may request a hearing to appeal this decision. The denial notice you receive will have instructions on how to appeal the USCIS decision by filing Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings. You MUST file Form N-336 with the appropriate fee within 30 days of the Form N-400 decision date. If a request for hearing is not filed within the time allowed, the denial decision is final.
8. If the initial application is Granted upon appeal, you receive a notice to take the Oath of Allegiance. You may be able to participate in the oath ceremony on the same day as your interview. If a same-day oath ceremony is unavailable, USCIS will mail you a notification with the date, time, and location of your scheduled oath ceremony. If you cannot attend the oath ceremony on the day USCIS scheduled you, return the USCIS notice Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony, to your local USCIS office. Include a letter explaining why you cannot attend the oath ceremony. Ask USCIS to reschedule you.
9. Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. The oath is administered by USCIS at an administrative ceremony or by a judge in a judicial ceremony. A court has exclusive authority to conduct the ceremonies in certain USCIS districts. You receive your Certificate of Naturalization after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

The Oath process is:

• Complete the questionnaire Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony.
• Report for your oath ceremony.
• Check-in with USCIS. A USCIS officer will review your responses to Form N-445.
• Turn in your Permanent Resident Card.
• Take the Oath of Allegiance to become a U.S. citizen.
• Receive your Certificate of Naturalization and review it before leaving the ceremony site. Notify USCIS of any corrections to your certificate at that time.

If you make it this far - CONGRATULATIONS. You are now a proud citizen of the United States of America!

Answer 2

You have to have Green card first. Marriage based or other ways. After 4 years (if marriage based green card), or after 5 years, you need to file N-400.

There are some conditions too, even after 4 or 5 years with GC, you should be eligible for N-400 application. During your GC period, you need to be in USA at least 180 days per year. Once you fulfill all requirements, you will get interview call. Once citizenship interview is taken place and you get pass, you need to take oath in next few days in court, and you will be US citizen with citizenship certificate.

Answer 3

Becoming an American citizen can be an easy or a difficult process, spanning a few months or more than two years. This process, which involves several steps, is referred to as naturalization. With new technology in recent years, the application is more accessible than ever. Simply go to uscitizenship.info, and print the application (also known officially as Form N-400). Send all necessary documents to the correct United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) location. These necessary documents, along with the guidelines for choosing two passport-sized photos, may be found on the web site.

Once the USCIS receives an application, they send acknowledgement of receipt and request the applicant to come to a USCIS office for fingerprinting. The next step is an interview, in which the applicant and the officer talk about the applicant's background, as well as relevant information on the application.

For many people, the most nerve-wracking part of the process is the civics and English test, which tests basic knowledge about America for those looking to become citizens. There are many guides and classes available to make this test easier. These test aids use study questions and other materials to help make the test as manageable as possible.

If the USCIS approves an application, including verifying all required documents and seeing a passing score on the test, a person will receive a citizenship ceremony date and time. At the ceremony, applicants talk about their lives since the citizenship interview, and take the Oath of Allegiance. They also exchange the Permanent Resident Card for a Certificate of Naturalization, confirming their new US citizenship.

Before filling out the initial Form N-400, it may be helpful to review a few guidelines about prerequisites for citizenship. Some of the more important ones include that a person applying for his or her own citizenship must be at least 18 years old; they must not be on probation; they must have been a resident of the state or district where they apply for at least three months; they must speak basic English; and they must have demonstrated good moral character for five years.

A person must reside in the United States as a permanent resident for four years and nine months before applying for citizenship (two years and nine months if married to a US citizen). The time it takes to process the application will fill the five years required to obtain citizenship.

Answer 4

For United Citizenship and Immigration Service, see related link....

Answer 5

hi

To become an American citizen, a person has to apply for citizenship and become a naturalized citizen. A person who is born in the United States is a citizen already.