Becoming an American citizen necessitates a number of steps, including determining your eligibility, filing your N-400 application, getting fingerprinted at a biometrics appointment, attending an interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office, passing tests of your knowledge of English and U.S. civics, and, once approved, attending an oath ceremony. These processes are outlined below.
Determine Your Eligibility for US Citizenship
The first question about U.S. citizenship eligibility is whether you hold a green card (legal permanent residence) in the United States. With a few exceptions, you must get a green card before applying for naturalized citizenship.
You must complete extra conditions as a lawful permanent resident in order to be eligible for US citizenship. These include your stay in the United States as a green card holder, your moral character, your ability to pass an English and U.S. history and government test, and other factors. Now is also a good time to start practicing your English language skills, if necessary, and to review the likely exam questions.
Complete and submit USCIS Form N-400
After determining your eligibility, you must file papers with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The N-400 is the starting point for the process. As of now, the application for citizenship costs $640 plus a $85 biometrics (fingerprinting) charge in most circumstances; however, USCIS regularly raises the fees.