People migrate from one country to another for reasons ranging from economic motivations to reuniting with loved ones who are abroad. Often times an immigrant’s move to another country involves permanently leaving their home country in order to become a citizen of the new country. Under the United States legal system, naturalization is the process through which an immigrant acquires U.S. citizenship. This is required for someone who was not born a citizen of the U.S. or did not acquire citizenship shortly after birth. A person who becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization enjoys all the freedoms and protections of citizenship, such as the right to vote and register, the right to hold and use a U.S. passport, and the right to serve on a jury in a court of law. The basic requirements for naturalization are set forth in this article. In most cases applicants for naturalization will use Form N-400, “Application for Naturalization”.”Good moral character” requirement: What does this mean? In order to qualify for naturalization, an applicant must also demonstrate that they have good moral character. In general, “moral character’ usually refers to a person’s standing in the community, especially with regards to honesty and truthfulness. The standards for evaluating moral character may vary over time and also from area to area.
Who is Eligible for Naturalization?
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a branch of the government that deals with immigration issues such as naturalization. In order to be eligible for naturalization, the USCIS requires that the person is:
Eighteen years of age or older
A lawful permanent resident (“LPR” or green card holder) of the U.S.
In continuous residence in the U.S. for at least 5 years* at the time of application, and physically present for at least half the time of continuous residence.
Possessing good moral character
*Note: A person may also satisfy the “continuous residence” if they are a lawful permanent resident who is married to a U.S. citizen. In this case, the continuous residence requirement is 3 years rather than 5 years. The continuous residence requirement also involves a physical presence requirement. Applicants serving in the U.S. military may be exempt from the continuous residence requirement, though they must still file a proper application.
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