Citizenship and Immigration Center

What is Naturalization?
Naturalization is the way immigrants become citizens of the United States. If you were not born a citizen, you must be naturalized to become one.

Who is eligible to become a US Citizen?
You can apply for US Citizenship after five years of residency. This period is shortened to three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen, or four years if permanent residency was received through political asylum.

Requirements for applicants that became Permanent residents through marriage to the US Citizen

You must be minimum 18 years of age
You must have been a permanent resident for at least 3 years
You must have been married to the same U.S. citizen for at least 3 years
You must have lived together with your married U.S. citizen for at least 3 years
Your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years
During the time of being a Permanent Resident you did not leave the United States for trips of 6 months and longer
You have resided within a state or district from where you are applying for at least three months

Requirements to applicants that became Permanent residents by other means

You must be minimum 18 years of age
You must have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years
During the time of being a Permanent Resident you did not leave the United States for trips of 6 months and longer,
You have resided within a state or district from where you are applying for at least three months

Special cases

It is possible to apply for U.S. citizenship under other circumstances.

1. You are in the U.S. Armed Forces (or will be filing your application within 6 months of an honorable discharge), and you have served for at least 1 year . You must be Permanent Resident on the day of your interview

2. You were in the U.S. Armed Forces for less than 1 year. You have been a permanent resident for 5 years and you did not leave the United States for trips of 6 months or longer M(Note: If you were out of the country as part of your service, this time out of the country does not break your "continuous residence." It is treated just like time spent in the United States).

3. You were in the U.S. Armed Forces for 1 year or more, but you were discharged more than 6 months ago. You have been a Permanent Resident for 5 years

4. You performed active duty military service during:

World War I (November 11, 1916-April 6, 1917);
World War II (September 1, 1939-December 31, 1946);
Korea (June 25, 1950-July 1, 1955);
Vietnam (February 28, 1961-October 15, 1978);
Persian Gulf (August 2, 1990-April 11, 1991); or
On or after September 11, 2001.

You are not required to be a Permanent resident

5. You were married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of honorable active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces (Note: You must have been married to and living with your U.S. citizen spouse at the time of his/her death)

You must be Permanent Resident on the day of your interview

6. You are a U.S. national (a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States) AND have become a resident of any State AND are otherwise qualified for naturalization.

You are not required to be a Permanent Resident.