How
to Become a Citizen of the United States
To
be able to vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury, a person
must be a United States citizen. Citizenship may be acquired in one
of two ways; either as a natural citizen or a naturalized citizen.
Those who obtain their citizenship at birth are referred to as natural
citizens, while those who become citizens at some time after their
birth are referred to as naturalized citizens.
Natural citizens can be subdivided into two groups; those who acquired
their citizenship by having been born in the United States, and those
who acquired their citizenship by been born to parents that are citizens
of the United States. Those individuals who are born U.S. soil are
said to have received their citizenship under the doctrine of "jus
soli" or by the "right of the land". Natural citizens
who are not born within the United States, but who are born from parents
who were citizens of the United States at the time of their birth,
acquire their citizenship under the "jus sanguinis" doctrine
or by the "right through blood".
The
process by which people from foreign countries become U.S. citizens
is called naturalization. There are three steps in this process:
1. File
an application.
2. Take
a naturalization examination.
3. Participate
in an Oath Ceremony.
Not everyone,
however, is eligible to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. A person
must meet certain requirements:
*Be at
least 18 years old
*A lawful
permanent resident for five years
*A person
of good moral character
*Be able
to understand, read, write, and speak basic English
*Possess
a basic understanding of United States government and history
*Be willing
to take an oath of allegiance to the United States
