Citizenship: How Does an Individual Become a U.S. Citizen?

Basic Qualifications for becoming a citizen:

An individual has to come to the United States legally. They cannot simply cross the Rio Grande.
An individual must be a good person and of sound moral character.
An individual must support and uphold the laws outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
An individual must prove they can read, write, and speak English.
An individual must show basic knowledge of American history and American government/civics.

How does an individual gain Citizenship?

An individual must be over 18 and have established permanent residency for five years.
An individual must have lived in the same state for 3 years.
If an individual marries a U.S. citizen, there is a 3 year residency requirement.

Are you a Good Person and of sound moral character?

This is one of the key steps in the naturalization process. During the hearing, the following may be discussed/required:

An individual's moral character
A witness present to testify on an individual's behalf
An individual may be required to complete a basic test involving questions about American history and American government.
An individual may be quizzed on their basic understanding of the English language.

How can an individual lose their Citizenship?

Expatriation is the act of giving up citizenship by leaving an individual's native country to live in a foreign country.
A conviction of a federal crime that involves disloyalty to the American government, for example, an act of terrorism
Denaturalization is an individual's loss of citizenship through deception or fraud during the process of naturalization.

What does an individual do after becoming an American citizen?

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