How To Become An American Citizen

After writing the stories of many individuals who have traveled to the United States for a new life in America, and the stories I have experienced, this week I decided to talk about the difficult process these individuals go through to become and American citizen.

First off, in order to become an American citizen in the first place, the U.S. Citizenship Information website says the process will take anywhere from six months to more than two years.

Applicants must first turn in an application, and then wait for a scheduled interview before the process can begin. After the interview, the applicant must wait anywhere from one day to 180 days before they have their swearing-in ceremony to receive their naturalization certificate. However, in a few Immigrations Service Office, this process can take up to an additional one to two years.

According to the U.S. Citizenship Information website, "The length of time for the entire process depends on the number of U.S. Citizenship applicants the USCIS offices receive in each state." The website also urges applicants to pay close attention when filling out their application papers because making a mistake could cost them an even longer period to wait. In addition, the website offers a do-it-yourself service that helps applicants through the entire process to help ensure they do not make any mistakes.

As follows, the website states that their are four major steps in becoming a United States citizen.

*Step One: Submit The Complete Application
-This includes obtaining two passport-size photographs, ensuring all documents are together and completely filled out, and sending all necessary documents to the right USCIS location.

*Step Two: Get Fingerprinted
-This is after the USCIS office has let the applicant know they have received the application, the acknowledgment letter will give a specific time and place to get your fingerprints that the applicant must show up for, and send any additional documents the USCIS office asks for.

*Step Three: Attend USCIS Interview & Take Tests
-The USCIS office will send a letter with a time and date for a scheduled interview, attend the interview at the correct time and place, proper identifications and further documents will be asked for, answer the interviewers questions, take the Civic Test and English Test, and lastly wait until the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services comes to an answer about your citizenship.

*Step Four: Take the Oath to Become a U.S. Citizen
-The USCIS will send a ceremony date to attend, go to the specified date and time and return your Permanent Resident Card, answer any questions they may have about what you have been doing since the interview process, take the Oath of Allegiance, receive the Certificate of Naturalization, and enjoy life as an American citizen.

These four steps make the process sound easy, but the amount of time it takes between each of the individual steps can and most likely will take years. For example, Jan Svedsen, who I wrote about in a previous blog, has been trying to gain citizenship in the United States for the past two years and still has not had his ceremony. However, some are more lucky, such as Nadja Riess, who only took about a year to go through the entire process.

Visit the U.S. Citizenship Information website to learn more about Green Cards, Replacement of U.S. Citizenship Certificates, Change of Address, USA Greencard Lottery, Green Card Employment Authorization, and Removal of Conditions on your Green card.

Also learn about the cost to become an American citizen, your status on becoming an American citizen, and more.

Watch this Video to see a Immigration lawyer's view on How to Become a U.S. Citizen


See the ceremony new American citizens attend