US Citizenship

NATURALIZATION TO US CITIZENSHIP -- REQUIREMENTS

Age
You must generally be at least 18 years old. (An exception applies to children (under 18) of parents who Naturalize to US Citizenship).

Residency
You must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Lawfully admitted for permanent residence means having been legally accorded "Greencard" status -- that is, the privilege of residing permanently in the United States.

Residence and Physical Presence
You are eligible to file an Application for Naturalization if, immediately preceding the filing of the application:
1) you have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
2) you have resided continuously as a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. for at least 5 years prior to the filing (except in the case where you obtained your Greencard status through and remain marriage to a US Citizen -- then the period is reduced to 3 years);
3) you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the previous five years (18 months for Spouses of US Citizens); and,
4) you have resided within the INS district where you now intend to be interviewed for at least three months.

Absences from the US of more than six consecutive months (but less than one year) are presumptively considered by the Immigration Service as breaking the "continuity of residence" for the 5/3 year test. This presumption can sometimes be refuted by demonstrating that you did not "intend" to abandon your residence during such extended absence.

Good Moral Character
Generally, you must show that your have been a person of good moral character for the five years period (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen or one year for The US Armed Forces expedite exception) prior to the filing for naturalization. The Immigration Service is not limited to the statutory period in determining whether you have established good moral character. You cannot be found to be a person of good moral character if during the last five years you have been convicted of certain crimes, and by law you are required to disclose all relevant facts about past your criminal convictions to the Immigration Service regardless of whether they were "expunged", erased or otherwise forgiven, even if you do not believe that they are disqualifying factors. Additionally, males who knowingly fail to timely register with the Selective Service when your were required by law to do so will be found ineligible to Naturalize by the INS.

Language
You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand words in ordinary usage in the English language. If you have been residing in the United States in Greencard status for at least 15 years and are over 55 years of age, or you have been residing in the United States in Greencard status for at least 20 years and are over the age of 50, or you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which affects the applicants ability to learn English, you may be found to be exempt from this requirement.

United States Government and History Knowledge
You must be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the US history and the form of government of the United States. As with the language requirement, applicants may be found given relief form this requirement if, on the date of filing, they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which affects their ability to learn US history and government. Also Greencard holders who have been residing in the US for at least 20 years and are over the age of 65 will be afforded special consideration in satisfying this requirement.

Oath of Allegiance
To become a citizen, you must take the oath of allegiance. By doing so, you must swears to support the Constitution, and obey the laws of the U.S., renounce any foreign allegiance and/or foreign title, and bear arms for the Armed Forces of the U.S. or perform services for the government of the U.S. when required.

Taxes
Although it is not stated as a specific requirement, the INS routinely requires Naturalization applicants to produce proof that they have paid their US Income Taxes for the last 5 years, and in some cases, they require proof of the payment of taxes all the way back to the year that they first became permanent residents of the USA.