Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization
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10/2/2015 Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization WHAT INFORMATION ARE YOU SEEKING? (PLEASE CHOOSE ONE BELOW) Information About How a Permanent Resident Can Become a U.S. Citizen and General Naturalization Information How to Prove your Status when Applying for a Social Security Card, Drivers License or for a Job, or When you Travel (how to get travel documents) Renewing or Replacing your Permanent Resident Card, or Removing Conditions from Conditional Residency Helping a Relative Become a Permanent Resident Information about the USCIS Immigrant Fee Changing Your Address with USCIS Other Benefits and Services for Permanent Residents - Including Financially Sponsoring Someone Who is Immigrating Information about Same-sex Marriage FAQs related to Permanent Residents: • Permanent Residents who work for Foreign Governments or International Organizations in the U.S. Read Disclaimer Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 2 of 197 Information About How a Permanent Resident Can Become a U.S. Citizen and General Naturalization Information OVERVIEW The process of applying for U.S. citizenship is known as naturalization. In most cases, a person who wants to naturalize must first be a permanent resident. In order to be eligible for naturalization, an individual must first meet certain requirements required by U.S. immigration law. This section provides information about eligibility for naturalization. What information are you seeking? (Please choose an option below) • A general overview of eligibility requirements for naturalization • Help to determine if you may be eligible for naturalization. • Information about how persons with active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of hostilities or during peacetime may be able to naturalize. • Information about naturalization for military dependents living abroad Back to: Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 3 of 197 The process of applying for U.S. citizenship is known as naturalization. In order to be eligible for naturalization, you must first meet certain requirements required by U.S. immigration law. Generally, to be eligible for naturalization you must: • Be age 18 or older; and • Be a permanent resident for a certain amount of time (usually 5 years or 3 years, depending on how you obtained status); and • Be a person of good moral character; and • Have basic knowledge of U.S. government (this, too, can be excepted due to physical or mental impairment) • Have a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States; and • Be able to read, write and speak basic English. There are exceptions to this rule for someone who at the time of filing: o Is 55 years old and has been a permanent resident for at least 15 years; or o Is 50 years old and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years; or o Has a physical or mental impairment that makes them unable to fulfill these requirements Before you apply for naturalization you must reside within the jurisdiction of the USCIS District Office where your naturalization will take place for at least 90 days. To apply for naturalization, file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Instructions for how to properly file Form N-400 are located at www.uscis.gov/forms/N-400. For more information on the naturalization process, please see our manual, M-476, A Guide to Naturalization. The Form N-400 is available at www.USCIS.gov/n-400 and the M-476 is available at www.USCIS.gov/natzguide. If you have questions after you read the application and/or the manual, please check our website at www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS Customer Service toll-free number at 1-800-375-5283 for more information. USCIS also offers a website to help you prepare for naturalization. The Citizenship Resource Center has: • Naturalization eligibility requirements • Current filing fees and processing times • English and civics study materials for the citizenship test • Video and audio resources • An English and citizenship class locator • Tips on finding help in your community You may obtain citizenship preparation information at www.uscis.gov/citizenship. Continue on the next page Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 4 of 197 Access Form N-400 Determine if you may be eligible for naturalization. Additional FAQs about the naturalization process Information about some very specific groups of persons who may be eligible for naturalization based on extremely specific circumstances Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 5 of 197 Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Spouse of a Member of the Armed Forces Any period of time that the LPR spouse of a member of the Armed Forces is residing (or has resided) abroad counts as residence and physical presence in the United States, if during such time spent abroad, the spouse meets the following conditions if: • The LPR is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces; and • The LPR spouse is authorized to accompany and reside abroad with the member of the Armed Forces pursuant to the member’s official orders; and • The LPR spouse is so accompanying and residing abroad with the member in marital union. Such an LPR spouse of a member of the Armed Forces may apply for Naturalization abroad and may be able to go through the interview process and oath ceremonies at the U.S. embassies, consulates, and/or U.S. military installations overseas. Dependent child of a U.S. citizen Member of the Armed Forces Any period of time the U.S. citizen member of the Armed Forces is residing (or has resided) abroad counts as physical presence in the U.S. for his or her dependent child if the following conditions have been met: • The child is authorized to accompany and reside abroad with the member of the Armed Forces pursuant to the member’s official orders; and • The child is accompanying and residing abroad with the member; and • The member of the Armed Forces is residing (and has resided) abroad per official orders. Such a child may also undergo all naturalization proceedings abroad. Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 6 of 197 Are you age 18 or older? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 7 of 197 To apply for naturalization, you must be age 18 or older, unless you are or were a member of the armed forces during a period of armed conflict designated by the President of the United States, Are you or were you ever a member of the United States Armed Forces? • Yes • No Note: To learn more about acquisition of citizenship, please go back to the main page and refer to the Guide titled “Benefits for U.S. Citizens.” Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 8 of 197 Are you a permanent resident? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 9 of 197 Have you been a permanent resident for at least 5 years? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 10 of 197 Have you been employed for 5 years overseas by a bona fide United States incorporated nonprofit organization that is principally engaged in dissemination of information abroad? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 11 of 197 Are/Were you a member of the U.S. armed forces on active duty at any time since September 11, 2001? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 12 of 197 Are you currently married to a U.S. Citizen? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 13 of 197 Is your U.S. citizen husband/wife regularly stationed abroad for more than one year with a United States company, in a ministry, or with the U.S. government? • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Page 14 of 197 Is your husband/wife employed or affiliated with one of the following entities below? • the United States Armed Forces; • the United States Government; • An American institution of research recognized by USCIS or by a public international organization of which the United States is a member by treaty or law; • An American company engaged in the development of United States foreign trade and commerce, or its subsidiary; • Performing ministerial or priestly functions by a religious denomination with a bona fide organization in the United States; or • Employed as a missionary by a religious or interdenominational mission organization with a bona fide organization in the United States. • Yes • No Back to: Information about Naturalization Services for Permanent Residents and Naturalization Benefits for Permanent Residents and Naturalization