While the reasons range greatly, some Illinois immigrants come to the United States to make it their home. Every day, immigrants seek to obtain citizenship. However, this is not an easy process. It can be a lengthy, making it vital for immigrants seeking to become a citizen to understand the process and necessary steps.
Citizenship could happen through various paths. One of them is through naturalization. This is a process where citizenship is granted to a foreign national after he or she has fulfilled the requirements outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act. When applying for naturalization, it is imperative to understand if one qualifies.
There are ways an individual may qualify for naturalization. To begin, if an immigrant has been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years and meets all other eligibility requirements, he or she may seek citizenship. If an immigrant has been a lawful permanent resident for 3 or more years and meets eligibility requirements by being a spouse of a U.S. citizen, he or she could seek citizenship.
One may also qualify if one has served in the U.S. armed forces. Finally, a child may qualify for naturalization, if a parent is a citizen, the child was born outside of the U.S., the child is currently residing outside of the U.S. and all eligibility requirements are met.
These are not the only way to qualify for citizenship through naturalization. Therefore, it is vital to understand the one’s specific situation and what options are available. This will ensure one takes proper steps to gain citizenship.
