Citizenship and Naturalization

A Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) may qualify to become a US citizen if he/she meets the following criteria:

• Must be 18 years of age, or older
  
• Have 5 years (or 3 years if married to and living with a USC) of continuous residence as an LPR (no absences from the US of more than one year, and preferably none more than 6 months)
  
• Have been physically present in the United States for at least one half of the 5 years of continuous residence (or 3 if married to a USC)
  
• Have been a resident for at least 3 months in the state in which the petition is filed
  
• Have had good moral character for the 5 (or 3) years of residence
  
• Read, write, and understand English at an elementary level (unless an LPR for 15 years and be 55 years of age, or older; OR an LPR for 20 years and be 50 years of age, or older)
  
• Know the fundamentals of US history and US government
  
• Support the US Constitution
  
• Be willing to bear arms or perform work of national importance on behalf of the United States when required by law
  

INA Section 319(b) provides exceptions to the residence and physical presence requirements for people married to USCs working abroad.

LPR children under 18 may naturalize automatically if they are in their parent’s custody in the United States and one of the parents naturalizes.