Across the country every day, there are people working at offices, jewelry stores, call centers, or working building roads, farming the land, selling candles – all considering contacting US immigration in order to become US citizens. These workers often do not realize that there are not one but actually three ways to become a US citizen:
1) By being born in the US. If you were born in the US, even if your mother was in the country illegally, you automatically acquire US citizenship. The only exception to this rule is if one of your parents was a foreign diplomat at the time of your birth. If you were born in the US but left the country and did not get your citizenship papers, often proof of your birthplace is enough to secure citizenship for you.
2) By having a US citizen as a parent. If you were born outside of the US but at least one of your parents was a US citizen at the time of your birth, you automatically acquire US citizenship. Again, you may need to provide proof of your claim and apply in order to get your citizenship papers, but the process is usually quite simple.
3) Naturalization. If your parents were not US citizens and you were not born in the US, you can still acquire citizenship, if you are eligible. You may be eligible if you have lived in the US as a permanent resident for at least five years (without being absent for more than six months). You may also be eligible if you have been married to a US citizen for at least three years and have lived in the US for those years as a permanent resident. If you have served with the U.S. Armed Forces for at least three years or during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Persian Gulf conflict, you may qualify for citizenship. If you were married to a U.S. citizen who died while on active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces you may also qualify. It is important to keep in mind, too, that there are additional rules within these eligibility guidelines. Not everyone who has been married to a US citizen and has been living in the US for three years, for example, qualifies for citizenship. Visit the U.S. government’s immigration and naturalization website or contact an immigration attorney to learn more about eligibility guidelines.
It is important to remember that unless you were born in the US or have a parent who is a US citizen, US citizenship is not a right. It is a privilege that may be conferred on you. If you think you qualify for citizenship and want to get citizenship, you must make sure that you qualify. You can do this by visiting the U.S. government’s immigration and naturalization website to learn about the specific eligibility requirements for those who seek US immigration. The website also contains a downloadable N-400 form, which permanent residents need to fill out in order to apply for citizenship. The website also contains many resources and useful information for those who want to learn more about the application process for becoming a US citizen.
Article source: http://www.immigrationtotheusa.info/blog/ways-to-become-a-us-citizen/