UNITED
STATES CITIZENSHIP
CITIZENSHIP
 -"All
persons born or naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens
of the United States and of the state wherein they
reside. No state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States; nor shall any
state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws."
-XIV Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Citizenship is one of the most coveted
gifts that the U.S. government can bestow, and the
most important immigration benefit that USCIS can
grant. Most people become U.S. citizens in one of
two ways:
- By birth, either within the territory of the
United States or to U.S. citizen parents, or
- By Naturalization.
In addition, in 2000, Congress passed
the Child Citizenship Act (CCA), which allows any
child under the age of 18 who is adopted by a U.S.
citizen and immigrates to the United States to acquire
immediate citizenship.
NATURALIZATION
Naturalization is the process by which
U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen
or national after he or she fulfills the requirements
established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA). The general requirements for administrative
naturalization include:
- a period of continuous residence and physical
presence in the United States;
- residence in a particular USCIS District prior
to filing;
- an ability to read, write, and speak English;
- a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history
and government;
- good moral character;
- attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution;
and,
- favorable disposition toward the United States.
Note: Recent changes in immigration
law and USCIS procedures now make it easier for U.S.
military personnel to naturalize.
All naturalization applicants must
demonstrate good moral character, attachment, and
favorable disposition. The other naturalization requirements
may be modified or waived for certain applicants,
such as spouses of U.S. citizens.
CITIZENSHIP
OF CHILDREN
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals
born in the United States or in U.S. jurisdictions,
according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals
born in the United States, such as children of foreign
heads of state or children of foreign diplomats,
do not obtain U.S. citizenship under jus soli.
Certain individuals born outside of
the United States are born citizens because of their
parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis
(which holds that the country of citizenship of a
child is the same as that of his / her parents).
The U.S. Congress is responsible for enacting laws
that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S.
citizen parent or parents according to the principle
of jus sanguinis. These laws are contained in the
Immigration and Nationality Act.
In addition, Each year, many people
adopt children from outside the U.S. The Child Citizenship
Act of 2000 (CCA) grants those children the ability
to automatically become U.S. citizens when they immigrate
to the United States.
Information
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
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