Becoming a U.S. Citizen: The Naturalization Process

How long must an immigrant live in the United States before applying for citizenship?

• 3 years

  5 years if married to U.S. citizen

• 5 years

  3 years if married to U.S. citizen

• 10 years

What are benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen: Pick more than 1

• Voting rights

• Free money

• U.S. passport- makes traveling easier

• A free college education

• The ability to help your family with immigration to the U.S.

The process for naturalization include what steps:

• File for naturalization

• Take the U.S. immigration test

• Live in the United States for 3 or 5 years

• Get a lawyer

To get ready for a naturalization test an immigrant should:

• Learn English, U.S. government, and history

• Learn about the World Wars

• Learn English and join the military

• Join the military and vote in an election

Immigrants can get help to earn their citizenship from:

• A neighbor in the United States

• A police officer in the United States

• The USCIS.gov website

  Help with a place to live, jobs, and schools for their children

  Study materials

• By watching the local news

Immigrants waiting for their citizenship must: pick more than one

• Break the laws

• pay income taxes

• If a male: apply for the selective services

• Lie about their criminal record

• Keep an updated address and continuous residence in the U.S.

Immigrants waiting for their citizenship must NOT: pick more than one

• Break the laws, be drunk often

• pay income taxes

• If a male: apply for the selective services

• Lie about their criminal record

Immigrants can never become U.S. citizens if they....

• If they get a traffic ticket

• If they marry another immigrant

• commit aggravate crimes: murder, rape, sexual abuse of a child, assault, trafficking

• If they don't marry a U.S. citizen

Why would people from around the world want to live in the United States?

• More freedoms, rights, and opportunities

• Free college education

• Lack of rights

• There is no naturalization process.

True or False: The naturalization process to become a United States citizen is easy and only takes a few months.

• True

• False