A Guide To Naturalization - Spanish Community Of .

A Guide toNaturalizationForm M-476(Rev 2/04)Y

Table of ContentsWelcomepage 1What are the Benefits and Responsibilities ofCitizenship?page 3Frequently Asked Questionspage 5Who is Eligible for Naturalizationpage 17Table of Eligibility RequirementsTime as a Permanent ResidentContinuous ResidencePhysical Presence in the United StatesTime as a Resident in the United StatesGood Moral CharacterEnglish and CivicsAttachment to the ConstitutionPage 18Page 22Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 28What Should I Expect from the NaturalizationProcess?page 31Preparing to ApplyCompleting Your Application and Getting PhotographedGetting FingerprintedBeing InterviewedTaking the OathPage 32Page 33Page 35Page 36Page 38What Kind of Customer Service Can I Expect?page 41Where do I Go For Help?page 43Glossary of Termspage 45A Guide to Naturalization12345678i

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Welcome1E Pluribus Unum - From Many, One- Motto of the United States of AmericaUSCIS WelcomeWe are very pleased you want tobecome a U.S. citizen. The UnitedStates is a nation of immigrants.Throughout our history, immigrantshave come here seeking a better way oflife and have strengthened our nation inthe process.Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is oneof the most important decisions ina person’s life. If you decide to apply fornaturalization, you will be showingyour commitment to the United States.You will also be showing your loyalty toits Constitution and its people.What is Naturalization?Naturalization is the way immigrantsbecome citizens of the United States. Ifyou were not born a citizen, you mustbe naturalized to become one.What is This Guide For?This Guide is to help people understandthe naturalization process. It is forpeople 18 years or older who wantto become citizens. U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services (USCIS)created this Guide to provide better andmore consistent information to peopleinterested in naturalization.When you are naturalized, you agree toaccept all of the responsibilities of beinga citizen. In return, you are rewardedwith all the rights and privileges thatare part of citizenship. Again, wewelcome your interest and hope youwill read on to learn more aboutnaturalization.A Guide to Naturalization1

What Are the Benefits andResponsibilities of Citizenship?BenefitsThe Constitution gives many rights tocitizens and non-citizens living in theUnited States. However, there are somerights the Constitution gives only tocitizens, like the right to vote. When youare naturalized, you will be given theright to vote.Having a U.S. passport is anotherbenefit of citizenship. A U.S. passportallows citizens the freedom to travel. Inaddition, citizens receive U.S.Government protection and assistancewhen abroad.The above paragraphs do not include allthe benefits of citizenship, but they dogive you an idea of some of the mostimportant ones.ResponsibilitiesThe Oath of Allegiance includes severalpromises you must make when youbecome a U.S. citizen, includingpromises to: give up prior allegiances to othercountries; support and defend the Constitutionand the laws of the United States;A Guide to Naturalization swear allegiance to the United States;andserve the country when required.Citizens have many responsibilities otherthan the ones mentioned in the oath.Citizens have a responsibility toparticipate in the political process byregistering and voting in elections.Serving on a jury is anotherresponsibility of citizenship. Finally,America becomes stronger when all itscitizens respect the different opinions,cultures, ethnic groups, and religionsfound in this country. Tolerance fordifferences is also a responsibility ofcitizenship.2When you decide to become a U.S.citizen, you should be willing to fulfillthe responsibilities of citizenship. Wehope you will also honor and respect thefreedoms and opportunities citizenshipgives you. At the same time, we hopeyou become an active member of yourcommunity. For it is by participating inyour community that you truly becomean American.3

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ 1.AQ 2.AHow can I become a U.S. citizen?You may become a U.S. citizen (1) by birth or (2) through naturalization.Who is born a U.S. citizen?Generally, people are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the United States or ifthey are born to U.S. citizens:3(1) If you were born in the United States:Including, in most cases, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, youare an American citizen at birth (unless you were born to a foreign diplomat).Your birth certificate is proof of your citizenship.(2) If you were born abroad to TWO U.S. citizens:And at least one of your parents lived in the United States at some point in his orher life, then in most cases you are a U.S. citizen.(3) If you were born abroad to ONE U.S. citizen:In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true: One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before youwere born; andAt least 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after your citizenparent’s 14th birthday.1Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy,is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have yourcitizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, youmay file an “Application for Certificate of Citizenship” (Form N-600) withUSCIS to get a Certificate of Citizenship. Call the USCIS Forms Line at 1-800870-3676 to request a Form N-600, or download the form from the internet athttp://uscis.gov.1If you were born before November 14, 1986, you are a citizen if your U.S. citizen parent lived inthe United States for at least 10 years and 5 of those years in the United States were after your citizenparent’s 14th birthday.A Guide to Naturalization5

Q 3.AHow do I become a naturalized citizen?If you are not a U.S. citizen by birth or did not acquire U.S. citizenshipautomatically after birth, you may still be eligible to become a citizen throughthe normal naturalization process. People who are 18 years and older use the“Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) to become naturalized.Persons who acquired citizenship from parent(s) while under 18 years of ageuse the “Application for a Certificate of Citizenship” (Form N-600) to documenttheir citizenship. Qualified children who reside abroad use the “Application forCitizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322” (Form N-600K) todocument their naturalization. You may call the USCIS Forms Line at 1(800) 8703676 to request a Form N-400, N-600, or N-600K; or you may download any ofthese forms from the Internet at http://uscis.gov.Q 4.AWhat are the requirements for naturalization?Please see Section 4, “Who is Eligible For Naturalization?”, beginning on page 17for more details on the eligibility requirements for naturalization. You should alsocomplete the Eligibility Worksheet in the back pocket of the Guide to help you findout if you meet the eligibility requirements.6

Q 5.AWhen does my time as a Permanent Resident begin?Your time as a Permanent Resident begins on the date you were granted permanentresident status. This date is on your Permanent Resident Card (formerly known asAlien Registration Card). The sample cards on this page show where you can findimportant information like the date your Permanent Residence began.FRONTBACK“A” — numberThis card doesnot have Portof-Entry on it.Date you became aPermanent Resident(November 1, 1997)“A” — numberDate youbecame aPermanentResident(April 3, 1980)Port-of-Entry oroffice where youwere grantedadjustment ofstatus“A” —numberA Guide to NaturalizationPort-of-Entryor officewhere youwere grantedadjustment ofstatusDate youbecame aPermanentResident(July 12, 1991)7

Q 6.AWhat form do I use to file for naturalization?You should use an “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400). Call the USCISForms Line at 1-800-870-3676 to request a Form N-400. You may also download theform from the internet at the following address: http://uscis.gov.QA7. If I have been convicted of a crime but my record has beenexpunged, do I need to write that on my application or tell an USCISofficer?Yes. You should always be honest with USCIS about all: arrests (even if you were not charged or convicted); convictions (even if your record was cleared or expunged); and crimes you have committed for which you were not arrested or convicted.Even if you have committed a minor crime, USCIS may deny your application if youdo not tell the USCIS officer about the incident.Q 8.AWhere do I file my naturalization application?You should send your completed “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) tothe appropriate USCIS Service Center. For information about the Service Center thatserves your area, see page 34 or the single page called “Your Local USCIS Office”in the back pocket of this Guide. Remember to make a copy of your application. DONOT send original documents with your application unless the Document Checklistincluded with the Guide states that an original is required. Always make copies ofdocuments that you send to USCIS.Q 9.Will USCIS help me or make accommodations for me if I amdisabled?A8USCIS will make every effort to make reasonable accommodations for applicants withdisabilities who need modifications to the naturalization process to demonstrate theireligibility. For example, if you use a wheelchair, we will make sure you can befingerprinted, interviewed, and sworn in at a location that is wheelchair accessible. If

you are hearing impaired, the officer conducting your interview will speak loudlyand slowly, or we will work with you to arrange for a sign language interpreter. Ifyou use a service animal, such as a guide dog, your animal may come with you toyour interview and oath ceremony.If you know in advance that you will need some kind of accommodation, writea letter explaining what you will need and send it to the district office that willinterview you after you receive your interview notice. We are continuing to work onbetter ways to make the naturalization process easier for applicants with disabilities.Q 10.AWhere is my local USCIS office?For information about the USCIS office that serves your area, see the single pagetitled “Your Local USCIS Office” in the back pocket of this Guide.QA11.What is the fee for processing an application?The current fee for processing a naturalization application can be found on the singlepage titled “Current Naturalization Fees” in the back pocket of this Guide. If you areunder 75 years old, you must also pay a fee to have your fingerprints taken.Q 12.AHow can I pay my application fee?You must pay your application fee (and fingerprinting fee, unless you are 75 yearsold or older) with a personal or cashier’s check or money order drawn on a U.S.bank in U.S. dollars payable to the “Immigration and Naturalization Service.” Youmay pay for both the application and fingerprinting fee with a single check or moneyorder. Please do not combine payments for multiple applications in one check,because if we find a problem with one application, they could all be returned to you.If you live in Guam, you should make the fee payable to “Treasurer, Guam.” If youlive in the Virgin Islands, you should make the fee payable to “Commissioner ofFinance of the Virgin Islands.”You must send your fee with your application. Remember that your application feeis not refundable even if you withdraw your application or USCIS denies your case.A Guide to Naturalization9