Travel

Dreaming a Life in Another Country: Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Dreaming a Life in Another Country

It is never a mistake to dream of something big for yourself and your family. That includes living in another country. One of the most common countries that people choose to resettle in is the United States. In this case, you have various options to become a U.S. citizen.

This post will let you know how to change your citizenship. It is best to secure the requirements to become one of the U.S. citizens. In effect, you can see how the United States can change your life in the long run.

Residents of the United States

Immigrants from all over the world are taking their chances to have a better life abroad. One of the countries that attract these people is the United States of America. You may be one of these people who dreamed of a life in the U.S. In this case, below are the ways to become a permanent U.S. citizen:

Through Birth or Parents

Children born in the United States will be automatic citizens of the country. It is what they refer to as birthright citizenship. Additionally, children of parents who are both U.S. citizens and married will still become U.S. citizens. It will also be the same case even if the child is born outside the U.S.

Even if only one of the child’s parents is a U.S. citizen, you can still obtain U.S. citizenship. As long as the U.S. citizen parent is in the country for at least five years before the birth of the child, it qualifies. Other conditions may also apply to get a child’s citizenship. That depends on the status of the parents.

Through Marriage

You can become a U.S. citizen if you marry a citizen of the country. Your spouse needs to apply for you and submit a petition for an Alien Relative. This form I-130 is how you’ll establish the relationship between you and your spouse. Aside from that, you have to provide proof, such as your marriage certificate. You can start your green card application as well.

Meanwhile, there will be an officer who will interview you and your spouse. They need to conduct this to see if the marriage is real or a fraud. In this case, you can expect personal questions, such as about your relationship history or birthdays. Marriage fraud in the United States is a serious offense.

Through Naturalization

Having a green card can help you become a naturalized citizen of this country. Aside from that, it makes the process easier. Owning a green card means you are a legal and permanent local of the United States. This option takes place if you belong in any of the following categories:

  • A permanent resident for five years
  • A permanent resident for three years with a marital union with a U.S. citizen for at least three years
  • Served in the US military for at least a year

Aside from these categories, you also have to meet certain demands, such as being 18-years old during the application, knowing and applying the English language, being a moral person, and many more. It is best to know all of these things before starting to apply for citizenship.

Through Military

This post already mentioned this earlier under naturalization. This part will only provide further details about it. In this case, a person who served in the armed forces with honors is eligible to become a U.S. citizen. Once you meet all the other requirements, you can already apply for citizenship.

Additionally, it is a cheaper way to apply for naturalization. As mentioned earlier, you can become a U.S. citizen even after a one-year service in the armed forces. First things first, you need to qualify to enlist in the US military. Moreover, age requirements also differ in every U.S. military branch.

In general, it is not easy to become a permanent resident of the United States. Your path of being one can either be short or long, depending on the choice you made. Among the four options above, naturalization is the most common route taken. You can become a citizen of the United States as long as you manage to secure all the requirements.

If your dream country is the United States and plans to live there, the options above are all open for you. You only have to make the right choice based on your plans as well. Choose the way which you think you can finish until the end. The process may take longer. Make sure that you have the patience to undergo all of them.

Aside from that, several benefits await you once you become a U.S. citizen. That includes quality of life, visa-free travel, economic freedom and opportunity, and many more.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

To Top