Topic: Citizenship

• Advantages of United States Citizenship: United States citizenship is one step beyond permanent residency (Green Card). Citizenship gives the holder the maximum rights available in the United States. United States citizens may also find it advantageous to use a U.S. passport when traveling abroad.
  
  
• How to Obtain U.S. Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship is most commonly acquired by birth. Under most circumstances, children born in United States territory are considered United States citizens. Individuals born outside the United States can also apply for U.S. citizenship; this process is a called naturalization.
  
  
• Immigrants in the Military: The federal government cannot petition on behalf of an illegal immigrant in order for them to obtain legal status and be able to enlist in the military.
  
  
• Name Change: An individual may choose to change their legal name for many reasons including marriage, divorce, or even due to misspellings on original documentation. Individuals applying for naturalization also have the legal right to request a name change.
  
  
• Oath of Allegiance: An oath of allegiance is a verbal promise in which an individual swears allegiance and loyalty to a particular country, state, monarchy, political institution, individual, or group of individuals. In the United States, naturalized citizens, military personnel, and citizens assuming public offices such as presidents and judges, swear their allegiance to the United States Constitution.
  
  
• Top 10 Reasons to apply for U.S. Citizenship:  Benefits of U.S. Citizenship include: eligibility to apply for a U.S. passport, ability to sponsor family members to become U.S. citizens, the right to vote, the freedom to not ever worry about deportation, and the ability to freely travel in and out of the United States.
  
  
• U.S. Citizenship Ceremony: A United States naturalization ceremony, also commonly referred to as a citizenship ceremony, represents the final step in the process of becoming a naturalized, United States citizen. United States citizenship ceremonies include an oath to be taken by all potential new citizens.
  
  
• U.S. Citizenship Frequently Asked Questions: Learn about the most frequently asked questions about the United States citizenship and naturalization process.
  
  

Back to Immigration Articles