Reform may be coming amid public events celebrating U.S. naturalization

April 13, 2013 (Press-News.org) Reform may be coming amid public events celebrating U.S. naturalization

Article provided by U.S. Law Center
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The path to U.S. citizenship for immigrants has been in the public awareness lately. On President's Day this year, 19,000 people obtained U.S. citizenship alone in massive ceremonies across the country. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official blog, more than 650,000 people are naturalized each year.

Amid these events, the White House has continued to push for immigration reform. In March, at a naturalization ceremony for 28 active duty service members, President Obama indicated in a press conference that the White House would continue to push for comprehensive and sensible reforms, including reforming a path to naturalization.

Obtaining citizenship

The path to naturalization can be long and somewhat confusing. Myriad eligibility requirements apply, the beginning of which is that in order to apply the person must have resided legally in the U.S. for at least five years. Other eligibility requirements a person must meet include:
-Being 18 years or older
-Having held a green card for the five immediately preceding years at the time of the application for naturalization
-Living at least three months within the state in which the applicant is filing for citizenship
-Being physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of the preceding five years before the date of application
-Residing continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization until the process is complete

In addition to residency and age requirements, in order to become a U.S. citizen the applicant must prove that he or she is a person of good moral character, must swear allegiance to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and must be able to speak, read and write English and pass a U.S. history and civics test.

Military service

Active military service personnel, including those serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, may apply for naturalization after one year of military service during peacetime. During periods of hostility, even one day of service may be enough to qualify for naturalization. Family members of military personnel may also be able to apply for naturalization if they meet eligibility requirements.

Path to citizenship

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a proud moment. People seeking to become U.S. citizens should contact an experienced and skilled U.S. immigration attorney to discuss their case and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and fill out all forms correctly to ensure their case is not delayed.