Citizenship and Naturalization

United States citizenship is generally understood as a “right to have rights” because it is the basis for being entitled to other “unalienable” rights and freedoms, such as the right to live and work in the United States, the right to vote, and the right to be eligible for federal government financial assistance. Without U.S. citizenship, an individual residing in the United States, is not entitled to the same benefits as U.S. citizens. Some rights, however, such as the right to practice free speech and religion, are available to anyone living in the U.S., regardless of immigration status.

Individuals born in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Anyone born with U.S. citizenship retains it for life unless he or she deliberately gives it up by filing an oath or renunciation.

There are several ways to obtain citizenship, but the primary ones are: (i) the aforementioned birthright citizenship, in which a person is born in the U.S. and (ii) Naturalization, a process in which an immigrant applies for citizenship and is accepted.

To become a United States citizen through Naturalization, the applicant must be (i) at least eighteen years of age at the time of filing, (ii) a legal permanent resident of the United States, and (iii) have had a status of a legal permanent resident in the United States for five years before they apply. In addition, the applicant must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months of the 60 months prior to the date of filing his or her application. The applicant must have good moral character, and pass a basic test on U.S. history & government. Most applicants must also have a understanding of the English language.

Atlanta Citizenship Lawyers and Atlanta Immigration Lawyer: Citizenship and Naturalization