The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) governs the requirements to be met by a person seeking citizenship through naturalization. This process involves giving foreign citizens and nationals U.S. citizenship after they have met certain criteria, the most important one being to acquire permanent residency. Green card holders are required to have stayed in the country for at least five years. Those with a U.S. citizen spouse are required to have stayed for three or more years to be eligible as permanent residents. A child born to U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. can also acquire citizenship through this process.
Together with the residency requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no criminal record and not be facing deportation, and must have the ability to communicate in simple English. You must also understand U.S. history and government and be able to support and swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and the country. During and after your application, you are required to reside continuously in the U.S. until your citizenship is confirmed. Applicants submit the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An interview is conducted and a naturalization test is taken by the applicant to qualify for citizenship.
Children who are born in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens automatically acquire citizenship. Children born outside the U.S. require either one or both parents to be U.S. citizens and have lived in the US or its overseas territories for a reasonably long period of time. Either adopted and biological children born outside of or temporarily living in the U.S. can apply for citizenship through this method.
The child must be under 18 years when the application for citizenship is being made. Residency requirements for the parents must also be met. Parents must also file Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate for the child. The application must be approved after which the child takes the oath of allegiance. Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship is filed afterward to obtain a certificate of citizenship from the USCIS.