Who Is Eligbile for US Citizenship and Naturalization

To apply for US Citizenship and Naturalization, you must meet the following criteria:

• you have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years or at least three years for spouses of US Citizens (with exceptions for refugees, people who get their green card through political asylum, and U.S. military personnel)
• you have been physically present in the United States for at least half of the last five years
• you have lived in the district or state where you are filing your application for at least three months
• you have not spent more than a year outside the United States
• you have not made your primary home in another country
• you are at least 18 years old
• you have good moral character
• you are able to speak, read, and write in English
• you are able to pass a test covering U.S. history and government
• you are willing to swear that you believe in the principles of the U.S. Constitution and will be loyal to the United States.

 

Redesigned Naturalization Test Effective October 2008

US Citizenship & Immigration Services announced the new redesigned naturalization test on September 27, 2007. Naturalization applicants will begin taking the revised test on October 1, 2008.

The following guidelines will determine whether naturalization applicants will take the current test or the redesigned version.  If an applicant:

• Applies BEFORE October 1, 2008 and is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview BEFORE October 1, 2008, he or she will take the current test.

• Applies BEFORE October 1, 2008 and is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview AFTER October 1, 2008, he or she can choose to take the current test or the redesigned version.

• Applies AFTER October 1, 2008, he or she will take the redesigned version.

• Is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview AFTER October 1, 2009, regardless of when he or she applied, he or she will take the redesigned version