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Posted on:
January 10th, 2012 |
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Here’s a detailed how to guide to becoming a citizen of the US, for all those that wish to become naturalized citizen of the land of the free, the land of opportunities – the US of A.
American law makes it possible for immigrants to become permanent or naturalized citizens of America. U.S citizenship brings with it several rights and benefits not available to green card holders. These include the inalienable right to stay in the country without the fear of being extradited. Green card holders can be asked to leave the country for even not-so-serious crimes but with U.S citizenship you need not worry about being asked to leave the country. Naturalized citizens are eligible for government benefits. Once you become a U.S citizen you can bring your family members to America that much more easily. The job sector opens up for U.S citizens, you can apply for employment opportunities with the federal government. Estate taxes rules are different for U.S citizens and green card holders.
As a general rule, you need to be 18 years or older and be a legal green card holder to be eligible for naturalization. You need to stay for five years in the U.S as a permanent resident before you consider becoming a citizen of the US. If your permanent residentship is no longer applicable because you have married an American then you need to reside in America for one year after this. You cannot leave America after your application for U.S citizenship. If you are a permanent resident and wish to apply for U.S citizenship do not stay outside the U.S for more than one year without first getting approval for Form N-470.
The USCIS Form N-400 is the form to be filled when applying for citizenship. You can actually fill this form three months prior to completing the eligibility requirements. The filing fee for this form is a not insignificant $595. Once you have submitted your form you will have to undergo fingerprinting and then an interview. Finally, after a wait of months, if all goes well, you will be called for your swearing-in ceremony and receive your certificate of citizenship given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which is documentary proof that you are a citizen of America.
If you are planning to apply for U.S citizenship, you should be reasonably conversant with the English language and have some knowledge of American history as well as how the U.S government functions. However; you can be exempted from knowing English if you have lived as a permanent resident in the country for twenty years and are fifty years of age. If you are fifty-five years of age, you need have been a permanent resident alien for only fifteen years.
Be on your best behavior all through the permanent resident status period and particularly during the phase when the application is in review. Stay on the right side of the law. Your moral conduct has to be above reproach.
One minor along with you can become a citizen of the U.S ; this includes adopted children as well.
If you come from the United Kingdom, Canada, or Northern Ireland you are eligible for dual citizenship.
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Posted on:
May 10th, 2010 |
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I thought anyone reading this blog should know the Oath of Allegiance – I took this from Wikipedia.
The United States Oath of Allegiance (officially referred to as the “Oath of Allegiance,” 8 C.F.R. Part 337 (2008)) is an oath that must be taken by all immigrants who wish to become United States citizens. The first officially recorded Oaths of Allegiance were made on May 30th, 1778 at Valley Forge, during the Revolutionary War.
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The current oath is as follows:
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Posted on:
April 26th, 2010 |
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Green cards allow immigrants to have permanent residency in the US but what about naturalization? What’s the difference and why bother getting naturalized?
Much of the freedoms and liberties taken for granted in the west are not available in many other countries throughout the world. Winning the green card lottery or being granted permission to reside and work in the US is indeed a privilege taken up by countless immigrants that are happy to call America home. Many of these US permanent residents decide to become US citizens relinquishing their homeland through the process of naturalization.
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What’s required to become an American? Firstly immigrants wishing to become citizens of the US must agree to uphold the United States Constitution as well meet the specific responsibilities deemed as all American. By swearing allegiance to these US principals and thereby becoming a naturalized citizen; certain benefits and privileges are granted in return. In fact as a naturalized American citizen you are afforded the same rights as someone that is born in America.
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Posted on:
March 24th, 2008 |
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For generations, many people from around the globe have held onto the dream of being able to emigrate from their native country and becoming a United States immigrant. There are many steps in the process to make such a dream a reality and passing the US citizenship test is one of the crucial steps.
According to US immigration law, an immigrant is defined as a person who is desiring to enter a country other than their native homeland, with the intention of eventually becoming a resident permanently and undertaking to live or work, or both, in their new country.
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Further, those who are intending to emigrate from the land of their birth and become an immigrant and eventually a full-fledged citizen of the Unites States are those who want to be able to live inside the borders of the U.S., either for an extensive period of time or permanently.
The US citizenship test is just one part of the process that those who apply for US citizenship must undertake. There is also a rather significant amount of paperwork that must be filed in the application process. A good deal of patience is required as the paperwork works its way through the grind of the plodding government wheels of progress.
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Posted on:
December 19th, 2007 |
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Naturalization is the act whereby an individual voluntarily and actively acquires citizenship, which is not his or her citizenship at birth. Naturalization is mostly common among migrants who have immigrated to a country and have willingly chosen to become a citizen of that country after meeting specific requirements.
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The basic requirements for naturalization are full-time residency for a minimum period as required by the law, and a pledge to uphold that country’s laws. In the United States, the Congress has the authority to prescribe a uniform rule of naturalization that is overseen by state courts. State court refers to any court of law having common-law jurisdiction and a clerk and seal.
Until 1952, the Naturalization Acts allowed only white persons to become naturalized as citizens of the United States. The initial parameters on naturalization were however set by the Naturalization Act of 1795 as ‘free, white persons’ who have been resident for five years or more. The period of five years was extended to fourteen years in the Naturalization Act of 1798, a part of the Alien and Sedition Acts. However, this was canceled in 1802.
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Posted on:
November 28th, 2007 |
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed 253 new U.S. citizens during three special Veterans Day naturalization ceremonies on Nov. 11 and 12 in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan to honor the sacrifices of all veterans, past and present.
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The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom hail from the 52 nations of: American Samoa, Argentina, Barbados, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Senegal, South Korea, St. Lucia, St. Vincent-Grenadines, Sudan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.
“Tens of thousands of immigrant troops have made and are making extraordinary sacrifices for their adopted nation. These patriots no longer have to wait until they return stateside to naturalize and become citizens of the nation they’re fighting for,” USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez remarked. “We honor the legacy of these heroes and express our deepest appreciation to our veterans – the men and women who stepped forward in times of need and triumphed over brutality, liberated millions, and brought freedom to the oppressed.” (more…)
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Posted on:
October 2nd, 2007 |
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Questions 51-100 of the United States Naturalization Test
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
▪ freedom of expression
▪ freedom of speech
▪ freedom of assembly
▪ freedom to petition the government
▪ freedom of worship
▪ the right to bear arms
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52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
▪ the United States
▪ the flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
▪ give up loyalty to other countries
▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
▪ obey the laws of the United States
▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
▪ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
▪ be loyal to the United States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
▪ eighteen (18) and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
▪ vote
▪ join a political party
▪ help with a campaign
▪ join a civic group
▪ join a community group
▪ give an elected official your opinion on an issue
▪ call Senators and Representatives
▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
▪ run for office
▪ write to a newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
▪ April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service? (more…)
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Posted on:
October 2nd, 2007 |
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Beginning October 1, 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementation of a redesigned naturalization test. All applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008 will be required to take the redesigned test.
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For those applicants who file prior to October 1, 2008 but are not interviewed until after
October 2008 (but before October 2009), there will be an option of taking the redesigned test or the current one.
Civics (history and government) items from the redesigned naturalization test are found below. Some of the items have more than one possible answer listed. Although we hope that applicants will learn all the content, applicants will only be required to give one answer from the list unless the question asks for more than one. An example of a question that requires more than one of the listed answers is item 36. It asks, “What are two Cabinet-level positions?” In this example, applicants would be required to tell the adjudicator any two of the listed possible responses.
Applicants for naturalization taking the redesigned test should note that USCIS is aware that the 100 items sometimes have answers that are not listed here.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
▪ the Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? (more…)
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Posted on:
September 18th, 2007 |
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Oath of Allegiance
The oath of allegiance is:
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“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.” (more…)
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