The “American Dream” is known worldwide because America is regarded as a place of freedom and opportunity. However, in order to fully embrace that dream, an individual typically must become an American citizen. Thankfully, residents of all states, including Pennsylvania, typically have ways to access that dream.
How can I become an American citizen?
When it comes to naturalization/citizenship, there are many steps that an individual must take. This process can often be confusing, and outside counsel is often necessary in order to walk a person through the process. It involves the following:
- If you are not already an American citizen, you must determine your eligibility.
- You must prepare and submit form N-400, which is the formal application for naturalization.
- Complete your biometrics appointment, which is not necessary for everyone but may be for you.
- Complete an interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Receive a formal decision on your citizenship application.
- If all these steps go well, you will receive a notice to take the formal Oath of Allegiance. This Oath will formally allow you to become an American citizen.
- You will then take the oath and become a naturalized American citizen with all the rights and privileges therein.
As you can tell, this process is time-consuming and can get expensive. It is best to start as soon as possible to make sure you fully understand all the requirements and so that you have ample time to meet any of the obligations laid out in the above process.
If you have any questions about how to apply for citizenship, it is often best to connect with a lawyer who is familiar with immigration law. He or she can walk you through the process and ensure that you follow all the necessary steps to becoming an American.