Reading: Citizenship
Directions: Read the following article about what it takes to become a citizen in America.
Then, see if you would pass the Citizenship Test!
Then, see if you would pass the Citizenship Test!
You can become an U.S. citizen by birth, through a process called "naturalization," through "derivative citizenship," or through "acquired citizenship."
Naturalization
A process where you show Immigration – the government agency that regulates questions of citizenship -- that you meet certain legal requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen is called "naturalization."
You must have "good moral character" to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. This does not necessarily mean the same as a "good person," as opposed to a "bad person." This is only a legal phrase. You might know a person whom you think of as a "good person" but Immigration might consider this person to lack "good moral character" and deny him or her citizenship. “Good moral character” is not the only requirement for naturalization.
If a person meets all the naturalization requirements, they can apply for naturalization. Immigration will send out an interview notice several months after the naturalization application is filed. During the interview, Immigration will go over the application to make sure the citizenship answers are correct. English skills and an understanding of U.S. history and government are tested. If either the English or U.S. history or government tests are failed, a second interview will be scheduled 3 months later to allow more time to study. If the second interview is failed, citizenship will be denied. Filing again is acceptable, but fees will need to be paid once again.
If the tests are passed during the first or second interview, Immigration will set an appointment to be "sworn in" as a U.S. citizen. This appointment might take several months, but once a person is sworn in, they are a citizen of the United States.
Derivative Citizenship
Through their parents' naturalization, some children become U.S. citizens automatically, or "derivatively." Laws about "derivative citizenship" vary depending upon the date the parent(s) were naturalized.
Children become U.S. citizens derivatively through their parents' naturalization as long as all of the following requirements are met before the child's 18th birthday.
- At least one parent is a U.S. citizen,
- The child is under 18 years of age, and
- The child is admitted to the United States as an immigrant.
A child might have "acquired" U.S. citizenship at birth without knowing, or without the parents knowing, if they were born outside the United States and either parent was a U.S. citizen when the child was born. This might also be true even if neither parent was born in the United States, but one or more of the grandparents were. This is a complicated area of immigration law.
Take the Quiz!
Citizenship Mini Test | |
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