# How does one become a U.S. Citizen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026 "2003-07-08T16:36:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/1 "2003-07-08T16:36:05Z")
What does a person have to do to become a U.S. citizen? Take history classes? ---
**Author:** ![yoyo3500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5daacb/32.png) [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/2 "2003-07-08T16:49:52Z")
Marry an American citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/3 "2003-07-08T17:05:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yoyo3500 \* > \*\*Marry an American citizen. \*\* I’m not sure that’s correct. I think all that does is gain you some permanence in the US. Citizenship requires taking a test and swearing an oath of allegiance, which means studying up on US history and civics. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/4 "2003-07-08T17:17:47Z")
You can become a U.S. citizen either by being born a citizen or by being naturalized. Naturalization requirements are available from the brand new [Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services](http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/services/natz/general.htm). They include: Be at least 18 years old. Be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. Have resided lawfully in the U.S. continuously for five years. Have good moral character (not have been convicted for certain crimes, etc.) Speak English (with certain exceptions). Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government by taking a citizenship test. Swear an oath of allegiance. Marriage to a U.S. citizen enters into it because that can be grounds for obtaining permanent residency status. Marriage to a U.S. citizen does **not** grant citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/5 "2003-07-08T17:28:43Z")
IMHO, the citizenship test is utterly ridiculous (my stepdad took it when he immigrated from England). They give you a list of 100 “American History facts” to learn, and ask you any 3 questions from the list; what citizenship qualifications it tests, beyond the English-fluency requirement I cannot venture to guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/6 "2003-07-08T17:50:45Z")
What it tests is willingness to put up with stupid federal government policies. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/7 "2003-07-08T17:56:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpoilerVirgin \* > \*\*You can become a U.S. citizen either by being born a citizen or by being naturalized. Naturalization requirements are available from the brand new [Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services](http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/services/natz/general.htm). They include: > > Be at least 18 years old. > > Be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. > > Have resided lawfully in the U.S. continuously for five years. > > Have good moral character (not have been convicted for certain crimes, etc.) > > Speak English (with certain exceptions). > > Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government by taking a citizenship test. > > Swear an oath of allegiance. > > Marriage to a U.S. citizen enters into it because that can be grounds for obtaining permanent residency status. Marriage to a U.S. citizen does **not** grant citizenship. \*\* Applause for an excellent post. And, of ccourse, jeers to **yoyo3500** for posting incorrect information in response to a General Question. The only point I’d add is that when permanant residency is the result of marriage to an American citizen, the residency requirement is three years, not five. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/8 "2003-07-08T18:49:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Be at least 18 years old. What about minors? If a family with children immigrates to the US, are the children considered to be automatically naturalized when the parents are? I’m sure there are some provisions for naturalization of minors. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/9 "2003-07-08T19:02:25Z")
And to follow-up that question, are there any advantages to a minor to being naturalized vs. just having permanent residency? Voting rights for instance are not relevant. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/10 "2003-07-08T19:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*What about minors? If a family with children immigrates to the US, are the children considered to be automatically naturalized when the parents are? I’m sure there are some provisions for naturalization of minors. \*\* I don’t know what all the rules are now, but my husband’s family immigrated when he was about 8 or 9, and both he and his brother became citizens when their parents did. They did not have to take a separate test. Obviously, rules can change, and I don’t know what the maximum age is for this kind of procedure. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/11 "2003-07-08T19:41:09Z")
If you’re too impatient to go through the hassle of naturalization, you can also become a citizen through an Act of Congress. Some well-placed campaign contributions would likely speed that process along. 😉 **SmackFu** , the big advantage to being naturalized is that it takes an extra step for them to deport you, although if Patriot Act II ever passes, that might change. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/12 "2003-07-08T19:49:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 3waygeek \* > **SmackFu** , the big advantage to being naturalized is that it takes an extra step for them to deport you, although if Patriot Act II ever passes, that might change. Really? Fascinating. What SPECIFIC provision of the proposed Patriot Act II do you contend would permit this? ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/13 "2003-07-09T00:43:01Z")
Lighten up, **Bricker** ; the Patriot II reference was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/14 "2003-07-09T00:55:42Z")
Oh, a joke. I get it. I get jokes. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/15 "2003-07-09T01:10:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*IMHO, the citizenship test is utterly ridiculous (my stepdad took it when he immigrated from England). They give you a list of 100 “American History facts” to learn, and ask you any 3 questions from the list; what citizenship qualifications it tests, beyond the English-fluency requirement I cannot venture to guess. \*\* In fact, the examiner asks as many questions as s/he feels like (or his regional office has directed), leading to wide variations in the difficulty of the test. There is a process underway to standardize the citizenship test. [Cite](http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/citizentest_031303.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-u-s-citizen/187026/16 "2003-07-09T01:20:59Z")
Marriage to a US citizen merely establishes eligibility to request immigration separate from the quota entries. It does not, in and of itself, establish any permanent residency.