- How to get US citizenship - the most popular ways
- Green card is the best chance
- Marriage to an American is not so simple
It is no secret that for many people on the planet America remains the main dream, a place where you can realize your own talents, find an application for your strength, and, most importantly, get decent wages for work. There are different ways to stay and live in the United States, not all of them are legal. Most of the Russian citizens going abroad are still trying to find an answer to the question of how to obtain US citizenship by law.
How to get US citizenship - the most popular ways
Obtaining the citizenship of another country is an important and responsible step; from this moment, actually another life begins, according to different rules and laws. It is important that the entry into this other life takes place without excesses and violations.
At the first stage, it is necessary to decide in what way a person will receive citizenship, prepare the necessary documents, observing all, even the most absurd, at first glance requirements, carefully study the very mechanism of obtaining citizenship in the United States. Today there are many ways, the most popular of them with a green card are the following:
- long enough residence in the United States;
- marriage with the holder of the citizenship of this country;
- military service, of course, in the American army.
Which of these methods to choose, each person decides for himself, based on the available conditions and opportunities. The main condition is the possession of a green card, identity card. Such a document confirms the presence of a residence permit in the United States, it also gives the right to official employment and the opportunity for permanent residence in the country.
Green card is the best chance
Getting a green card is the easiest way to get closer to the American dream, especially if you get one as a result of the diversification lottery that is held annually. Having this certificate gives you the opportunity to live in the United States legally, and this is the second step. If you have a green card, residence in the country for more than five years with short trips. The third important point is the absence of crime.
The possibility of obtaining citizenship of the United States of America for holders of a green card is possible subject to the following conditions:
- age - over 18 years old;
- ownership of a green card for over 5 years;
- residence in the country for at least 2, 5 years (in total).
In order to send documents for obtaining US citizenship in the territory of a state, you must have lived in this state for at least three months prior to the date of filing. Citizenship benefits will be enjoyed by people who speak English, at least at a minimal level.
In addition, they will have an exam on the history of the United States ahead of them, on the knowledge of the modern political and economic structure. A person will undergo a mandatory test of moral qualities, the presence of criminal connections and problems with the law. Naturally, in order to submit a set of documents for obtaining US citizenship, a person at the time of filing must be in the country.
Marriage to an American is not so simple
Mendelssohn's wedding march, congratulations and gifts, next to him is a handsome prince from a distant country, with a US passport. This is how many girls imagine their easy and beautiful path to American citizenship. And they are mistaken, there are enough pitfalls in this method, the presence of a husband, a citizen of the United States, is only one of the steps on the way to a brighter future.
Firstly, to get married, a girl must reach the age of 18, and secondly, her spouse must be a US citizen for at least 3 years. For the same number of years, an applicant for citizenship must own a green card and at the same time be legally married to an American. Thirdly, the period of residence in the territory of the state in which the documents are submitted must be at least three months, and the total residence in the country must be at least one and a half years (in total).
Additional bonuses - having a job, good knowledge of the language, no clashes with the law. If all the conditions are met, you can start preparing documents and going through the naturalization procedure. It consists of several stages, at the first stage, a person dreaming of obtaining citizenship in the United States submits an application, a copy of a green card, photographs, fees for taking prints and for processing the application.
The next stages are passing a check for the presence (absence) of a criminal past, an interview, where knowledge of the English language, history, and the US economy is tested, the purpose of the visit, the main points of the biography are clarified. The final stage is the oath of allegiance, this ceremony is held by all newly minted US citizens.
