U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, history has it that the United States has attracted immigrants from all over the world seeking a greener pasture or rather a better life. The United States of America is a large country and diverse in nature with plenty of economic opportunities, it is little wonder why so many people want to move to the U.S and become U.S citizens.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that issues the U.S. and immigration systems.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
The agency performs most of the duties of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service that was dissolved, these duties include processing and determining various immigration matters, applications for work visas, asylum, and citizenship. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is officially saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding national security, maintaining immigration case backlogs, and improving efficiency. Currently, the agency is headed by Ur Jaddou, director, since August 3, 2021.
Functions Of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
The general functions of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) include processing immigrant visa petitions, naturalization applications, asylum applications, applications for green cards, and refugee applications. The agency also arbitrates decisions performed at the service centers and manages all other immigration benefits functions previously performed by the former INS. However, other key functions of the USCIS include:
- The Administration of immigration services and benefits
- Administering of EAD (Employment authorization documents)
- Arbitration of petitions for non-immigrant temporary workers
When it has to do with Immigrant’s journey towards Civic integration, USCIS focuses on two key areas which are: Permanent residents and the naturalization process. An Immigrant who’s a lawful permanent resident is eligible to become a citizen of the United States after holding the Permanent Resident Card for at least five continuous years, without leaving the United States for 180 days or more.
Benefits Of U.S. Citizenship
There is obviously a significant number of good reasons why you would want to become a U.S. citizen. Below are a few:
Living In The U.S
Living in the United States would open you up to a life characterized by diversity, openness, and innovation. Often times the U.S is referred to as the melting pot of different cultures. There are many languages spoken In major cities like New York and Chicago that you learn to speak, also, you can easily access foods from all over the world from a stone throw distance where you stay.
Enjoy the U.S geographically diverse nature
You will find the lush New England forests and bustling cities from the northeast, and when you head south, you get to explore the warm wetlands of Florida. In fact, you can experience all four seasons in the Midwestern plains, and also enjoy the heat of the Mojave desert in the Southwest.
Accommodative, openness, and warmth of U.S people
It will amaze you how strangers may approach you to make light conversation or how friendly the staff at your hotel is the moment you arrive in the U.S, you will observe how the people would go out of their way to make you feel at home
Quality Of Life
In as much as the quality of life can be difficult to measure, there’s little doubt that the US has plenty of it. You’ve got many cities, landscapes, and climates to choose from, US citizens have the ability to move anywhere that strikes their fancy without needing to leave the country.
Economic Freedom And Opportunity
The U.S. is one of the world’s wealthiest and most diversified economies, with lots of economic opportunities for citizens and newcomers alike. US economy is ranked 17th in the Index of Economic Freedom in 2020.
US citizenship taxes
U.S citizens pay less in taxes than citizens in most other developed countries.
Free Visa Travel
You have free Visa travel as a benefit of being a U.S citizen.
How To Become A U.S Citizen
The main way to gain citizenship in the U.S is through naturalization. However, there are other available ways in which an individual can become a U.S citizen, they include citizenship by birth which only applies to children born in the U.S or born to U.S citizen parents abroad. Thus, whichever way you obtained your permanent resident status, you must undergo the process of naturalization to get US citizenship.
Generally, you will need to maintain your green card for a period of 5 years to be eligible to apply for citizenship. Only those serving in the U.S military can expedite that process, and those married to a US citizen.
Applications for naturalization usually takes an average of six months to a year to be processed or even longer depending on the time of year that you apply and where you apply,
Determine your eligibility and immediately apply for naturalization using Form N-400, take the citizenship test, and complete your interview and biometric screening.
Upon successful approval, you will take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States to complete the process of becoming a naturalized citizen.
Note: You must meet US Customs and Immigration’s strict standards for becoming a US citizen.
Requirements For U.S Citizenship
There are certain requirements that you must meet to be eligible to apply for naturalization, they’re listed below;
Permanent Resident
You must have maintained your green card for five consecutive years to be able to apply for U.S Citizenship. You must also be found to have maintained all US laws and registered.
Physical Presence
Certain physical presence requirements are mandatory for you to fulfill to be eligible to apply for naturalization.
Local Residency LOCAL
During your application for naturalization, it is expected of you to apply within the state or district in which you currently reside, you must also have lived there three months before your application.
English Language
For you to be eligible for naturalization, you will need to show that you can read, write, and speak basic English. Your mastery of English will be tested by US Immigration during your citizenship interview and during your naturalization test, which will be conducted in English.
CIVICS KNOWLEDGE
Becoming a naturalized US citizen will require you to demonstrate basic knowledge of US history and government in your Naturalization Test.
Good Moral Character
To gain approval for naturalization, you must demonstrate good moral character.
Nationalization Processes For U.S Citizenship
After determining that you are eligible to apply for US citizenship;
- The first step in the naturalization process is to complete and file Form N-400, your Application for Naturalization.
- After you file the document, you will need to include any necessary additional documents and pay a $725 application and biometrics fee.
- The moment your initial application is processed, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will set an appointment for you to have your biometric data taken.
- Upon the successful completion of your biometric screening, you will head for another appointment for your citizenship interview.
- In the course of the interview, you will take the English Language Test as well as the Naturalization Test.
- Then, USCIS will make a decision on your application status after the interview and test, and if you are approved, an invitation will be sent to you to attend a naturalization ceremony where you will take a mandatory Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.
- It is at this ceremony that you officially gain US citizenship.
That’s all. Further research can be done on Google.
