How easy is it to Become an American Citizen & Is it worth it?

Following are some items from the “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

There is additional information at their site which can be reached through the source link.

Is becoming a Citizen of the United States worth it? I believe so but then I am bias. It depends on what you value in life. If you believe that individual freedoms and the opportunity to control your economic future is important, then you will find no better place than the United States. If being directed by, and told what to do by a government is important, then it is less valuable.

Those who cite millions of citizens being deprived know not of what they speak, it fact the worse off citizen in the United States is better off than the best citizens in many countries of the world. That you can't drike the ground water is laughable, it merely depends on where you are.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The general requirements for administrative naturalization include:

•a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;

•residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;

•an ability to read, write, and speak English;

•a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;

•good moral character;

•attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,

•favorable disposition toward the United States.

Note: Effective August 2, 2004, USCIS has changed its requirements for photographs to a standard passport-style photograph.

Note: Recent changes in immigration law and USCIS procedures now make it easier for U.S. military personnel to naturalize.

All naturalization applicants must demonstrate good moral character, attachment, and favorable disposition. The other naturalization requirements may be modified or waived for certain applicants, such as spouses of U.S. citizens. Applicants should review the following materials and carefully read the N-400 application instructions before applying.

Depends on what stage you are in the immigration process. You need to be a permanent resident for five years before you can become a citizen (3 if you married a citizen). You have to pass a civics examand pay fees, criminal check, etc.

The hard thing is becoming a permanent resident. It is expensive, takes a long time and you have to come up with a lot of documents. That is if you qualify. Qualifying is the hardest part.

The easiest way to become a citizen is to fall in love with one, and decide to marry her. She can get a fiance visa for you, then you come, get married and you apply for residence. Three years later you can become a citizen. Be sure it is a real marriage, though, immigration is very good at picking out fakes and you get deported for faking a marital relationship.

How easy is it? Depends on where you are immigrating from. If you are a citizen of a third world country like Mexico then the process is long, drawn out, and time consuming. It can take up to 10 years of more in some cases. A lot of people think that you can just apply and that is it but that is not the case. There are forms to fill out, fees to pay, interviews to go to and if you are approved you still have to wait for a visa number to become available(depending on the type of visa you apply for). That is just to become a legal permanent resident, if you want to become an actual citizen with the right to vote then there is more you have to do. The actual citizenship test couldn't even be passed by the majority of natural born citizens who studied our history for 13 years in school. If an immigrant can study that hard to pass an extremely difficult test then to them the end result is definitely worth it. The question shouldn't be how hard is it and it is worth it, the question should be, "If the tables were turned and you were the immigrant, would it be worth it to you?"

And for katsulover: Since the majority of "illegals" are from Mexico, I invite you to live in Mexico for one month, maybe then you will understand the reasons why some chose the illegal route. Most of them have tried the legal route but couldn't afford to wait anymore. Poor health care, poor sanitary conditions, and only $400-500 a month will drive even your will to live a better a life. I in no way support breaking the law but I have compassion for the reasons that they do it. My husband happens to be mexican and the path to make him legal was a long and hard one. You can fight amnesty for illegals all you want but look back at history for the last 50 or so years. Some form of amnesty comes around every 10-15 years. The last time was in 1991, that is exactly 15 years ago.

It was easy for me since I was born here. I think its worth it. I gage that on the millions and millions who have risked their lives to get here.

It must be hard since so many people take the illegal route. It might be worth it depending on what country you are moving from.

i suppose how easy it is depends on where you are emigrating from, and why you choose the us.

i wonder why folks think it's worth it, though. you can't drink the ground water in most of the contiguous usa. there are millions and millions of folks who are kept from pariticipating in society through various roadblocks. there are millions who do not have adequate clothing shelter food education health care etc etc etc

why americans think their country is the zenith of human civilisation is a mystery to me. they almost had it right, then traded it all for the big green

No,, so stay out