Obtaining citizenship of this country is a dream for residents of many other countries. Russia also belongs to them. About 500 thousand emigrants arrive in the United States every year. The government believes that this kind of “new blood” is needed in the country. Because it improves the economy and allows it to move forward.
Obtaining US citizenship is the dream of many people.
What does the status of a US citizen give?
In turn, the status of a US citizen provides a lot of advantages to its owner. He can fully enjoy medical care and receive education. In addition, have various benefits, grants and scholarships, as well as vote in elections.
An important advantage is also visa-free entry into most countries of the world and pension provision. A US citizen has the right to invite his relatives to the country. His children have the right to free education in any secondary school. In addition, university tuition fees are much lower than for non-residents.
There is no compulsory military service in the USA
That is, if you have no desire to serve in the army, you can work under a contract for only a month in a civilian specialty.
A US citizen is also eligible for an unsecured loan with a low interest rate. This will help you buy your own home, open a business, or pay for your children's education. It is prohibited to deport citizens from the country. Overall, US citizenship will really make your life a lot easier.
What does US citizenship provide?
The main advantages of American citizenship can be identified:
- Great job opportunities. United States citizens can take government jobs or jobs with access to classified information.
- Travel and live in almost every country in the world. A US passport provides visa-free entry into 170 countries. Even those countries that require a visa for Americans can enter by simply getting one at the airport.
- Social package. American citizens are entitled to all types of assistance from the state - cash benefits for the poor, preferential medical care for the disabled, and others.
- Suffrage. Citizens take part in presidential and local government elections. They assist in court cases by sitting on juries.
- Priority for immigration to the United States for relatives and relatives. The spouse and children of a national of the country receive an identification card faster than other categories of foreigners. Parents and brothers and sisters are also eligible to immigrate. Children of US citizens become citizens by birth, even if they were born in another country.
- Study in American educational institutions through scholarships and other types of government support.
- Grants for scientific research and business.
- No compulsory conscription into the army. The United States has a contract army, which is difficult to get into.
- Available bank loans. Low levels of lending rates make it easy to pay for the purchase of a home, a car, or start a business.
There are several disadvantages of American citizenship. One of them is the relatively high cost of obtaining status. It is more than $650. You need to be prepared to spend three business days on registration: to submit fingerprints, undergo an interview and take the oath. Some people don't like having to serve on a jury every two years. It is not uncommon to spend several weeks on court hearings. Migrants from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries require a visa when entering these states. But only if they plan to stay for more than three months.
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Who can obtain citizenship?
Obtaining American citizenship is quite difficult, but possible. In order to be eligible to apply for this status, you need to have lived in the country for at least five years on the basis of a Green Card or permanent residence. This period is reduced to three years if you are married to an American citizen.
Who has the right to apply for American citizenship?
- people who were born in the United States;
- persons married to a US citizen;
- children with at least one parent who is a US citizen;
- investors;
- US military personnel;
- other persons who have lived in the United States for at least 5 years legally.
Citizenship by birthright
Let's take a closer look at these categories. So, if a person is born in the United States, he automatically has the right to become a citizen of this country. In this case, the nationality of his parents and the reasons for which they are in the United States are unimportant. In addition, this rule also applies to territories belonging to the United States: Puerto Rico, Guam and others.
It is clear that many residents of third world countries strive by any means to end up on territory belonging to the United States before giving birth.
But it should be remembered that in this case, the born child can obtain US citizenship. It will not apply to either the mother or the father.
Such a citizen will be able to invite relatives to the United States no earlier than reaching the age of 21. That is, only after becoming an adult.
US administrative map showing all states
And before that, he will have to prove that in the future he plans to permanently reside in the United States. For example, enroll in an educational institution there.
Options for obtaining citizenship
Obtaining citizenship by naturalization
Long-term legal residence on American territory with the status of a permanent resident provides for the possibility of obtaining US citizenship. The grounds for obtaining a green card and permanent residence may be the presence of family ties with an American citizen or official employment. The right to apply for citizenship appears 5 years from the date of acquisition of resident status. The total period of stay in the state must be at least 30 months. Foreigners over 18 years of age with a high level of English language proficiency and no debt or criminal record can apply for U.S. citizenship along with the Form N-400 naturalization application. Each applicant is required to provide USCIS with a photograph, fingerprints and signature, undergo an interview in English and take an oath.
Obtaining citizenship through marriage
The issuance of a green card followed by the provision of a US passport is provided for spouses of American citizens. An application must be submitted along with the marriage certificate to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. If your foreign spouse is a legal resident of the United States, you must complete and submit Form I-485 to change your immigration status. Spouses of Americans living outside the United States must first obtain visa approval after an interview. Correcting your immigration status by completing Form I-485 is possible at the time you are granted permission to enter the state. The right to obtain US citizenship for foreign spouses of Americans is granted 3 years after receiving a green card, subject to continuous residence in the country for at least 18 months.
Obtaining citizenship through parents
Children of two American citizens automatically become citizens of the United States, regardless of place of birth. Mandatory conditions are the officially registered marriage of the parents and residence of one of the spouses on American territory before the birth of the child.
U.S. citizenship is automatically granted to children born legally to a U.S. citizen and a foreigner after November 14, 1986. Before the birth of the child, the American spouse must live in the United States for a total of 5 years; when the child reaches 14 years old – another 2 years.
The right to citizenship may be granted to persons whose parents were unmarried US citizens at the time of birth. Recognition of a child as a citizen is possible provided that the mother has lived on American territory for 1 year.
Children adopted by US citizens receive citizenship after 2 years of residence in America.
Obtaining Citizenship through Service in the US Military
Foreigners who have served in the US armed forces for at least 1 year in peacetime or who participate in military conflicts on the American side are granted the right to obtain United States citizenship. Persons with permanent resident status between 17 and 42 years of age with completed secondary education and good physical fitness, without a criminal record, can become military personnel. Obtaining US citizenship is possible subject to compliance with American laws, fulfillment of legal obligations to the state, knowledge of the basics of citizenship and the English language. The application is submitted through an authorized official, for example, a representative of the military court service. The required forms to complete are N-400 and N-426. Assignment of US citizenship occurs at the time of taking the oath of office.
Green card
A green card can be obtained for various reasons. The most original way is to obtain a Green Card through a lottery. The official website of the US State Department where the lottery is held dvprogram.state.gov
Every year in early October, the US government holds a lottery where the prize is a Green Card.
This is analogous to permanent residence status in other countries. If you complete and submit the documents correctly, then you also have a chance. This action is intended to revive the flow of emigrants into the country. After receiving your Green Card, you have the right to take your family. In addition, over time, you will all be able to claim American citizenship.
Features of dual citizenship in the USA
In principle, American law does not prohibit such a provision. There is also no law in the Russian Federation that would not allow one to have Russian and US citizenship at the same time. This has its advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages are the following:
- The opportunity to serve in the American army, while a person can refuse to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
- The right to participate in US political life.
- Receiving a prestigious education.
- Protecting the rights of Americans around the world (consulates, embassies).
- Upon reaching 21 years of age, a person can apply for family reunification. That is, if the child has lived in the United States all the previous time, he is given the opportunity to call his parents.
- Visa-free travel and residence in almost any country. Moreover, specific deadlines are not established.
There are also disadvantages:
- In the Russian Federation, dual citizenship of Russia and the United States blocks a person’s path to service in government or military bodies.
- American citizens pay taxes wherever they are.
Refugee
It is also possible to stay in the country as a refugee. You will need to prove that your rights are being violated in your home country. For example, on religious or ethnic grounds, or due to belonging to a social group that is prohibited in your country.
The refugee is given the right to reunite with his family. Moreover, he is given health insurance, benefits, and food stamps. Children are enrolled in school, and adults are paid for English language courses. The time spent in refugee status is not limited, but, as a rule, people quickly apply for permanent residence. Having thus lived in the United States for at least five years, a citizen has the right to apply for citizenship.
Profession
The first step in obtaining US citizenship may be employment. To obtain a visa, the applicant must have a bachelor's or master's degree. In the first case, his professional skills should be confirmed by official work experience. USCIS will also need a letter from the employer confirming the availability of the position, the required skill level and salary.
Workers without higher education can also apply to move to the United States. To do this, they need to prove that their work is important for promoting the country’s national interests in terms of security, economic development and social well-being. In addition, a residence permit is granted when there is high demand for a certain specialty, which is not covered by the internal supply in the labor market.
Immigrant visas allow you to move with your family - spouses and children under the age of 21. They provide the right to legal employment, which makes it easier to obtain US citizenship.
Naturalization procedure
Naturalization is a legal procedure that makes it possible to obtain citizenship after five years of legal stay in the country (in the case of marriage to a US citizen - after three).
This is what an American passport looks like
Only adults (18 years of age or older) have the right to undergo the procedure. First you need to submit an application for citizenship. The petition is filed in the state where the future citizen has resided for the last three months.
The following must be attached to the application:
- a copy of the Green Card;
- receipt of payment of state duty;
- photographs (2 pieces, size 5x5);
- receipt for payment for fingerprinting.
Fingerprinting is the taking of fingerprints. Anyone applying for American citizenship must undergo this procedure. Only persons over 75 years of age are exempt from it. Fingerprinting is the second stage of the naturalization procedure.
In addition to the above requirements, an applicant for US citizenship must also:
- have a good command of the language and know the history of the country;
- have high moral qualities.
Interview
Knowledge of language and history is tested during the interview. The interview is the third stage of obtaining citizenship.
Sample US language exam questions
The date will be communicated to you in advance. There are no approved questions. The interviewer can ask you anything. Of course, the interview is conducted in English. As a rule, they ask questions regarding your personal data, as well as the history of the country.
Business
This method of obtaining US citizenship, subject to a number of conditions, is quite quick. Typically, the applicant receives a Green Card 6-12 months after submitting documents. During this time, he can live and work in the country with a temporary certificate.
In the USA, much attention is also paid to business development. Therefore, the government is ready to cooperate with top managers on the issue of accelerated immigration. The following requirements apply to them:
- experience in a senior management position for 1 of the last 3 years or more;
- employment in an American company with at least 10 employees and an annual profit of more than 70 thousand dollars.
Who cannot qualify for US citizenship?
Your citizenship application will be denied if you:
- committed an offense while living in the country on the basis of a Green Card;
- have an outstanding criminal conviction;
- have ever been convicted of a serious crime (murder, rape, drug trafficking);
- gave false information when applying for a Green Card;
- evaded paying taxes while living on a Green Card;
- entered the country illegally;
- evaded military service or deserted during hostilities;
- ever called for the overthrow of the US government;
- were members of parties or totalitarian organizations (for example, communist) banned in the United States.
Is it possible for Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians to obtain US citizenship?
People from any country can become an American, including Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Young people usually go to the United States to study or work, and then look for opportunities to obtain a passport from this country. Relatives of Americans have a good chance of naturalization. Below are the main steps to obtaining United States citizenship.
Opening a visa
There are many types of US visas. The most frequently issued visas are for business and tourist trips (B1/B2), work and student. B1/B2 visas can be single or multiple entry. The cost of a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 to 3 years is $160.
To obtain a tourist or business visa, you must submit the following documents to the embassy:
- electronic application on form DS-160;
- international passport;
- photo size 5 × 5 cm;
- letter confirming registration for a consular interview.
At the consulate interview, you must present additional documents. Their list differs in each specific case. But the main ones include: a certificate of financial solvency and place of work, a document on criminal convictions, arrests or lack thereof, information about the travel route.
Obtaining a residence permit
You can get a Green Card (identification card) in several ways - lottery, marriage, family reunification and others. It is issued for 10 years with the possibility of extension. After living on a Green Card for 5 years, you can apply for US citizenship. Of these 5 years, you must spend at least 2.5 years in the country.
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List of required documents
The citizenship application form must be downloaded from the Immigration Service website. The application must be completed and submitted along with the following documents:
- a copy of the Green Card or other document on the basis of which the applicant is in the country;
- international passport;
- photo size 5 × 5 cm - 2 pcs.;
- receipt for payment of services.
In each specific case, the list of documents is supplemented. After reviewing the documents, the applicant is invited to submit fingerprints. The biometric material is checked by the Bureau of Investigation staff. Sometimes the candidate is asked to provide additional documents.
Interview
This is the last and most important step in obtaining United States citizenship. The interview is usually scheduled three months after submitting the application. It is conducted orally by a USCIS officer. The immigration officer checks all the papers and forms the applicant has submitted since the visa was issued. The candidate is asked questions about his past and plans for the future. After passing the oral part of the interview, the applicant is offered a test of knowledge of the official language of the United States, history and government. To get a positive result, you must answer at least 6 out of 10 questions correctly.
U.S. Citizenship Oath
If the applicant receives a positive decision from the immigration service, he is invited to a solemn oath ceremony to the United States of America. Usually people come to it with relatives and friends. At the ceremony, the new citizen takes an oath to the country, repeating the text after the judge. After this, he receives a certificate confirming his status in the state, an application for a passport and a package of documents. Having issued a passport, an American officially registers his new status with all government agencies and is registered in the voter register.
Fictitious marriage
In the 1980s, a very common immigration route was through fictitious marriage to obtain US citizenship. To limit the flow of such immigrants, the government has introduced strict measures. The first green card is now issued for two years. You can apply for naturalization in three. If it turns out that an American knowingly committed a crime, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a considerable fine. For a foreigner – imprisonment for up to 1 year, deportation.
The “cost” of such services is quite considerable. On the Internet you can regularly find advertisements “Fictitious marriage to obtain US citizenship price.” The fee is substantial - $15-45 thousand depending on the list of services. Weigh up what you are risking - the illusory opportunity to become a resident or receive a lifelong entry ban.
If within five years the fictitious partner declares that the relationship was conditional, the green card and even citizenship will be invalidated.
