Green Card

• Before thinking about becoming a citizen, an immigrant must first obtain a green card and become an LPR. There are a variety of ways to qualify for a green card: employment, marriage to a U.S. citizen, refugee status and through family ties with a U.S. citizen or green card holder. If you are eligible to apply for a green card, you must file form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As of 2010, the application filing fee is $1,010 and requires the submission of an application form and supplemental documentation.
  
  

Three-year Residency

• After receiving a green card, a specific period of residency must be fulfilled before citizenship can be applied for. Those who entered the United States on a K-3 spousal visa and earned a green card through marriage are eligible to apply for citizenship after three years of U.S. residency provided they are still married and have not left the country for periods longer than one year.
  
  

Five-year Residency

• All LPRs whose residency is not based on marriage to a U.S. citizen must reside in the United States for five years from the date of green card issuance to be eligible to apply for citizenship. During the five years the LPR must not leave the United States for periods longer than one year at a time.
  
  

Paperwork

• When the minimum residency requirements have been fulfilled by an LPR, he can apply for naturalization through the USCIS by filing form N-400 Application for Naturalization. The application is made by mail through the submission of the application form, the filing fee of $675, supporting documents and identification.
  
  

Interview and Exams

• After the naturalization application is received and processed by the USCIS, the applicant must attend an interview at the nearest USCIS agency. The agent asks questions concerning the application and the applicant's background, history and any other information the officer thinks is pertinent to the individual case. After the interview are two exams, the first covering English language proficiency and the second on American civics, including history and governance. Study guides for the civics and English exams are available at the USCIS website (uscis.gov).
  
  

Oath

• If the interview is approved and the exams are both passed, the applicant is given a date on which to return to the agency to swear the oath of allegiance to the United States. At the swearing-in ceremony the new citizen exchanges his green card for a Certificate of Naturalization.