While no one can do anything to change the status of their birth, there are steps to be taken to become a naturalized citizen, and thousands of people gain naturalized citizenship each year in the United States. Get the answers to your US naturalization questions today!

Who Can Be Considered a US Born Citizen

To be considered a natural born citizen of the United States an individual must be born inside the country unless the parents are foreign nationals serving in the U.S. such as diplomats. If the parents are both U.S. citizens or if one is a citizen and the other has lived in the U.S. during their lifetime, the children are citizens. Finally if a child is born to a U.S. citizen who has lived in the United States for at least five years of their life (with at least two of those years occurring after their fourteenth birthday) the child is a citizen. In some cases, children born to US citizens abroad can have dual citizenship in both the United States and the country where they were born.

Naturalized Citizenship

If you were not born a United States citizen, you can seek citizenship through the US naturalization process. There are three possible forms to use in order to apply for naturalization through the US naturalization and immigration services. Most applicants become naturalized citizens through the Form N-400, which is called the "Application for Naturalization." This form is used for people who are considered adults by virtue of the fact that they are eighteen or older.

If you are born abroad to US citizens, you are considered a US citizen, however, your birth certificate is not sufficient evidence of your citizenship. In order to have that proof, you need to register that birth record with the US consulate in the country where you were born. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, you will need more evidence of your citizenship. To gain that evidence, file Form N-600. This form is called "Application for Certificate of Citizenship." The certificate serves as a legal record of your US born citizenship.

It is becoming increasingly popular in the United States to adopt children from foreign countries, especially needy countries. These children are not considered citizens simply because they were adopted. Form N-643, "Application for a Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child," allows parents of children who are adopted from foreign countries to seek citizenship for the children and provide a certificate of citizenship for the child.

Where to Find Forms

All three of the US Naturalization forms for US citizenship can be downloaded from the USCIS website, twenty-four hours a day. For those who do not wish to download the form, call 1-800-870-3676 and request that the form be mailed. Forms should be requested using their number, not name, to ensure accuracy.

Continue to : General Requirements for US Naturalization

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