Us Immigration: How To Be An American Citizen

By Author: Annette Kiernan
Total Articles: 3
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If you are a non-American national or citizen, what the 1965 Hart Cellar Act refers to as “aliens,” your dream to become a citizen is not far off.

If you are a non-American national or citizen, what the 1965 Hart Cellar Act refers to as “aliens,” your dream to become a citizen is not far off. Understanding the US immigration law can do you some good, as you fight your case to be legally recognized as a citizen. First, any US immigration lawyer will have you know what you are seeking, and they will be sure to point out naturalization. Naturalization is a process by which a non-citizen can become a legally recognized citizen of the US. Any New York lawyer will be sure to lament naturalization is for immigrants who have lived and worked in America for some years. Basically, here is how you can become an American citizen:

Jus soli (Right of soil): Birthright citizenship is practiced by a small minority of the world’s nations, and America included. No matter the citizenship of your parents, you are able to become a citizen of the US, just as long as you are born within the borders, according ...
... to the US immigration law.

Jus sanguinis (Right of blood): A US immigration lawyer will be quick to point out American citizenship is not exclusive to its borders, as you can still be a citizen as long as one of your relatives is a citizen. Whether you were born in France, Brazil, or India, just as long as one of your relatives is a duly recognized citizen, you are granted citizenship.

Jus matrimonii (Right of marriage): If you get married to an American national, you also qualify for citizenship. However, an analysis of your relationship by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be carried out to ensure its genuineness; your New York lawyer will prepare you to expect uncomfortable questions.

Green Card Lottery: This lottery is also known as the diversity immigrant visa, it seeks to diversify US immigration population. The lottery was started in 1995’s fiscal year initially handing 55,000 annual visas, though this changed in the 1999 fiscal year where 5000 visas were diverted to the NACARA program. The visas are handed to low-immigrant nations and have some high ratio nations like Mexico and Jamaica barred from the lottery.

Naturalization: Any US immigration lawyer will be quick to point out via the oath of citizenship, which is administered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a DHS agency, gives immigrants the opportunity to be citizens. It is founded with the following core principles, you have to pledge allegiance to the US, renounce your allegiance of the previous nation, defend the constitution both from domestic and foreign intrusion, promise to serve the armed forces when needed either in a combative or non-combative manner, and lastly promise to undertake civilian duties of ‘national importance’ when called upon.

Being in America illegally can have far-reaching consequences that may hamper your stay in the country. You will not be able to access US social security benefit system, the educational or health systems, without being a citizen. America the land of opportunity stays true to its adage, and gives you the opportunity to become a citizen, only if you follow the laid down procedure. Any New York lawyer will be quick to point out a forgotten certificate, an application by one of your relatives ten years ago, or even a record of working plus paying your taxes can tilt the axis in your favor when seeking citizenship. Citizenship for the greatest democracy in the world is for anyone who truly has the nation at heart.
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