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Measures that restrict political asylum are not yet approved 2:15
(CNN Spanish) - US citizenship for immigrants can be obtained in several ways, but the process may not be so simple, more after a series of measures taken by the government of President Donald Trump to curb migration in the country.
The procedure is called "naturalization" and its duration may vary depending on the situation of the applicant, according to the United States Government.
These are some steps to process US citizenship if you are an immigrant.
- Donald Trump's government measures to curb illegal immigration
First step, be a resident
A person born in the United States is already a US citizen, but those born in other countries can access citizenship for two reasons:
- If your parents are US citizens
- By naturalization
To access naturalization it is necessary to meet three requirements:
- Being over 18 years.
- Be a permanent resident, that is, have a Green Card or Permanent Resident Card.
- Comply with other requirements that may vary according to their age, marital status and military service.
How to get a 'Green Card'?
This may definitely be one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to wanting to naturalize in the US, as not all immigrants meet the requirements to access a Permanent Resident Card.
In addition, the Trump government issued a rule in 2019 that could drastically reduce the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to enter and stay in the U.S. by facilitating the rejection of applications for permanent residence cards.
The rule means that many applicants for green cards and visas could be rejected if they have low income or poor education because they would be considered more likely to need government assistance in the future.
To apply, you must be eligible in any of these categories:
1. Green family card
Immediate family members of a US citizen as a spouse, unmarried children under 21, or parents of a US citizen who is at least 21 years of age are eligible for this category.
Also eligible are children over 21, single or married to U.S. citizens, and siblings of a U.S. citizen.
And the spouses and unmarried children of a legal resident can be candidates for Green Cards.
They can also apply for permanent residence cards:
- The fiance (and their children) of a US citizen
- Widows of a US citizen
- Victims of abuse or extreme cruelty by a US citizen.
2. Through a job
- If you are an immigrant worker with extraordinary skills for science, arts, education, business or sports; Outstanding researcher, manager of a company. Or if you have certain special job skills.
- Physicians with Exemption for National Interest: it applies if you are a doctor and you agree to work full time in the medical area in areas of little medical access for a certain period. For this you must meet other eligibility requirements.
- Being an immigrant investor: You must invest at least one million dollars in a new commercial company in the country and give full work to at least 10 qualified employees.
3. Special immigrant
This category applies to religious workers, special young immigrants, international media representative or employees (and their families) of an international organization. In the case of special Afghan or Iraqi immigrants, they must have been Afghan or Iraqi translators for the United States government, have been employed by or for the United States government in Iraq or after March 20, 2003 for at least one year, and have been employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
4. If you are a refugee or asylee
Immigrants may have refugee status if they have suffered persecution on the grounds of race, religion, nationality or belonging to certain social groups or having certain political opinions, according to the USCIS. Generally these people "are outside their countries that cannot or are not willing to return there because they fear serious personal injury."
To apply for asylum in the United States, it is necessary to “meet the definition of refugee”, or be in the United States or request it at a US gateway.
Asylees can apply for a green card one year after they were granted asylum. For this it is necessary to submit a form, the application for permanent residence or adjustment of status.
5. If you are a victim of trafficking in persons and other crimes
If you are a victim of human trafficking and you have a Nonimmigrant T visa, you may be eligible to apply for a greencard. This type of visa "allows victims to stay in the United States and help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or criminal prosecution of cases of trafficking in persons."
For victims of other crimes, who have a U nonimmigrant visa, they can also apply for a permanent resident card. These people "have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse as a result of the crime."
6. Other cases
The citizens of Liberia who have been in the country continuously since 2014.
If you are part of the diversity visa program, by the Cuban adjustment law, among others.
(On the official website of the US government you can see in detail the eligibility categories).
After the Green Card
If you already have a green card, the naturalization process now has other steps that you must take into account to be a citizen.
- Have been a permanent resident for at least five years before submitting the naturalization application.
- Have lived at least three months in the same district or state where the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has jurisdiction, for at least three months before submitting the application.
- Have been physically in the United States for at least 30 months in the last five years before applying for naturalization.
- Reside continuously in the country from the date of application until the naturalization authorization.
- You must be able to read, write and speak English and have knowledge about US history and government.
- Be a person with "good moral conduct", that respects the law, the Constitution and have "good disposition for good order, happiness and well-being" of the country.
Form N-400
Once you determine that you meet the requirement, you must fill out a form to apply for naturalization.
It is called the N-400 form, which you can submit online or in print. The cost of this form is $ 640 plus $ 85 for biometric services, which would total $ 725, although the rate may vary, as appropriate.
See more information about this process here
The form must be sent along with the necessary documentation and proof of payment.
Fingerprints
This process is necessary for certain people who request migration benefits so that the FBI can conduct a criminal background investigation.
Once the USCIS receives the application, it will grant you an appointment to do the procedure in the nearest place authorized by the United States Citizenship Service.
Those who request this process abroad may do so at a US consulate or military base outside the country and should not go to a USCIS headquarters and are exempt from the fee for this procedure.
Interview and exam
It is necessary to answer an interview in which the applicant must pass an exam, which consists of a civic test and an English exam.
The civic test is about United States history and government and the English test has three parts: conversation, reading and writing. The English test is mandatory unless you request a disability waiver or if the person is over 50 years old.
Oath ceremony
Once approved exam and interview, you must attend an oath ceremony to officially become a United States citizen. There you will receive a certificate of naturalization.
This gives you the right to receive protection from the US, to vote in elections and to live permanently in the country. In addition, you have the obligation to obey the rules of the United States, file taxes and, if you are a man between 18 and 25 years old, you will have to enroll in the military service system.
At the end of this ceremony then request your passport.
For more information you can call the USCIS National Customer Service Center in the United States at 1-800-375-5283 (option 2 for Spanish) or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY, for people with hearing problems).
Abroad, you can contact the US embassy of the country where you are.
Citizenship
