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Should I Become a U.S. Citizen?
Once you have achieved permanent resident (green card) status either by adjusting status in the U.S. or qualifying for an immigrant visa abroad, and once you have lived in permanent resident status for a number of years, you might be considering applying for naturalization as a U.S. citizen. Scroll down through the following FAQs to find some of the answers that might help you decide whether U.S. citizenship is right for you:
Q: How long must I have been a permanent resident before I can apply for naturalization as a U.S. citizen?
A: If you attained permanent resident status by way of marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, you can apply for naturalization three years from the date of the grant of your conditional permanent resident status or full permanent resident status. (Please visit the immigrant visa section of our website for more details as to when conditional as opposed to full permanent residence is granted.) In other cases, you can apply five years after the date of the grant of your permanent resident status.
Q: Do I have to give up the citizenship of my country if I become an American citizen?
A: This question asks whether or not it is possible to hold dual citizenship with two passports. Since U.S. law does not prohibit dual citizenship, the answer to this question depends upon the law of your home country. For example, the U.K. and France have no objections to their citizens retaining citizenship to their countries while also holding American citizenship. In December, 2003, the Indian government similarly decided that their citizens could also retain Indian citizenship while simultaneously holding citizenship of another country, including the U.S. Other countries do not allow their citizens to retain citizenship if they are granted U.S. citizenship. As you start considering U.S. citizenship and have questions about dual citizenship, we suggest that you contact the Consulate of your country, or your country's Embassy in Washington, to find out how your country treats the issue of dual citizenship.
Q: Are there any limits on how much time I can spend abroad during the qualifying five or three years in permanent residence?
A: In order to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. you must reside continuously in the U.S. for a period of five years following the grant of your permanent resident status, (three years if you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen), and you must be actually physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that period (two and a half years for most people; one and half years for spouses of U.S. citizens).
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