U.S. citizenship carries tremendous privileges, rights and benefits. Being an American will give you many opportunities such as the right to vote, run for public office, a US passport, assistance from US embassies and consulates, job opportunities only available to US Citizens. You will also have the opportunity to sponsor family members for a Green Card and your children under the age of 18 will automatically receive US Citizenship. As an American Citizen, you cannot be deported.
There are four fundamental ways to become a U.S. citizen: citizenship by birth in the U.S., citizenship through derivation, citizenship through acquisition, and citizenship through naturalization.
Path 1: Citizenship through Birth
Under United States law, any person born within the United States (including the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) is automatically granted U.S. citizenship.
Path 2: Citizenship through Acquisition
In some circumstances, a child automatically “acquires” citizenship even though that child was born outside the United States. At least one parent needs to be a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth and several other conditions must be met. When this child marries and has children, those children may also acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. The ways a child can become a U.S. citizen through acquisition generally include:
Requires that both parents were U.S. citizens at the time of the child’s birth and the parents were married at the time of birth, and at least one parent lived in the U.S., or its territories, or both, prior to the child’s birth.
Requires that one parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth; and the child was born on or after November 14, 1986; and the parents were married at the time of birth; and the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. or its territories for a period of at least five years at some time in his or her life prior to the birth, of which at least two years were after his or her 14th birthday.
Requires that one parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth; and the birth date is before November 14, 1986, but after October 10, 1952; and the child’s parents were married at the time of the birth; and the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. or its territories for a period of at least ten years at some time in his or her life prior to the child’s birth, at least five of which were after his or her 14th birthday.
Path 3: Citizenship through Derivation
When a parent naturalizes, his or her children (under the age of 18 and living with the parent at the time) may “derive” U.S. citizenship automatically, provided they are also permanent residents. What’s more, a child who gets U.S. citizenship through derivation does not have to participate in a naturalization ceremony. Generally, foreign-born children under 18 automatically acquire U.S. citizenship if three requirements are met:
Path 4: Citizenship through Naturalization
Naturalization refers to the process in which a person not born in the United States voluntarily becomes a U.S. citizen. For foreign-born persons, naturalization is the most common way to become a U.S. citizen. There are several requirements that must be fulfilled before an individual can apply for citizenship. Generally, applicants must be 18 years old and fall into one of the following three basic eligibility categories:
For more information, please visit the Citizen Path website.
Step 1: Complete a Form N-400 “Application for Naturalization” online by following step-by-step instructions
Step 2: Print, sign, and send your mistake-free application after an expert review
Step 3: Pay the USCIS fee and receive your US document by post
If you are a current student at Guttman, you may be eligible to receive emergency funding towards your Citizenship application fee. Please visit Guttman’s Emergency Funding page for more information and email connectcenter@guttman.cuny.edu with questions.
Attend a free informational session to learn more about how to apply.
People who were undocumented and living in the United States as of January 1, 2021, are eligible to become temporary residents.
After five years, there is an opportunity to apply to become a citizen.
Start saving documents that verify you have been here since January 1, 2021. Documents may include school records, hospital records, vaccination records, rent receipts, employment pay stub, school records (must have dates and your full name).
If you are a DACA student, do not let your status lapse, you must renew your status to remain protected under the program until this Act passes.
Please note, this is not a law yet. There are many changes to the bill likely to occur before it hopefully passes through Congress.
Please review the frequently asked questions about the Citizenship Act of 2021.
