Steven D. Heller - U.S. Citizenship for Dummies

U.S. Citizenship For Dummies, 2nd Edition

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022937792

ISBN 978-1-119-76673-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-76688-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-76689-6 (ebk)

1. Chapter 4
2. Chapter 12
3. Chapter 13
4. Chapter 17

So you want to live in America? Youre in good company. Between 2015 and 2019, approximately 1.1 million people per year became permanent legal residents of the United States. Sixty percent of these new immigrants came to reunite with family members who had already made the move to the unparalleled freedom and opportunity the United States offers her people. Fourteen percent specifically came here to offer their skills to help keep the U.S. workforce strong. Still others came to escape persecution and tyranny in their homelands.

Many permanent residents choose to take living in the United States a step further by becoming naturalized United States citizens. By becoming a naturalized citizen, these immigrants will experience nearly all the benefits granted to citizens born in the U.S. (the only exception is that they cant become president or vice president of the United States).

Despite pandemic-related closures, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed 625,400 new citizens in fiscal year (FY) 2020 during naturalization ceremonies held across the United States and around the world. Among the top five countries of birth for people naturalizing in FY 2020, Mexico was the lead country, with 13.3% of all naturalizations, followed by India (7.7%), the Philippines (5.3%), Cuba (5%), and the Peoples Republic of China (3.7%). The top five countries of birth comprised 35% of the naturalized citizens in FY 2020. For some, the process of immigrating to the U.S. and becoming a citizen was simple and straightforward. For others, the journey through the immigration and naturalization process became an endless parade of obstacles, delays, forms, and paperwork.

This book will help you get through this often confusing process, from determining how best to qualify to live permanently in the United States to gaining a green card to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. Along the way, we point out the important requirements youneed to meet and give tips and insights into dealing with USCIS, as well as other government agencies youll come into contact with while attempting to immigrate to the U.S. or become a citizen.

We wish we could tell you the immigration process is always simple, but each case is different and there are many special circumstances and exceptions to the rules that can come into play. In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the complications have only increased. The U.S. immigration system has been under unprecedented public scrutiny. In most immigration cases, the services of a competent immigration attorney are highly recommended. Sometimes an attorneys help is absolutely necessary in order to protect your immigration chances and help you through the process. Often, you can get free or low-cost help from nonprofit immigration services, designed to help immigrants legally live in the United States.

In this book, we let you know things you can do to make the immigration and naturalization process easier and less stressful, as well as where to find additional help in case you need it. Youll discover how to be proactive and stay a step ahead of the USCIS by anticipating which forms and paperwork youll need in advance. We also alert you to important points that can help you protect your immigration case throughout the proceedings.

If you plan on becoming a citizen, we also get you ready to pass the English, civics, reading, and writing portions of the naturalization interview. This part, more than any other, seems to fill potential citizens with fear. But you really shouldnt worry. The USCIS is not expecting you to be an expert. In this book, we show you how to find out what you need to know. In fact, youll probably find practicing for the tests enjoyable, if not fun.