What is the Criteria to be natural born American citizen?

Answer 1

The first step in applying for citizenship through naturalization is to enter the US and secure a green card in order to establish permanent residency. The next step is to ensure eligibility. The next step is to file US citizenship application Form N-400 to commence the naturalization process. You may file Form N-400 if you are over 18 years old, are eligible for naturalization, and have a green card.

Answer 2

From: http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_citi.html Natural-born citizen Who is a natural-born citizen? Who, in other words, is a citizen at birth, such that that person can be a President someday? The 14th Amendment defines citizenship this way: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." But even this does not get specific enough. As usual, the Constitution provides the framework for the law, but it is the law that fills in the gaps. Currently, Title 8 of the U.S. Code fills in those gaps. Section 1401 defines the following as people who are "citizens of the United States at birth:" * Anyone born inside the United States * * Any Indian or Eskimo born in the United States, provided being a citizen of the U.S. does not impair the person's status as a citizen of the tribe * Any one born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the U.S., as long as one parent has lived in the U.S. * Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year and the other parent is a U.S. national * Any one born in a U.S. possession, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year * Any one found in the U.S. under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is not provided by age 21 * Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time) * A final, historical condition: a person born before 5/24/1934 of an alien father and a U.S. citizen mother who has lived in the U.S. * There is an exception in the law - the person must be "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States. This would exempt the child of a diplomat, for example, from this provision. Anyone falling into these categories is considered natural-born, and is eligible to run for President or Vice President. These provisions allow the children of military families to be considered natural-born, for example. Separate sections handle territories that the United States has acquired over time, such as Puerto Rico (8 USC 1402), Alaska (8 USC 1404), Hawaii (8 USC 1405), the U.S. Virgin Islands (8 USC 1406), and Guam (8 USC 1407). Each of these sections confer citizenship on persons living in these territories as of a certain date, and usually confer natural-born status on persons born in those territories after that date. For example, for Puerto Rico, all persons born in Puerto Rico between April 11, 1899, and January 12, 1941, are automatically conferred citizenship as of the date the law was signed by the President (June 27, 1952). Additionally, all persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, are natural-born citizens of the United States. Note that because of when the law was passed, for some, the natural-born status was retroactive. The law contains one other section of historical note, concerning the Panama Canal Zone and the nation of Panama. In 8 USC 1403, the law states that anyone born in the Canal Zone or in Panama itself, on or after February 26, 1904, to a mother and/or father who is a United States citizen, was "declared" to be a United States citizen. Note that the terms "natural-born" or "citizen at birth" are missing from this section.

Answer 3

The first two requirements for becoming naturalized are:

1. You must be at least 18 years old
2. You must have been a permanent resident of the US for at least 5 years OR at least 3 years and are the spouse of a US citizen.

Other criteria that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will use to determine your eligibility for naturalization:

1. Are you of good moral character?
2. Do you understand English and the history and principals of the U.S. and its government?

The application process for naturalization will include:

1. Complete and sign form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Get 2 passport style photos taken. Collect necessary documents to demonstrate your eligibility for naturalization
2. Attend a bio-metrics appointment where you will be fingerprinted and your background will be checked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
3. Complete an interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Take English test. Take Civics test
4. Receive your decision from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
5. If approved, you will take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony

Citations:

Citizenship Through Naturalization. Last modified January 22, 2013. Accessed

November 9, 2014.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, A Guide to Naturalization, Doc. No. M-476,

at 17 (Mar. 2012).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 10 Steps to Naturalization: Understanding

the Process of Becoming a U.S. Citizen, Doc. No. M-1051 (2012).

Answer 4

Your parents need to be citizens of the country of which you are a citizen.

Answer 5

The person must be a lawful, permanent resident for five years