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If an individual does not gain U.S. citizenship through either birth or descent, he or she may achieve citizenship through naturalization. Naturalization involves the acquisition of citizen status through specialized legal processes. To become a naturalized citizen of the United States, a foreign national first must meet several legal standards: Entry, residence, and physical presence : The applicant must lawfully enter the country and gain legal permanent resident status. After becoming a legal resident, a foreign national must reside in the United States continuously for five years (or three years for spouses of American citizens). During that period, he or she must be physically present in the country for at least fifty percent of the time. This "probationary" period allows the foreign national to become fully acclimated to American life and systems so that he or she can fully participate in the national community upon becoming a citizen.

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17y ago

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