For persons looking for information on United States'
citizenship and immigration, the major legislative document on immigration, The
Immigration and Naturalization Act, sets Congress in power to establish and
implement a consummate citizenship and immigration policy. It would also be useful to read the citizenship guide. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of
1952, which underwent major renovations in post-9/11 America
in 2003, currently outlines the ways a person can attain United States
citizenship and the rights associated with being a citizen as well. The two main ways for immigrants to attain
citizenship in the United States
is through the birthright citizenship per the first clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment and through the naturalization process currently established across
the United States.
Birthright citizenship is when a child is born inside United States
soil, regardless of the nationality and citizenship of the parents. In addition to this, children born outside of
the United States, but to
one or both parents possessing United
States citizenship, also prove eligible to
citizenship via birthright. For
immigrant parents giving birth to a child in the United States or any of its
territories, there is no Supreme Court ruling in place to solidify their
newborn child's right to citizenship; however the United States v. Wong Kim Ark case of 1898 sets a widely followed guideline.
According to the Supreme Court citizenship and immigration case, a
child born in the United
States is entitled to citizenship if the
following conditions are met including:
- Child is born
on United States
soil
- Child is born
to immigrant parents with citizenship of foreign nation
- The immigrant
parents have permanent residency on United States soil
- The immigrants
parents are working in a capacity of an American worker
If all these conditions are met, an immigrant child born in the United States
will receive a birth certificate. With this
birth certificate, an immigrant child can obtain citizenship and the full
rights of an American.
In the American citizenship and immigration system, the emphasis of
granting citizenship to foreigners is put on allowing marital and familial ties
to be reunited, or in other terms, allowing families and loved ones to live
together in the United States if they so choose. In determining naturalization as a
full-fledged United States
citizen, having dependent children or other relatives that are already United States
citizens proves vitally beneficial.
Second to the uniting of family ties on United
States soil, citizenship and immigration policies of the United States
favor those exhibiting beneficial skills and knowledge in regards to their
personal employment sector. Persons
performing high-demand occupations or occupations requiring extensive education
and training that wish to immigrate to the United States may find their
immigration process much easier than those without these skills. Only an immigration services lawyer can
truly best highlight these employment benefits or family ties to the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Again, immigration and eventually obtaining citizenship is a complex
process that involves lots of documentation, legal work, and a comprehensive,
multi-part strategy that will affect almost every aspect of an immigrant's
life. A citizenship and immigration
attorney can help.
Immigrants becoming citizens of the United States go through a process
termed naturalization. In order to be
eligible for naturalization, and then, all the benefits of full-fledged United States
citizenship, immigrants must meet certain requirements.
The requirements for naturalization include:
- Have
permanent legal residency in the United States for a certain
time period
- Be over the
age of eighteen
- Be person in
good moral standing
- Pass a
written exam on basic United
States government and history in
English
The naturalization process is a complex and highly individualized legal
process, which is almost impossible to navigate without the assistance of a
citizenship and immigration attorney. However, at the end of it all, you get a certificate of naturalization.
Due to the future you and of your loved ones being placed on the line
when seeking residency in the United States, having an experienced and
knowledgeable immigration attorney attending to your case is the only wise
option. Once an immigrant goes through the naturalization process, which can
take from anywhere from three to five years dependent on length requirements
for their permanent residency status, they will be able to be part of all the
benefits of an American citizen.
These benefits of becoming a naturalized United States citizen include:
- Voting
privileges in all local, state, and federal elections
- Protection by
the United States
when in foreign countries
- The right to
residency anywhere within the United States and its
territories
- The right to
any federal aid or assistance including medical, education, or living
assistance
Do
you or your loved ones want citizenship and immigration assistance in the United States? Contact a
citizenship and immigration attorney to help you and your loved ones protect
your rights to stay in the United
States.