Becoming a U.S. Citizen

The United States Constitution, written by the Founding Fathers in 1787, states in its Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, the power of Congress "To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization."

Become a U.S. Citizen

There are two ways to become a U.S. Citizen: by birth or through naturalization:

1. By birth:

You must have been born in the U.S. or certain territories subject to the United States jurisdiction.
Have a parent(s) who was a citizen at the time of your birth.
If you were born outside the U.S., you must meet these requirements outlined by the U.S. Department of State.

2. By naturalization:

U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). To become a citizen by naturalization, you must:

Apply for "derived" or "acquired" citizenship through parents before your 18th birthday
- or -
Apply for naturalization (after being a Lawful Permanent Resident for five years, married to a U.S. Citizen for three years, or serving in the U.S. Military).

The Process to Apply for Naturalization

First, complete the Form N-400 Application for Naturalization
- Fee to pay will vary:
  - For paper applications, $760
  - For online applications, $710
  - For low-income applicants, $380
Then, you will get an appointment with the USCIS to do the biometrics services (fingerprint, photograph, or signature)
USCIS will schedule an appointment for your naturalization interview. You will be tested on:
- Speaking and understanding basic English
- Writing one sentence in English
- Reading one sentence in English
- Answering correctly 12 of 20 civic questions from 128 civic questions (if the person applies for Naturalization after October 20th, 2025). You will fail the test if you answer 9 of the 20 questions incorrectly.
- Answering correctly 6 of 10 civic questions from 100 civic questions. (if the person applied before October 20th, 2025). There are many questions on the civics test about rights and responsibilities of citizenship, such as "What is the supreme law of the land?" and "What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?"
- The processing time will vary by office. To check the processing times, go to the USCIS website, click on Check Case Processing Times, opens a new window, and select:
  - Form: N-400 - Application for Naturalization,
  - Form Category: Application for Naturalization
  - Field Office or Service Center: the city and state where you are applying
After you complete the process and pass the interview, the last step will be taking the Oath of Allegiance (administered by a U.S. officer during an administrative ceremony or by a judge in a judicial ceremony). Until you take the Oath, you will be considered a U.S. Citizen!

Are there exceptions to the requirements to become a U.S. Citizen?

Yes, there are some exceptions:

You can apply after 3 years as a resident if you have been married to a U.S. citizen, rather than the 5-year general rule.
You can waive the English Test if you fulfill a combination of two conditions (age + residency period):
- You are 50+ years old AND have been a permanent resident for 20 years
- You are 55+ years old AND have been a permanent resident for 15 years
- You are 65+ years old AND have been a permanent resident for 20 years (in this case, applicants will study 20 civic questions only)
Also, permanent residents with a medical disability may be subject to a waiver of the English and Civic Tests. The disability should have existed for over a year and not be because of illegal drug use. Check with a lawyer for more legal information.

What to do after you become a U.S. Citizen?

During the Oath Ceremony, USCIS will provide a Naturalization Certification. Verify all your information is correct. Then, prepare to make the following procedures with other government institutions:

A) Register to Vote

You can register on paper or online, opens a new window. You can visit a library, the Department of Motor Vehicles offices, or the U.S. post office for paper registration forms. Sometimes, you can register to vote in person after your Oath Ceremony.

B) Obtain a U.S. Passport

Apply for a U.S. Passport Book and/or a Passport Card with the U.S. Department of State/Travel.State.Gov or at the U.S. embassy or consulate of your country.

C) Update your Social Security Record

Your Social Security record must be accurate because you will need your Social Security Number (SSN) to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive other government services.

To find your Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov, opens a new window.

SJPL Resources/Information for Naturalization

The San José Public Library provides some resources for people interested in becoming U.S. citizens:

Citizenship Corners: It's a dedicated collection of test-preparation materials, including civic and English resources. Citizenship Corners are at ten SJPL branches:

Bascom
Biblioteca Latinoamericana
Alum Rock
East Carnegie
Edenvale
Educational Park
Hillview
Joyce Ellington
Seven Trees
Tully

Citizenship and ESL Classes Resources

The library staff prepared some online courses available to anyone with wifi access. With these Articulate Courses, you can study at your own pace.

Age	Years as residents	Application date	Articulate Course
18+ years old	5 years as a resident	Applied after October 20th, 2025	Articulate course that covers the 128 civic questions in English
18+ years old	5 years as a resident	Applied before October 20th, 2025	Articulate course that covers the 100 civic questions in English
50+ years old	20 years as a resident	Applied before October 20th, 2025	Articulate course with the 100 civic questions in Spanish (currently we don't have a version for other languages)
55+ years old	15 years as a resident	Applied before October 20th, 2025	Articulate course with the 100 civic questions in Spanish (currently we don't have a version for other languages)
65+ years old	20 years as a resident	Applied before October 20th, 2025	Articulate course with 20 civic questions in English - or - Articulate course with 20 civic questions in Spanish

Other resources:

U.S. Citizenship Preparation Booklist: recommended materials to help you prepare for the Citizenship Interview.
US Citizenship and Immigration Forms: some of the forms provided by the USCIS government agency.
Free Immigration Services: information about non-profit organizations that provide low-cost or free legal services.
Citizenship Preparation programs/events provided by library staff or volunteers.
English Learning Conversation Club/Classes provided by library staff or volunteers.

Prepare for the Citizenship Interview with San José Public Library; our programs and resources are free!