Becoming a U.S. citizen is a significant milestone for many immigrants, and the naturalization process is a formal journey with specific requirements and steps. The process is managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and it culminates in a review that includes an interview and a test.

To be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization, most applicants must meet a set of general criteria, including:

Age: Be at least 18 years old at the time of filing.

Permanent Residency: Hold a Green Card (lawful permanent resident status) for a specific period, typically five years. This can be reduced to three years for those who have been married to and living with a U.S. citizen for that time.

Continuous and Physical Presence: Maintain a "continuous residence" in the United States for the required period and have been "physically present" in the country for at least half of that time.

Good Moral Character: Demonstrate good moral character, which generally means having a clean criminal record and adhering to U.S. laws.

English Proficiency: Be able to read, write, and speak basic English.

Civics Knowledge: Possess a fundamental knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government.

Oath of Allegiance: Be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

The naturalization interview is a crucial step in the process. During this meeting, a USCIS officer will:

Review the Application: The officer will go over your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to verify the information you provided, including your personal details, travel history, and background. This also serves as the speaking portion of the English test.

Conduct Background Checks: USCIS will verify that you meet the legal and moral requirements for citizenship by conducting background and security checks.

Administer the Tests: The interview is where the two parts of the naturalization test—the English test and the civics test—are administered.

The English test has three components:

Speaking: Your ability to speak and understand English is evaluated throughout the interview as you answer questions.

Reading: You must correctly read one out of three sentences presented to you.

Writing: You must correctly write one out of three dictated sentences.

The civics test assesses your knowledge of U.S. history and government. You will be asked up to 10 questions from a list of 100 official questions. To pass, you must answer at least six of these questions correctly. The questions are asked orally.

If your application is approved after the interview and tests, the final step is to attend a naturalization ceremony. During this ceremony, you will take the Oath of Allegiance, officially becoming a U.S. citizen. You will then receive your Certificate of Naturalization, a document that proves your new citizenship status.

The U.S. citizenship review process is a comprehensive and multi-faceted journey designed to ensure that new citizens are ready to embrace the rights and responsibilities of their new status. By meeting the eligibility requirements and successfully navigating the interview and tests, applicants can take the final step toward becoming an American citizen.