How to Become a U.S. Citizen? 2026 Guide

Written by: Asım Kılınç, Esq., Immigration Attorney, Clinch Law Firm

Holding a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) in the United States is a great privilege. However, as the name implies, a Green Card is an “immigrant” visa. It is a status where the risk of deportation is always on the table, where you must answer to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers after long international trips, and where you do not have the right to vote in federal elections.

As of 2026, the digitalization of the U.S. immigration system and the acceleration of application processing have turned the transition to U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization) into a historic opportunity for Green Card holders.

So, exactly what does it mean to become a U.S. citizen, what are the legal requirements, and how does the process work? In this comprehensive guide, we explore the A to Z of the naturalization process according to the standards of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

The Path to U.S. Citizenship: What is Naturalization?

There are two primary ways to become a United States citizen: “By Birth” (being born on U.S. soil or to U.S. citizen parents) and through “Naturalization.”

Naturalization is the legal process through which foreign nationals who have immigrated to the U.S. obtain citizenship. This process is administered by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), and the official application is filed using Form N-400. The naturalization process concludes with taking the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, from which moment you hold the exact same constitutional rights as a natural-born American (except for running for President).

How Many Years After Getting a Green Card Can You Apply?

The most fundamental requirement to apply for citizenship is that you must already be a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). Tourist, student, or work visas do not lead directly to citizenship. The statutory waiting period after receiving your Green Card varies between 3 and 5 years depending on your status.

📊 Table: Citizenship Waiting Periods and the 90-Day Rule

You can clearly see when your waiting period is completed and when you can file early in the table below:

How You Obtained Your Green Card	Waiting Period	The 90-Day Early Filing Rule (When to Apply)
Standard Rule (Employment, EB Visas, Lottery, Family)	5 Years	Can apply exactly at 4 Years and 9 Months.
Marriage to a U.S. Citizen (INA 319a)	3 Years	Can apply exactly at 2 Years and 9 Months.
VAWA (Victim of Domestic Violence)	3 Years	Can apply exactly at 2 Years and 9 Months.
U.S. Military Service (Peacetime)	1 Year	While in service or within 6 months of honorable discharge.
U.S. Military Service (Periods of Hostility)	0 Years	No waiting period. Can apply immediately.

💡 Attorney’s Note: The “90-Day Rule” in the table above is critical. You can file your N-400 application exactly 90 days before your statutory anniversary, allowing you to start the process months early. However, this rule only applies to the continuous residence requirement. You must have fully met the physical presence requirement on the exact day you file your application.

Basic Legal Requirements for Citizenship: The 5 Golden Rules

Completing your waiting period is not enough on its own to become a citizen. To approve your N-400 application, USCIS must verify that you flawlessly meet the following 5 fundamental pillars:

1. Age and Status Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old on the date of filing and hold a valid Green Card.
2. Continuous Residence: You must adopt the U.S. as your “home” during the 5-year or 3-year statutory period. Remaining outside the U.S. for more than 6 months continuously can break this chain.
3. Physical Presence: Those under the 5-year rule must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months; those under the 3-year marriage rule must have been physically present for at least 18 months.
4. Good Moral Character (GMC): You must not have unpaid taxes (IRS), you must meet child support obligations, and you must not have a serious criminal record or immigration violations.
5. English and Civics Knowledge: You must demonstrate a basic ability to read, write, and speak English, and pass a U.S. history and government test. (See exemptions below).

💰 2026 U.S. Citizenship Application Fees

With recent adjustments, USCIS has implemented a price difference between online and paper filings and incorporated the biometrics (fingerprinting) fee into the base application cost.

• Online N-400 Application Fee: $710
• Paper (Mail) N-400 Application Fee: $760

Fee Waivers and Reduced Fees

If you cannot afford the filing fee, the U.S. government does not deprive you of your right to citizenship. There are two financial assistance programs available:

• Full Fee Waiver (Form I-912): If your household income is below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if you receive a means-tested public benefit (like Medicaid or SNAP), you can file the N-400 paying absolutely nothing ($0).
• Reduced Fee (Form I-942): If your household income is between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you can pay a discounted fee of only $380 instead of the full amount.

🛡️ Exemptions from Exams and Rules

Many applicants delay their citizenship out of fear of the English exam or the Oath ceremony. However, U.S. immigration laws provide a variety of exemptions:

1. English and Civics Exam Exemptions

• Age and Residency-Based English Exemptions:
  • The 50/20 Rule: If you are at least 50 years old and have held a Green Card for 20 years.
  • The 55/15 Rule: If you are at least 55 years old and have held a Green Card for 15 years.If you meet these, you are exempt from the English test and may bring an interpreter to your interview. However, you must still pass the Civics test in your native language.
• The 65/20 Special Consideration: If you are at least 65 years old and have held a Green Card for 20 years, you may use an interpreter and take an easier version of the Civics test (studying only 20 questions instead of 100).
• Medical Exception (Form N-648): If you have a physical, developmental, or mental impairment (e.g., severe Alzheimer’s, Dementia, severe trauma) expected to last at least 12 months that prevents you from learning English or Civics, you can be completely exempted from the exams via Form N-648, completed by a specialized medical professional.

2. Oath of Allegiance Exemptions

To become a citizen, you must take an oath that includes bearing arms on behalf of the U.S. However, exceptions exist:

• Religious and Moral Objections: If your deep religious beliefs or moral conscience prevents you from bearing arms or performing military service, these clauses can be omitted from the text (Modified Oath).
• Total Oath Waiver: If the applicant is unable to understand the meaning of the oath due to a severe physical or mental impairment (e.g., bedridden or comatose), they can be entirely exempted from the oath and naturalized through a designated legal guardian.

⚖️ Pros and Cons of Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Transitioning from a Green Card to a U.S. passport brings dramatic changes to your life:

Advantages (Pros)

• End of Deportation Risk: Green Card holders can be deported if they commit certain crimes. Once you are a citizen, this risk is permanently eliminated.
• Travel Freedom: The stress of “I can’t stay outside for more than 6 months” ends. You can live anywhere in the world for as long as you want and return to the U.S. at any time.
• Power to Reunite Family: While Green Card holders can only sponsor spouses and unmarried children, U.S. citizens can sponsor their parents, married children, and siblings for Green Cards (with no wait times for parents).
• Derivative Citizenship for Children: When you naturalize, all your Green Card-holding children under the age of 18 automatically become U.S. citizens.
• Voting and Federal Jobs: You can vote in all elections, including for the President, and hold jobs in federal government agencies (FBI, CIA, etc.) restricted to citizens only.

Disadvantages (Cons) / Responsibilities

• Jury Duty: As a citizen, you may be summoned for jury duty by the courts. Attending is a legal obligation unless you have a valid excuse.
• Global Taxation: The U.S. tax system (IRS) is based on citizenship, not geography. No matter where you live or earn money in the world, you must file U.S. taxes. (Note: This rule already applies to Green Card holders as well).
• Dual Citizenship Status: The United States allows dual citizenship. If your home country’s laws also permit it (e.g., the UK, Turkey, Canada), you can hold both passports. However, because countries like India or China do not allow dual citizenship, their nationals must forfeit their native passports when they naturalize in the U.S.

Conclusion: Don’t Delay Your U.S. Passport

A Green Card gives you the right to live in America, but U.S. citizenship gives you the right to truly own a piece of America. The power to vote, the total elimination of deportation fears, and the opportunity to secure your children’s future are priceless benefits waiting for you at the end of the N-400 process.

Especially for those who have had tax issues, long international trips, or even a minor police/traffic record in the past, the citizenship process requires serious legal defense, not just simple form-filling. If you are within 90 days of completing your statutory waiting period, you should partner with a professional immigration attorney to start your process flawlessly and claim the correct fee waivers or exemptions.

To learn more about U.S. visa types, you can explore our Blog page, or reach out to us via our Contact page for a free preliminary evaluation of your case. You can follow the latest updates and developments regarding U.S. immigration on our News page.