The United States offers several ways to become a U.S. citizen. The three primary ways are:
1. Naturalization
2. Jus Soli, or right of birthplace
3. Jus Sanguinis, or right of blood
1. US Citizenship through Naturalization
You may be eligible to obtain U.S. citizenship if:
• You are a foreign national with 5 years permanent residence in the U.S. and at least half that time you were physically present inside the U.S. with no periods of absence over six months.
• You are a permanent resident for 3 years, who is currently married to a U.S. citizen, and has been married to the same U.S. citizen for the past 3 years.
• You have served the U.S. Armed Forces for at least three years
• You performed active duty military service in the U.S. Armed Forces during:
World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam or Persian Gulf
• You were married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of honorable active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces
• You served on a vessel operated by the U.S. and have been a U.S. permanent resident for the past five years
• You are an employee or an individual under contract to the U.S. Government and have been a U.S. permanent resident for the past five years
• Are a person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a religious denomination or an interdenominational organization with a valid presence in the U.S., and have been a U.S. permanent resident for the past five years
• You are a spouse of a U.S. citizen who is one of the following:
• A member of the U.S. Armed Forces
• An employee or an individual under contract to the U.S. Government
• An employee of an American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General
• An employee of a public international organization of which the United States is a member by law or treaty
• An employee of an American-owned firm or corporation engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce for the United States
• A person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a religious denomination or an interdenominational organization with a valid presence in the United States