America was and still is the land of opportunity. Whether you’re looking for work, you want a fresh start, or you want a better life for your family, becoming a U.S. citizen can solidify your rights so you can call this country home.
But just because you apply for citizenship doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get it. The United States has the right to decline citizenship and return you to your home country at any point in the process.
That doesn’t mean you should spend your time worrying about being deported. It does mean that you should look for ways to increase your chances of getting U.S. citizenship.
That includes doing things like:
- Study for the naturalization test
- Don’t get into trouble
- Get a degree
- Avoid gaps in employment
- Pay taxes
- Serve in the military
- Learn to speak, read, and write English
Source: sahanjournal.com
Contents
1. Study for the Naturalization Test
No matter where you’re at in your citizenship journey, eventually you’ll have to take the naturalization test. It’s never too early to start studying. After all, there’s a lot of U.S. history to be learned. Not to mention learning how the government works today.
You should also be aware of what to expect and do after failing naturalization exams. Knowing that you have the opportunity to take the test one more time can help take a little of the pressure off the first time you take the test.
It can also encourage you to study harder if you fail the first time. Failing doesn’t usually mean you’ll be deported, but it does mean that you’ll have to start the naturalization process all over again, which can be extremely frustrating.
2. Don’t Get Into Trouble
You really don’t want to get into any trouble while you’re in the process of becoming a United States citizen. Every immigrant, which includes anyone with a green card, can be legally deported if they violate any U.S. law.
There is a lot of gray area around crimes that could get you deported and ones that might not. It’s much better to play it safe and avoid getting into trouble in the first place.
That means not doing anything illegal yourself, but it also means staying away from other people who may be doing things they shouldn’t. You don’t want to be associated with their illegal activity either.
Source: bcgsearch.com
3. Get a Degree
You don’t have to have a degree in order to become a United States citizen, but it doesn’t hurt! The United States offers special programs for highly educated immigrants to become citizens of the United States, so having a degree could make things easier.
You could study for and obtain a degree before coming to the U.S., but you could also study for a degree while you’re here. Even if you haven’t technically obtained your degree yet, it looks really good on your application materials if you’re in the process of obtaining a degree.
That’s especially true if you have an in-demand skillset. Some in-demand degrees you might want to consider obtaining include:
- Engineering
- Healthcare, including nursing
- Computer science
- Math
- Science
- Business
4. Avoid Gaps in Employment
Long stretches of unemployment can look sketchy to officials. They will wonder what you were doing during that time, or why you were struggling to find a job.
In contrast, having a consistent employment history demonstrates that you’re working hard to contribute to the economy. It’s even better if you show some career growth, as it can show that you’re driven.
Always try to have a job, even if it means working part-time until you can find something better. But you should avoid jobs that pay under the table. It can be difficult to prove your employment status with these types of employers, and it causes trouble when it comes to the next tip: paying taxes.
Source: cointelegraph.com
5. Pay Taxes
It can be difficult to pay taxes when you aren’t a citizen. Not only can it feel unfair to pay taxes to a country that you are a citizen of, but it can also make getting on your feet hard. Money that goes to taxes is money that you could have spent on food or bills.
Although it can be difficult, it’s important to pay your taxes and to pay them consistently. That means being gainfully employed, jumping through the necessary hoops, and making sure you fill out the proper paperwork. It demonstrates that you’re willing to do your part and obey the law, which makes you more likely to gain citizenship.
6. Serve in the Military
Although it’s not an option for everyone, for young and/or able-bodied immigrants, serving in the military could be a good path to citizenship.
When you serve, you’ll receive shorter residency requirements, you won’t need a state of residence, and application fees can be waived. That’s a big deal because the naturalization process can cost over $800.
You likely won’t have to serve as long as you might think, either. All you have to do is honorably complete at least one day of active duty during a period of hostility or one full year of duty during peacetime.
Source: basicenglishspeaking.com
7. Learn to Speak, Read, and Write English
The U.S. government requires citizenship applicants to show that they can speak, read, and write English, so it’s well worth your time to study both before you enter the country and while you’re in the U.S. It demonstrates a commitment to fitting into American society.
Don’t automatically assume you won’t get citizenship if you aren’t fluent, though. A translator can be used in some specific circumstances. Showing that you’ve improved your language skills over time can be helpful too, even if you still feel like you’re struggling to speak English.
Becoming a citizen of the United States can be a nerve-wracking process, but it helps to know you do have some control over the outcome. Even if you only do one thing on this list, you can greatly increase your chances of becoming a citizen of the United States.
