The Path to Become an American

In 2021, about 3.6 million babies were born in the United States. Just that act alone-being born in this country-gave those babies automatic U.S. citizenship, even if their parents were not U.S. citizens.

- Sherrill Kushner

Yet people not born in the United States can still obtain citizenship. It is, however, a more complicated process.

It's Automatic

A child born outside the United States still is considered a citizen if at the time of birth:

Both parents are U.S. citizens and at least one parent lived in the United States before the child's birth. For example, if a child was born in Argentina, but both parents were U.S. citizens when he was born and his mother lived in the United States before his birth, then the child is a U.S. citizen.

Only one parent is a U.S. citizen and that parent lived in this country for at least five years before the child's birth, two of which were after age 14. So, if a child's father was the only parent with U.S. citizenship and he had lived in the United States the required amount of time before the child's birth, the child would be a U.S. citizen.

The Green Light

Someone born outside the United States (or outside a U.S. territory such as Guam or Puerto Rico) whose parents are not U.S. citizens must become a legal permanent resident before applying for citizenship. This is often called having a "green card." The most common ways to get legal permanent residency are:

✔ A close relative (parent, adult child, spouse, or sibling) who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident applies for, or sponsors, the person.

✔ An American employer applies for the person because the person has the skills and education for a job that the employer wants to fill but for which he or she cannot find any Americans able and available.