How long does it take to become a US citizen?

The timeline for becoming a US citizen in Virginia can vary depending on individual circumstances. Generally, it takes between 6 to 8 years for a person to become a US citizen from the date of their initial residency. This timeline can be broken down into two distinct phases: becoming a lawful permanent resident and naturalization. In the first phase, an individual applies for a green card and then establishes residency in Virginia. Once the green card is approved, the individual must show at least 5 years of continuous residency in Virginia. Furthermore, the individual must show a good moral character and knowledge of English language, U.S. history, and civic principles. In the second phase, the individual is eligible to submit an application for naturalization as a US citizen after five years as a permanent resident. They must have been physically present in the US for at least half of the 5 year period. After the application is submitted, the individual must pass a naturalization interview, which includes a written and spoken English test, as well as a civics test. Once the individual passes the tests and passes a background check, they will be granted US citizenship. Overall, becoming a US citizen in Virginia typically takes between 6 to 8 years after the initial residency application is accepted. The timeline will depend on individual circumstances, but the two main phases that must be completed are obtaining permanent residency and then naturalization.

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El proceso de obtener la ciudadanía de los Estados Unidos puede variar dependiendo de la situación individual. Algunas personas pueden obtener la residencia permanente como primer paso hacia la ciudadanía. Esto suele tomar entre 3 y 5 años. La siguiente etapa es aplicar para la naturalización. Esto suele tardar entre 6 meses y tres años para completar. Para aquellos que buscan la ciudadanía a través de un pariente, el tiempo de espera también puede variar. Si su pariente es el cónyuge o el hijo de un ciudadano estadounidense, el proceso generalmente tarda entre 6 meses y un año. Si su pariente es el padre, el tiempo de espera es un poco más largo y puede tomar hasta dos años. Además, aquellos que desean convertirse en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos deben pasar un examen de ciudadanía. Esto incluye una prueba escrita sobre la Constitución estadounidense y el gobierno, así como una entrevista. La duración total del proceso depende de su situación individual. Sin embargo, en general, el tiempo total para convertirse en ciudadano de los Estados Unidos es de alrededor de tres años.

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