What is the US immigration process?

The US immigration process is the process an individual must go through to gain citizenship in the United States. In North Carolina, prospective immigrants must first decide whether they want to pursue naturalization (citizenship through birth or ancestry) or lawful permanent residency (green card holder). Once an individual has decided which path to pursue, they should contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in their area for more information about the specific requirements and the application process. Generally, a person must first complete an immigration application, provide evidence of their identity, and demonstrate that they meet the requirements for admission. In the case of naturalization, a person must also show proof of having lived in the US for at least five years as a lawful permanent resident, have good moral character, demonstrate basic knowledge of US government and history, and be proficient in English. After the application has been reviewed and approved, the individual must attend an interview where they may be required to demonstrate their knowledge of English or history. Upon successful completion of the interview, the individual may be asked to take an oath of allegiance to the US and will be granted US citizenship. In the case of lawful permanent residency, the individual will be issued a green card that serves as their proof of immigration status. With a green card, a person may apply for a job, work in the United States, and generally enjoy the rights and privileges that accompany legal US residence.

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El proceso de inmigración en los Estados Unidos se lleva a cabo bajo la jurisdicción de la Oficina de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés). El primer paso para solicitar la ciudadanía es demostrar que el solicitante es una persona elegible. Esto se define generalmente por su relación con alguien que ya es ciudadano de los Estados Unidos (cónyuge, padre/madre, hijo/hija), solicitud de asilo político o solicitud de residencia permanente basada en un patrocinador. Una vez que se ha establecido la elegibilidad, el solicitante debe completar una solicitud de ciudadanía, la cual generalmente incluye documentos relacionados con su identidad, su historial de residencia y su conocimiento del idioma inglés. Los solicitantes deben presentar los documentos a la USCIS y pagar los honorarios relacionados. Una vez que la USCIS recibe la solicitud y los documentos, procesa la solicitud. A continuación, los solicitantes son llamados a una entrevista con el oficial de inmigración. Esta entrevista ayuda al oficial a determinar si el solicitante cumple con todos los requisitos para convertirse en un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos. Después de la entrevista, el oficial de inmigración toma una decisión sobre la solicitud de ciudadanía y notifica al solicitante en un plazo aproximado de seis meses. Si la solicitud es aprobada, el solicitante debe participar en la ceremonia de jura de lealtad para convertirse oficialmente en ciudadano de los Estados Unidos.

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