GENERAL FACTORS CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

There are three general factors that help determine your eligibility to be naturalized as a United States citizen, they are:

• The length of time you have been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)

• How much time you have spent living in the United States



• Whether or not you have served in any branch of the United States military

In most cases, you will have to be a valid green card holder as the first factor to determine if you are eligible to be naturalized. Different circumstances surrounding how you received your green card affect your timeline for eligibility for naturalization. Along with the length of time you have possessed a green card, your eligibility for naturalization is also factored upon how long you have actually physically lived in the United States. Your time living in the United States does not have occur consecutively, you can add up the time you have lived from separate time periods if applicable. For many people this is not an issue as they have not lived outside the United States since receiving their green cards. Finally, service in the military or being the widow of a United States citizen who died while serving in any branch of the United States military can fast-track your ability to be naturalized.