Becoming a citizen of the United States is the final step of the immigration journey for every individual who wants to live in the U.S. permanently. Becoming a citizen provides individuals with many benefits, including voting rights, protection from deportation, and freedom to travel. What many people don’t know is that becoming a U.S. citizen can allow you to help your children gain citizenship as well. Our Miami immigration attorneys explain how you can help your child become a citizen of the United States.
Sponsoring Children for Citizenship
If your child was not born in the United States, there is still a way to help them become a U.S. citizen. If you, a U.S. citizen, are the parent of a child who was born in your country of origin, you can still establish citizenship for your child after their birth. However, your child must meet a few requirements before helping them obtain citizenship. Some of the requirements include:
The child must have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization
The child must be a lawful permanent resident under 18 years of age
The child is currently residing in or has resided in the United States under physical custody of the parent, who is a U.S. citizen
Your child must meet all of the requirements listed above to qualify for naturalization. If they do, you can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship by filling out Form N-600.
What If I Am Not a U.S. Citizen?
If you are not a U.S. citizen, going through the naturalization process can help your child(ren) become U.S. citizen. To become a citizen through naturalization, you must be at least 18 years of age at the time; you must be a lawful permanent resident for the past three to five years and continue to reside physically in the United States, along with other requirements. If you want to learn more about the naturalization process, get in touch with our team today at (305) 858-2323.
Contact us today at (305) 858-2323 to schedule a consultation and start the naturalization process!