You must meet the following requirements to pursue U.S. citizenship

• You are a legal permanent resident, and have been for at least five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen)
• You have been present in the United States at least 50% of the time while you have been a legal permanent resident
• You are able to read, write, and speak English (with exceptions for the disabled and elderly)
• You know or are willing to learn U.S. history (you must answer 6-10 questions correctly out of a list of 100 standard questions, available in advance)
• You must have had good moral character for at least the past 5 years. You will be scrutinized extra carefully if you have been convicted of a crime or arrested within the past five years. The help of an attorney is highly recommended in these situations.
• You are attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States
• You are 18 years of age or older (on the day the application is filed)

Special note: Citizenship can be passed to children by parents and, in some cases, by grandparents. If you have one or more U.S. citizen parents or grandparents, it might be possible to file for citizenship without first obtaining legal permanent resident status.