U.S. citizenship · start here
Four in-depth guides cover naturalization, citizenship through a parent, children living abroad, and federal lawsuits when USCIS won't decide. Answer one or two questions to see where to start, or go straight to a guide.
Where should you start?
Question 1The four guides
Each site goes deep on one part of U.S. citizenship law, with the statutes, forms and court decisions that apply to it.
For green card holders ready to become citizens, with a focus on the hard cases: arrests and convictions, good moral character, how the green card was obtained, and denials.
For people who may already be U.S. citizens through a parent, by birth abroad or through a parent's naturalization. Form N-600 doesn't make you a citizen. It proves you already are.
For U.S. citizen parents whose child under 18 lives outside the United States, under INA § 322: the parent's or grandparent's physical presence, the documents, and the trip to the U.S. interview.
For applicants whose case is stuck. A federal mandamus lawsuit asks a court to order the government to act on an application that has waited too long: naturalization, citizenship, green card or visa.
Common situations