A person can be a U.S. citizen by birth, or by naturalization. Any person born on U.S. soil, regardless of the parents’ immigration status, are automatically U.S. citizens, and persons born to U.S. citizen parents abroad are a naturalized citizen by holding a green card for five years and then applying for citizenship. This five year waiting period can be shorter or longer depending on the case. All candidates for U.S. citizenship must show proficiency in the English language, pass a civics test, and swear an oath of allegiance to the United States.
