What is citizenship
تابعیت یو قانوني حیثیت دی چې خلکو ته حقونه او ځینې خوندیتوبونه ورکوي. د متحده ایالاتو اتباع کولی شي رایه ورکړي، له هیواد څخه بهر په آزاده توګه سفر وکړي، د کورنۍ غړي متحده ایالاتو ته راوړي او خپلو ماشومانو ته تابعیت وړاندې کړي.
If you are born in the United States, you are automatically a citizen. You can also become a citizen through naturalization.
Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen if you were not born in the USA.
د متحده ایالاتو د تابعیت اړتیاوې
In general, you must meet the following requirements when you apply for naturalization as a lawful permanent resident. You must be 18 years of age or older at the time you file the application.
Have a Green Card
You must be a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for usually 5 years before filing.
- Your Green Card must be valid and not expired.
Live in the U.S.
You must have continuous residence in the United States for usually 5 years before filing.
- تاسو باید په متحده ایالاتو کې اوسیږئ او د 6 میاشتو څخه د زیاتو سفرونو لپاره متحده ایالات نه دي پریښي.
- If you do take a trip over 6 months, you still might have limited options to apply.
- Be sure to file Form I-131 for travel documents.
You must be physically present in the U.S. for usually 30 months before filing.
- تاسو باید دا ثابته کړئ چې تاسو لږترلږه د دوامداره استوګنې مودې نیمایي لپاره په متحده ایالاتو کې یاست.
- د متحده ایالاتو څخه بهر ستاسو ټولې ورځې، د هغه ورځو په شمول چې تاسو متحده ایالاتو ته او له هغه څخه سفر کوئ، اضافه کیږي.
You must have proof of state residence for at least 3 months before filing.
- You will need to have documents that show you live in the state listed on your application.
- Examples include a state driver’s license, home lease, mortgage agreement, utility bill, or employment pay stub.
Have good moral character
You must show good moral character for usually 5 years before filing. Showing good morals must also continue during the application process, including being honest in the naturalization interview.
- In general, good moral character means you are honest and have not committed certain crimes.
- New rules say that unlawful voting, registering to vote, or falsely saying you are a U.S. citizen can prevent you from showing good moral character.
- Officers reviewing your citizenship application now have more power to decide based on additional factors, which can include:
- Positive factors: community service, caregiving for family, education level, steady work, paying taxes, and years of lawful residence.
- Negative factors: repeated traffic violations, harassment, DUIs, unlawful voting, drug offenses, or other socially questionable behavior.
- USCIS may now have “neighborhood checks” for citizenship applicants. Officers may choose to interview neighbors, coworkers, or employers unless strong supporting evidence (like testimonial letters) is provided.
- The government is increasing social media screenings. You may be required to share your social media handles. Engaging with “anti-American” or “anti-Semitic” content or making posts that do not match claims in your application could put your application at risk of being denied.
As of October 2025, 24% more citizenship applications are being denied under the Trump administration. This is likely because the government is reviewing applications more strictly and using tougher standards.
Other requirements during the application process
- File Form N-400
- Go to the naturalization interview
- Read, write, and speak basic English
- Know U.S. history and government
- Go to a biometrics appointment
- Promise loyalty to the U.S. Constitution
- You must register for military service if you are a male Green Card holder between the ages of 18 and 26.
There are exceptions to some requirements based on your age, time in the country, or medical condition.
If you are not sure you meet the citizenship requirements, get legal help. There are free and low-cost options. You do not get your money back if your application is denied.
د طبیعي کیدو کټګورۍ
د طبیعي کیدو کټګورۍ هغه مختلفې لارې دي چې تاسو کولی شئ د متحده ایالاتو د تابعیت لپاره غوښتنه وکړئ. په دي کي شامل دي:
د قانوني دایمي استوګنې له لارې طبیعي کیدل
تاسو باید لږترلږه د 5 کلونو لپاره قانوني دایمي اوسیدونکي (LPR) یا ګرین کارت لرونکی اوسئ.
تاسو باید د متحده ایالاتو تبعه سره واده وکړئ او د ثبت کولو دمخه لږترلږه 3 کاله د دوی سره ژوند کړی وي.
د نظامي خدماتو له لارې طبیعي کیدل
You must have served or currently be serving honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year during peacetime. You can also apply if you are serving or have served in the military during certain periods of hostility. Officers have more power to decide what counts as “honorable service“.
د نظامي کورنۍ غړو له لارې طبیعي کیدل
ستاسو میړه باید لږترلږه د یو کال لپاره په بهر کې د متحده ایالاتو په وسله والو ځواکونو کې خدمت وکړي یا اوس مهال وي. ستاسو ماشومان هم کولی شي تابعیت ترلاسه کړي د مور او پلار له لارې چې په اردو کې خدمت کوي. تاسو د ګړندي او بهر طبیعي کیدلو اختیارونه لرئ. هغه کسان چې د کورنۍ غړي لري چې په نظامی خدمت کې مړه شوي هم کولی شي درخواست وکړي.
د مور او پلار له لارې د تابعیت ترلاسه کول
تاسو کولی شئ د مور او پلار له لارې تابعیت ترلاسه کړئ. تاسو باید د 18 څخه کم عمر ولرئ او لږترلږه یو د متحده ایالاتو تبعه ولرئ. دوی کولی شي طبیعي زیږیدلی یا طبیعي اتباع وي. پدې کې پالونکي والدین شامل دي.
You do not have to file Form N-400 to apply for naturalization through a U.S. citizen parent. You may already be considered a U.S. citizen and can file for proof of citizenship with Form N-600.
د کټګورۍ له مخې د تابعیت اړتیاوې
اړتیاوې ستاسو د طبیعي کیدو کټګورۍ پورې اړوند توپیر ولري. لاندې ومومئ چې تاسو باید د N-400 فورمه د ډکولو په وخت کې د LPR وضعیت، دوامداره استوګنځي، فزیکي شتون، او ښه اخلاقي شخصیت څومر وخت ولرئ.
Category | Age | LPR status | Continuous residence | Physical presence | State residence | Good moral character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legal permanent resident (LPR) | 18+ | 5 years | 5 years | 30 months | 3 months | 5 years |
Marriage | 18+ | 3 years | 3 years | 18 months | 3 months | 3 years |
Military service during peacetime | 18+ | Active on filing date | 5 years or exempt if active | 30 months | Exempt | 5 years |
Military service during hostilities | 18+ | Active on date of service | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | 1 year |
U.S. citizen parent | Under 18 | Active | Exempt | Active on filing date | Active on filing date | Exempt |
Active means you currently meet this requirement at the time of your naturalization interview.
Exempt means you do not have to meet this requirement.
If you are applying for naturalization through lawful permanent residency or marriage, you may be able to file your application 90 days early and before you meet your LPR status requirement.
SIV recipients’ option to naturalize is through the lawful permanent resident (LPR) status category and not the military category.
The U.S. does not require you to give up your citizenship in another country. However, some countries do not allow dual citizenship with the United States. Dual citizenship is when you have citizenship in two countries at the same time.
Help with eligibility
The requirements can be confusing. There are helpful tools to help you understand if you meet the requirements:
نور له USAHello څخه
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