How to Become a
Citizen of the United
States of America

Let Ritchie Reiersen Immigration lawyers help you receive the answers you need. The citizenship and naturalization process can be complex and confusing – and is often very frustrating. At Ritchie Reiersen Immigration Law, our team of Immigration Lawyers find great joy in helping our clients achieve their immigration dreams through the citizenship and naturalization process.

Let us help you with your immigration needs. We provide local immigration services in Kennewick, Yakima, Moses Lake, Tacoma, Seattle, Auburn, and Portland, and the communities surrounding these cities. Call us today at (888) 884-7337 for a free consultation with an experienced Immigration Attorney near you.

How To Become A United States Citizen

There are two basic ways to become a U.S. citizen. The first is simply by birth, and the second is through the immigration process known as naturalization.

Birth In The United States

If someone is born in the United States, he or she automatically becomes a U.S. citizen. Likewise, if you are born outside of the United States, but you have a U.S. citizen parent, you likely qualify to be a U.S. citizen.

Naturalization

To qualify for naturalization, you must have been a permanent resident for at least three years. Permanent residency is commonly referred to as having a “green card” and is obtained either through a family relationship with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or through obtaining permission to be in the United States for employment. There are many requirements to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, including the listed items below:

Take an oath of loyalty to the United States;
Be able to speak, read and write simple words and phrases in the English language (although there are certain exceptions to this rule); and Pass a test in U.S. history and government.
Be physically present in the United States for over 50% of the required residency period;

Be a person of good moral character;
Be a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 5 years or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen for a minimum of the 3 years (although there are certain exceptions to this requirement for persons who have honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces);

Why You Should have An Immigration Attorney

Many people with immigration needs find it very helpful to have an experienced immigration attorney because the laws involving immigration are complicated and always changing. Additionally, the paper work can be very overwhelming and frustrating. At Ritchie Reiersen, we want each of our immigration clients to not only get the best possible outcome but also be treated like family.

Our team of Immigration Lawyers is experienced with all your immigration needs and ready to help. We provide immigration services in Kennewick, Yakima, Moses Lake, Tacoma, Seattle, and Auburn. Call us at

Download Our Immigration Guide Book Free

Feel free to ask for all immigration purposes from our immigration lawyer. This book is composed of easy to understand action steps so you can understand things better for yourself or your family.

Our Immigration Services

The process to becoming a U.S. citizen or receiving any type of visa can be very complex and confusing – and often quite frustrating. An experienced immigration lawyer at Ritchie Reiersen Law will care for you and help you understand each step of the immigration process.