What’s the Difference Between Naturalization and Citizenship?

United States citizenship grants certain unalienable rights to citizens of this country.

You can achieve citizenship in multiple ways:

Being born in the U.S. or certain American territories
Having parents who were citizens at the time of your birth if you were born abroad
And applying for naturalization

Naturalization vs Citizenship

The main difference between naturalization and citizenship is that a citizenship certificate is given to someone who acquires citizenship through their US parents by being born in the country. A certificate of naturalization is obtained by someone who becomes a citizen through the naturalization process.

We will now dive deeper into the differences between natural-born citizenship and naturalization so you understand what rights you may have.

What Is Considered U.S. Citizenship?

Those born in the United States or certain American territories and those who have parents who were U.S. citizens at the time of their birth are granted U.S. citizenship when they are born. They do not need to take any additional measures to receive the full rights and responsibilities of a U.S. citizen.

What Is Citizenship by Naturalization?

If neither of the above applies to you, you may become a citizen after birth by applying for naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to foreign citizens or nationals after they fulfill the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

In order to qualify for naturalization, you must meet the following criteria:

You have been a permanent resident for at least five years and meet all other eligibility requirements
You have been a permanent resident for three years or more and meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen
You have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meet all other eligibility requirements
Your parents are U.S. citizens, you currently reside outside of the U.S., and you meet all other eligibility requirements

If you meet the eligibility requirements for naturalization, you may apply for naturalization by completing Form N-400 with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

How Akula & Associates P.C. Can Help

If you or someone you love is interested in applying for citizenship through naturalization, our Dallas immigration attorneys at Akula & Associates are here to help. Our skilled professionals use state-of-the-art technology to provide focused, effective solutions to clients’ range of immigration issues.