United State Citizenship
Becoming a US Citizen
There are two ways to become a US citizen:
(1) by Birth
(2) through Naturalization
US Citizenship by Birth
To become a citizen at birth, you must:
- Be born in the US or in certain territories or outlying possessions of the US.
- Have a parent or parents who were US citizens at the time of your birth
- If you were born outside the U.S., you must meet certain requirements outlined by the U.S. Department of State
Naturalization
“Naturalization” is the process by which US citizenship is granted to a national after s/he fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Contact AVA to discuss whether you are eligible to file for citizenship in the United States.
Renouncing US Citizenship
Sometimes US citizens may want to renounce their US citizenship. To determine whether renunciation is right for you, schedule a consultation with our US immigration team.
Additional Resources on Obtaining or Renouncing US Citizenship
- Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad (state.gov)
- Citizenship Through Parents
- I am the Child of a U.S. Citizen
- I am Married to a U.S. Citizen
- I am Serving in the U.S. Military
- I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of 5 Years
- Apply for naturalization
- Citizenship and Naturalization Based Forms
- Naturalization process
- A Guide To Naturalization
- Relinquish U.S. Citizenship (Expatriate) – U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France (usembassy.gov)