her citizen spouse for at least 3 years, and the spouse must have been a citizen during those 3 years. Foreign-born children whose parents are naturalized while the children are under certain ages and living in the United States become United States citizens. Permanent resident aliens with 3 years of United States military service may become citizens with less than 5 years of residence. Those who have served during certain periods may also apply for naturalization with less than 3 years of military service, even though they are not permanent residents. How to Become Naturalized • Declaration of Intention Before the Immigration and Nationality Act, the first step required to become a citizen was the filing of a Declaration of Intention, often called the "first papers." This is no longer a requirement of the law. However, to get certain jobs or licenses in some states, an alien may have to prove that he intends to become a citizen. If he has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, he may do this by filing a Declaration of Intention. The necessary application is available at any office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or at the local naturalization court. The alien will have to complete the application and file it with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Arrangements will then be made for him to file the Declaration of Intention with the clerk of a naturalization court. He will be required to pay a fee of $5 to the clerk of court at the time he files his declaration. The Application to File a Petition for The application to file a petition for naturalization is available at any office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or from the clerk of a naturalization court. When an applicant receives the application, he will also receive a fingerprint card and a form on which to furnish other information about himself. He may have his New Citizens Swear Allegiance to the United States During Naturalization Ceremony. fingerprints taken free of charge at an office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or at a local police station. When he has filled out the application and the other form, he should return them with the completed fingerprint card and three small photographs of himself to the Immigration and Naturalization Service office. Within a short time, he will receive a letter telling him when and where to meet a naturalization examiner who will help him file his petition for naturalization in the court. He must pay a $25 fee to the clerk of the naturalization court when he files his petition. At the time he appears to file the petition, the examiner will conduct an examination to see if he meets the legal requirements for citizenship. The Naturalization Examination When the applicant appears for the examination, he must have with him two witnesses who are United States citizens and know him well. The examiner will question the witnesses regarding the applicant. They must be able to say truthfully that: He is a person of good moral character. He is loyal to the United States. He has lived in the United States for the last 5 years. He has been physically present in this country for at least 22 years (30 months) of this 5-year period. He has lived in the state where he is filing his petition for at least the last 6 months of the 5-year period. During the examination the examiner will question the applicant to determine whether he speaks, understands, reads, and writes English; has a knowledge of United States history and government, and the Constitution of the United States; and is otherwise eligible for naturalization. The Final Hearing After the petition for naturalization has been filed, it will be heard by a judge at a hearing in court. At the hearing the naturalization examiner will tell the judge of the qualifications for citizenship of each of the applicants, and will recommend whether or not each should be naturalized. The judge will decide which applicants CAN YOU DO THIS? may be given citizenship. Those who are accepted will become citizens after they take the oath of allegiance, which reads: "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America..." Each new citizen will be given a certificate of naturalization, which will enable him to say with pride, "I AM A UNITED STATES CITIZEN." Select from the list below the word which best completes the sentence: 1. What must you prove in order to become naturalized? 2. How can a wife become a citizen? 3. Is a Declaration of Intention necessary in order to become a citizen? 4. What must your witnesses prove about you at your naturalization examination? Talk about: 1. What steps must an alien take in order to become a citizen? 2. Why should an alien who is about to become a citizen be required to take an oath of allegiance? Since time began, people have gone from place to place in search of better ways to live. A daring explorer, Christopher Columbus, sailed westward from Spain in 1492 looking for a new route to India. Instead of finding India, he discovered islands near the continent of North America. The westward route discovered by Columbus opened the way to America, a new world. In the centuries that followed, millions of immigrants made the journey to this land that promised them a new way of life. In this chapter you will learn about the early history of our country. DISCUSS: Why do people go to different lands to live? MEETING NEW WORDS: assembly: A gathering of people for some pur pose; meeting of lawmakers celebrate: To recognize and honor, as a holiday charters: Official papers from a nation, or a state or city, granting certain rights and privileges and, sometimes, providing for a plan of government colony: Newly-settled community that belongs to an older nation; settlement in a new land committee: Group selected to do a special job communities: Places where people live together, such as colonies, settlements, cities or towns continent: One of the great bodies of land in the world created: Made something new delegate: Person sent to speak or act for others, usually at meetings; to give another person the right to do this; to give authority endowed: Enriched, as with a gift; furnished; God-given; born with establish: Set up; start; found existence: State of being; living impressed: Had a strong effect on the mind and feelings inalienable: That which cannot be taken away independence: Freedom from control by others liberty: Freedom limited: Kept within bounds. objected: Protested; opposed; was against Parliament: British lawmaking body possessions: Land or other things that a nation or person owns and holds privilege: Right; benefit; favor qualities: Characteristics; traits recognized: Took notice of; identified; accepted repealed: Did away with (a law) representatives: Persons chosen to act for a group or groups of persons; delegates rights: Things to which one has a just claim; any benefits or privileges given to a person by law or tradition self-government: Government in which the people take part; home rule settlement: Village built by persons in a new country treaty: Formal agreement between nations violated: Broken (a law, rule, agreement, promise, etc.) Outline Map of North America. AS YOU READ 1. Find out why people came to the continent of North America. 2. Find out why the colonists wanted their independence from Great Britain. |