Become a U.S. Citizen: A Six-Step Guide

New Americans Campaign, with Corporation support, offers six steps to help immigrants navigate the naturalization process in the United States

By Carnegie Corporation of New York June 28, 2022
Citizenship
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Joined by family and friends, over 30 individuals from 27 nations participate in a naturalization ceremony in Brooklyn, New York, in 2019. (Credit: Spencer Platt via Getty Images)

For more than a decade, Carnegie Corporation of New York, in collaboration with other philanthropic partners, has supported the New Americans Campaign, which is led by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. To date, the campaign and its national network of nonprofit partners have helped more than 540,000 lawful permanent residents, known as green card holders, apply for citizenship. Alongside the economic, societal, and cultural value that immigrants bring to American democracy, there are many benefits to becoming an American citizen: the right to vote; easier travel and reentry to the United States; eligibility for certain jobs and scholarships, including the opportunity to run for public office; and tax advantages, among others. 

Becoming a U.S. citizen can be a daunting process. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there were 9.2 million lawful permanent residents eligible to naturalize in 2021. Their pathway to citizenship is not easy, given the complex nature of the naturalization process and delays compounded by the pandemic – the number of lawful permanent residents who were naturalized in 2020 marked a low point for the last decade, according to Corporation grantee Migration Policy Institute. 

The Corporation’s Strengthening U.S. Democracy program supports immigrant integration through a portfolio of grantees focused on immigration policy reform. Citizenship is the ultimate goal of integration, and among the Corporation’s long-term priorities is encouraging eligible immigrants to naturalize. 

Here are six steps to help you become an American citizen. 

  1. Find out if you are eligible.
  2. The application costs $725. Do you qualify for a fee waiver? 
  3. Ready to apply? An online tool can help you with the process.
  4. Find free or low-cost citizenship assistance near you.
  5. Need additional help? Attend a citizenship event.
  6. Find resources to help you prepare for your naturalization interview and English and civics tests.
Great Immigrants, Great Americans

Every Fourth of July, Carnegie Corporation of New York celebrates the exemplary contributions of immigrants to American life.

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