Who can naturalize?
Immigrants with green cards (legal permanent residents) who have been legal permanent residents for five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen, and who are over 18 years old are eligible to apply for citizenship. In addition, the individual must have been a resident of the state where he is applying for U.S. citizenship for at least three months, most must be able to speak, read, and write basic English, and demonstrate basic knowledge of U.S. history and government. In some cases, children under 18 naturalize automatically with their parents. Applicants who are eligible to file for citizenship can file three months before they are eligible. This would be three months before the five year period mentioned above (or the three year period for those married to U.S. citizens).
