Every year many foreign nationals decide to become US citizens. America has a long history of accepting citizenship applications from spouses who marry their US-born spouse and decide to live with them in America. US Citizenship provides the same rights and privileges afforded to Americans born in the United States.

If you are a US citizen married to a foreign spouse, he/she can apply to be naturalized as a US citizen after 3 years of holding lawful permanent residence status. In addition to this he/she may not leave the United States for trips lasting 6 months or longer. Your foreign spouse must have been living with you for the full 3 year period. Your spouse can apply for US Citizenship 90 days before fulfilling the 3 year permanent residence status.

The requirement for continuous residence is very important when applying for citizenship; your foreign spouse will be required to count all of the trips taken out of the country even if they were for a short period like a weekend. You must count the first day as the first full day spent out of the country and not the day that you left or re-entered the United States.

When your spouse applies for US Citizenship, she/he must prove that they are of ‘good moral character’. If your spouse has a criminal record it may count against him/her either permanently or temporarily. Crimes, which will count against your spouse, include the following:

• Intent to harm another person
• Crimes or fraud against the government
• Two or more crimes with an combined sentence of 5 years plus
• Habitual drunkenness
• Prostitution
• Illegal gambling
• Drug taking
• Lying to get immigration benefits
• Persecution
• Acts of terrorism

Your spouse must also prove that their command of the English language is sufficient for them to read, write and speak English. They must also prove that they have a basic knowledge of US history and government by successfully completing the US Citizenship Test.

If your spouse’s application for US Citizenship is accepted he/she will have to take the Oath of Allegiance, in which they declare their allegiance to the US Constitution. US Citizenship entitles your spouse to hold a US passport.