Benjamin Beijing Wang Attorney at Law - Member of AILA

Citizenship

There are three ways one may acquire  citizenship:   birth, blood and naturalization.  The law confers citizenship to almost all individuals born in the or in the jurisdictions, according to the principle of jus soli, or right of birthplace.  Certain individuals are born outside the and are citizens because of their parents according to the principle of jus sanguinis, or right of blood. 

Naturalization is a process by which US citizenship may be conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals if they meet the requirements:   (1)   a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the US; (2)  residence in a particular INS district prior to filing; (3)  an ability to read, write and speak English; (4)  knowledge of US history and government; (5)  good moral character; (6)  support for the US constitution; and (6)  favorable disposition towards to the US. 

Certain foreign born children automatically acquire citizenship of the  under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which became effective on February 27, 2001.   Children acquire citizenship automatically if they have met the following requirements:  (1)  at least one parent is a citizen of the US, by birth or through naturalization; (2)  they are under 18 years old; (3)  they reside in the US pursuant to a lawful admission as a permanent resident alien, and in the legal and physical custody of the US citizen parent.