Being born in the U.S.A. comes with certain privileges. For instance, you don’t have to take a test to prove your citizenship.
The basic requirements are as follows, based on the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service website.
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To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, the applicant first has to be a lawful permanent resident of the country for five years (three, if you are married to a U.S. citizen), or a child of a U.S. citizen, or a member of the U.S. military for at least a year.
They have to pay $710 to apply online (or $760 to apply in person). You can find the form fee information HERE.
They have to show they are a person of good moral character.
They have to be able to read, write, and speak basic English.
And they must go in for an interview where you will be given a civics test.
The USCIS officer will ask up to 20 questions from a 128-question civics test. The applicant has to get at least 12 questions right to pass.
It is not a multiple-choice test.
This is a recent change by the Trump administration. Applicants before only needed to get six out of 10 questions correct.
The government puts those 128 questions online and provides the answers. We’ve posted the questions below. You can also find them on the USCIS website HERE.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History also has a practice version of the previous citizenship test on its website HERE. The questions are randomized and multiple-choice.