US to welcome thousands of new citizens

The United States will welcome more than 4,000 new US citizens at over 50 naturalisation ceremonies to be held over the next four days as part of the country’s 239th Independence Day celebrations.

“As we celebrate Independence Day, we welcome over 4,000 new Americans who will be able to enjoy all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of US citizenship,” said United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez. “From Los Angeles to New York, Miami to Seattle, Indianapolis to Los Alamos, these individuals are showing their full commitment to the freedoms, values and ideals that have inspired Americans since the Declaration of Independence in 1776.”

Citizenship candidates will take the Oath of Allegiance at locations across the country, including the New York Public Library, Harold Washington Library Centre in Chicago, Seattle Centre, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the Tower Theatre in Miami. This year’s celebration will also feature ceremonies at historic sites such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia; Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia; and the USS Midway in San Diego, California.

Typically, to qualify for US citizenship, you must have lived legally in the US as a permanent resident for five years (three years for spouses of American citizens), and  have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately preceding the date of filing the application.

You will also need to have lived within the state, or USCIS district with jurisdiction over your intended place of residence, for at least three months prior to the date of filing the application, be a competent English language communicator, and have been judged a person of ‘good moral character’.