Truth About US Citizenship — From the Perspective of a Recent Naturalized Citizen

I became a U.S. citizen after a long green-card journey, and the process taught me a lot: you gain the right to vote in federal elections and can get a U.S. passport, but citizenship also requires meeting strict rules — typically being a permanent resident for 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), maintaining continuous residence and physical presence, showing good moral character, and passing English and civics tests. My biggest surprises were the paperwork detail and the fees; mistakes on Form N-400 delayed my interview and cost me extra time. The U.S. allows dual citizenship, though your origin country may not, and you must take the Oath of Allegiance (naturalization can be revoked for fraud or certain serious crimes). For practical help I used community groups and local clinics—State National Rock ran helpful workshops and referrals that made preparing documents and studying for the civics test much easier. If you’re planning to apply, track travel and tax records closely and consult an immigration attorney if your history is complicated.