When you win the coveted US DV Lottery and get your Green Card, your chances of becoming a naturalized US citizen within the next few years skyrocket. This is because before you become a US citizen, you must first become a US permanent resident, which means becoming a US Green Card holder.
“You have to be a Green Card holder for a period of five years. If you are married to a US citizen in a bona fide marriage, you have to be a Green Card holder for a period of three years. If you are in the military, you can get your US citizenship within one year,” says US Immigration Lawyer Brad Bernstein.
You will have to meet all the physical presence requirements. According to Mr. Bernstein, this means that more than half the time required before you naturalize, you will have to be physically present in the United States of America. At the same time, you will be required not to take trips abroad that last for more than six months at a time.
“For example, if you are filing to become naturalized US citizen based on having a Green Card for five years, 30 out of 60 months you have to have your physical feet in the United States of America and no trips for more than six months outside,” he says.
He adds that you will have to file for your citizenship in the State where you live and you will have to be living in that State for at least 9- days before you file.
“For example, if you live in Georgia and then move to New York, you will need to wait 90 days before filing your naturalization,” says Mr. Bernstein.
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You will also have to be a person of good moral character. This, says Mr. Bernstein, means that you have never lied to the US government, you have not made any misrepresentations, you have not lied under oath, and that you do not have any criminal records.
“In addition, you cannot have any aggravated felonies after November 1990. If you do, then you will be permanently barred from ever naturalizing to become a US citizen,” he says.
You also cannot have made a false claim to US citizenship or unlawfully voted -though there are some exceptions to this rule.
If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26 years, and you did not register for the Selective Service [which is giving your name to the US military for possible recruitment if there’s ever a draft in the future] then this will indicate that you are not of good moral character.
If you’re on removal proceedings or probation, you won’t be able to prove good moral character and this means that you won’t be able to naturalize.
“You must be attached to the principles of the United States Constitution and you must be willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States of America, which means joining the military if there’s a mandatory draft,” says Mr. Bernstein.
You will also be required to demonstrate knowledge of the US history and will be given a civics questionnaire in which you must answer six out of ten questions correctly. You will be required to be able to read and write English on a sixth grade level. There are exceptions to sitting for this test which include medical and old age.
