Introduction
Citizenship can be a complex process to navigate and many families are unaware of their rights or the process to become a U.S. citizen. In our last post, we discussed naturalized and derived citizenship and explored how naturalized citizenship can impact parents and the children they love in many ways. In today’s post, we will start to pose many of the questions families may have regarding citizenship and how families can receive assistance in understanding the laws surrounding citizenship as well as go through the process of applying for citizenship.
Define Naturalized and Derived Citizenship
If someone would like to learn the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, they will learn that there are 2 different ways to be a naturalized or derived citizen. Naturalization is taking the naturalization test that contains a written, reading, speaking, and oral test after voluntarily going through the process of becoming a U.S. national, by meeting residency requirements and showing that they are a person of good moral character to voluntarily take the oath of allegiance to become a full voting member of the U.S. As for good moral character, many people are worried about possible deportation. In late 2025, there was an enormous amount of applications for naturalization with 169,159 people applying for naturalization in October of that year. Derived U.S. citizenship is granted to children when a parent becomes a U.S. citizen. Children automatically become a naturalized U.S. citizen if all of the following are true:
- All children are under the age of 18 years.
- All children are lawful permanent residents (green card holders) at the time when the U.S. citizen parent takes the naturalization test for membership.
- The U.S. citizen parent and children reside in the U.S. or abroad.
(Please note that in the state of Florida, children of U.S. citizen parents who reside in that state are considered residents of Florida and thus automatically receive derived citizenship as a result of the naturalization of the U.S. citizen parent to the U.S.)
Derived nationality, on the other hand, is automatically granted to the child or children of a parent who is a U.S. citizen while the child/children are under the age of 18 years and are lawful permanent residents residing in the U.S. or abroad. This type of naturalization is recognized by law and the criteria that must be met are that the child/children have at least one U.S. national parent/surviving parent and are under the age of 18 years at the time of naturalization of the parent/surviving parent. The child/children do not have to apply for citizenship nor take an oath of allegiance to become a U.S. citizen by derivation of a U.S. citizen parent/surviving parent. Simply by virtue of the naturalization of the parent/surviving parent of the child/children under the age of 18 years, it automatically confers the status of naturalized U.S. citizen to all eligible children in the world. This is a great way to become a U.S. citizen, and it’s good for the child/children and the whole family for that matter!
Compare Eligibility Criteria for Citizenship
The process to naturalized status can be very confusing and long. In order to become a naturalized or derived U.S. citizen, a person must be at least 18 years old and meet the following requirements:
- Be a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen)
- Show good moral character
- Be able to:
- Read
- Write
- Speak English
- Have understanding of the civics and history of the United States
The way that USCIS looks at good moral character has changed a lot in the past few years. Before, USCIS looked at the negative aspects of a person’s life and would often deny naturalization applications based on those. However, now USCIS looks at the positive ways in which a person contributes to his or her community and is more likely to grant naturalization to that person.
There is also derived nationality. If all of a minor’s parents are U.S. citizens or if at least one of a minor’s parents are naturalized or derived U.S. citizens and the minor is a lawful permanent resident living in the United States, then the minor will automatically become a naturalized or derived U.S. citizen at the time that the parent or parents become naturalized or derived U.S. citizens. This is very different from the naturalization process, which is a long and arduous process.
Beginning in June 2026, there will likely be additional delays in processing naturalization applications in North Carolina and Florida as part of the new, stricter background checks and neighborhood investigations that USCIS is planning. Also, in 2025 there will be a new version of the civics test administered to naturalization applicants, which will test their knowledge of American history and government.
LAJC holds ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops in English and in Spanish in order to help inform individuals of their rights. We are also invested in the future of the legal profession and support the next generation of diverse legal professionals through our annual scholarships for first-generation college students who are seeking to pursue a legal career. We are here to help you through the process.
Contrast Rights of Naturalized and Derived Citizens
Rights of New Citizens and Their Families. As a newly naturalized or derived U.S. citizen, you and your family have rights and status as a U.S. national. These rights include:
- Voting in federal, state, and local elections
- Applying for federal jobs
- Bringing more family members to live in the U.S.
There are very important distinctions, however, between the rights of naturalized/derived citizens and those of individuals with derived status. Naturalized/derived citizens can lose their status if they are found guilty of serious conduct such as a crime or fraud in their application for naturalization. Individuals with derived status generally lose their status only if the individual loses their permanent resident status before reaching the age of 18.
Recent legislation has affected the citizenship rights of many legal permanent residents and it is difficult to understand the impact that new laws will have on many immigrants that are seeking to make the most of their opportunity to live and work in this country. Since 2000 over 7.9 million people have become citizens of the United States. However there are millions more legal permanent residents holding on to their status of lawful permanent residents hoping that they will soon be granted the status of a citizen. The fear that one mistake or criminal activity could result in their loss of status is real and often grips their minds. When a person becomes a citizen there are different ways of doing so. As a result there are different levels of security of status that are afforded to each new citizen. A current case in the Supreme Court Abishai v. Holder will have a profound effect on the children of lawful permanent residents and on many other individuals in this country. Cody Wofsy, of the ACLU, said that the decision could have far reaching implications for the children of lawful permanent residents and for other individuals in this country.
Analyze Responsibilities of Naturalized and Derived Citizens
Being part of a community comes with a sense of responsibility as a citizen. That can be very daunting but there is something that everybody can do. At Vasquez Law Firm, we advocate for people’s rights by giving ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops in English and in Spanish.
As acquired status holders grow up, their status will generally not expire while they are children. As they become adults, there are circumstances in which their residence may not expire as well. Knowing your responsibilities to your community can allow people to be more involved in said community through volunteer work or by exercising their right to vote and other civic rights that naturalized or derived U.S. citizens have as well as others.
Many of our naturalized or derived U.S. citizens take their civic duties very seriously by completing their jury duty more so than others. Being involved in a community can fulfill a person in ways previously unknown and also can help strengthen the community in which said person resides.
Strong feelings of personal commitment regarding the issues of immigration and integration have evoked great enthusiasm in our membership in the last year translating to 818,500 new citizens in 2024 thus far.
Conclusion
Attaining full citizenship through the process of becoming a naturalized citizen can be challenging as it typically includes a long application and several difficult tests. On the other hand, there are several ways that an individual can be granted derived citizenship, the most common being a child of a U.S. citizen. Whether you’re looking into Naturalization or Derived citizenship, both can lead to Full Citizenship and have their own unique process and rights.
Remember that everyone's situation is unique, and that while going through the Naturalization process or acquiring Derived citizenship can grant individuals and their families Full Citizenship, there are different ways to get to the same end and both processes have their own set of rights and requirements. By participating in community workshops, seeking legal consultation, and becoming part of advocacy groups working to achieve full citizenship for immigrants and their families, you can arm yourself with knowledge to determine which is best for you and your loved ones, and in the process, protect the rights of all individuals and work towards fostering a more just and inclusive community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two ways to become a U.S. citizen?
The two ways to become a U.S. citizen are through naturalization and derived citizenship. Naturalization involves taking a test and meeting specific requirements, while derived citizenship is granted automatically to children when a parent becomes a U.S. citizen.
What is the naturalization process?
The naturalization process requires individuals to take a naturalization test that includes written, reading, speaking, and oral components. Applicants must meet residency requirements and demonstrate good moral character before taking the oath of allegiance to become a full voting member of the U.S.
What does "good moral character" mean in the context of naturalization?
"Good moral character" refers to the applicant's conduct and behavior, which should not include actions that could lead to deportation or criminal issues.
Who qualifies for derived citizenship?
Children qualify for derived citizenship if they are under the age of 18, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) at the time their U.S. citizen parent takes the naturalization test, and reside in the U.S. or abroad with the parent.
Are there any special considerations for children in Florida regarding derived citizenship?
Yes, in Florida, children of U.S. citizen parents who reside in the state are automatically considered residents and receive derived citizenship when the parent naturalizes.
What is derived nationality, and how is it different from derived citizenship?
Derived nationality is automatically granted to children of a U.S. citizen parent while they are under 18 and lawful permanent residents. Unlike derived citizenship, children do not need to apply for citizenship or take an oath; they automatically become U.S. citizens by virtue of the parent's naturalization.
What benefits does derived citizenship provide to children and families?
Derived citizenship provides a straightforward path to U.S. citizenship for children, which can benefit the entire family by ensuring legal status and access to rights and privileges associated with citizenship.
List of Sources
- Define Naturalized and Derived Citizenship
- Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States (https://migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states)
- 2025 was one of most volatile years ever for U.S. naturalizations (https://npr.org/2026/04/13/g-s1-117050/us-trump-immigration-2025-naturalizations-citizenship-drop)
- Featured Issue: Threats to Citizenship and Naturalization (https://aila.org/library/featured-issue-threats-to-citizenship-and-naturalization)
- Naturalized vs. Derived Citizenship Explained (https://manifestlaw.com/blog/naturalized-vs-derived-citizenship)
- Naturalized vs. Derived U.S. Citizen – What’s the Difference? (https://ppid.com/blog/naturalized-or-derived-us-citizen)
- Compare Eligibility Criteria for Citizenship
- USCIS Unveils First Changes to Naturalization Test in Multi-Step Overhaul of American Citizenship Standards (https://uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-unveils-first-changes-to-naturalization-test-in-multi-step-overhaul-of-american-citizenship)
- USCIS Expands “Good Moral Character” Standards for Naturalization (https://hunton.com/business-immigration-insights/uscis-expands-good-moral-character-standards-for-naturalization)
- USCIS Announces Major Changes to the Naturalization Process | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) (https://cliniclegal.org/resources/religious-immigration-law/uscis-announces-major-changes-naturalization-process)
- Changes in the U.S. Naturalization Process for Permanent Residents Applying for U.S. Citizenship | DeWitt LLP Law Firm (https://dewittllp.com/news/2025/10/03/changes-in-the-u.s.-naturalization-process-for-permanent-residents-applying-for-u.s.-citizenship)
- Contrast Rights of Naturalized and Derived Citizens
- Justice Department Moves to Denaturalize 12 Individuals for Concealing Terrorist Support, War Crimes, Espionage, Sexual Abuse, and More (https://justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes)
- US Supreme Court agrees to hear case challenging birthright citizenship (https://bbc.com/news/articles/c208j0wrzrvo)
- Trump's Birthright Citizenship Executive Order: What Happens Next | Supreme Court Takes Up Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Executive Order (https://aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/trumps-birthright-citizenship-executive-order-what-happens-next)
- Naturalization Statistics | USCIS (https://uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-statistics)
- Featured Issue: Threats to Citizenship and Naturalization (https://aila.org/library/featured-issue-threats-to-citizenship-and-naturalization)
- Analyze Responsibilities of Naturalized and Derived Citizens
- Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens | One Percent for America (https://onepercentforamerica.org/the-guide/rights-and-responsibilities-us-citizens)
- Top Benefits of U.S. Citizenship in 2026 (https://manifestlaw.com/blog/us-citizenship-benefits)
- Naturalization Statistics | USCIS (https://uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-statistics)
- Naturalized vs. Derived U.S. Citizen – What’s the Difference? (https://ppid.com/blog/naturalized-or-derived-us-citizen)
