This document provides information about different types of American residents including citizens, legal residents, refugees, and illegal aliens. It defines citizens as those who are natural-born or naturalized and owe allegiance to the US government. Legal residents include those with visas (temporary) or green cards (permanent). The naturalization process to become a citizen can take 5 months to 2 years and involves declaring intent, background checks, citizenship tests, and oaths of loyalty. The document also outlines rights and responsibilities of US citizens.

1. The People of America
Citizens and Residents
The What, Who, When, How and
Why of Becoming and Being an
American Citizen

2. Types of American Residents
1. Citizens—Natural-born and naturalized
2. Aliens—Legal and illegal
3. Refugees—People pushed from their home
and seeking refuge in another land

3. Legal Residents- 2 types
1. Visa holders
2. Green card holders

4. 1. Visa holders: temporary US residents
– Employment visa: employer files paperwork and
pays for worker to come to US
– Family-sponsored visa: family members file
paperwork and pay for immigrant to come to US
– Educational visa: issued to students who choose
to attend school/college in US

5. Green Card Holders: Permanent US
Residents
2. Green card holders are Lawful Permanent
Residents (LPR), who are officially granted
immigration benefits, including permission to
reside and work legally in the US
You must have a green card in order to apply for
citizenship

6. Illegal Aliens
• Anyone who resides in America without
updated paperwork
– Examples
– Those with an expired visa, still here
– Those who snuck into the country

7. What is a citizen?
• My favorite definition, courtesy of Merriam
Webster Online Dictionary…
:a native or naturalized person who owes
allegiance to a government and is entitled to
protectionfrom it

8. 14th amendment of the Constitution
outlines who is a citizen
• Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in
the United States…are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside…”

9. Natural-born citizens
1. Anyone born within US territory
• Baby is born in any of 50 states or territories (i.e.
Puerto Rico) or on overseas military bases
2. Anyone born outside of US with at least one (1)
American parent
• baby born in France to an American mother and a
French father
3. Two citizens of another country give birth to a
child in the U.S.; the child is a U.S. citizen
• 2 French citizens have baby while in New York, baby
is US citizen

10. Naturalized Citizen
• A citizen who has acquired citizenship by
participating in a process

11. The Naturalization Process
Time to completion: 5 months to 2 years
1. File a Declaration of Intent with the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
2. INS conducts a fact-check to ensure
information is true.
3. If application is approved,interview with INS
and citizenship test.
4. Appear in court to take the Oath of Loyalty to
the U.S.

12. Review and Discuss
Turn to your elbow partner…
• Partner 1: Tell your partner everything you can
remember from what you just learned.
• Partner 2: Listen carefully. After 2 minutes, fill
in any missing information and correct or
change any information which is mistaken.

13. Rights of Citizens
• Protection of the Constitution
• American passport—free to travel among the
states and to reenter from outside of the US
• Voting rights
• Public office

14. Responsibilities of Citizens
• Loyalty to America—various meanings
• Pay taxes—income taxes, sales taxes, estate
and inheritance taxes, etc.
• Obey laws—laws are for us, by us!
• Participate in government—vote, jury duty,
become involved in the community!

15. Turn to your table group
• Make a list of some things that:
– A. you think citizens should do in order to show
good citizenship and allegiance to America.
– B. you do to show good citizenship.

16. What’s next…
• Citizenship test
• Video: good.is/immigration