New Delhi: Want to apply for U.S. citizenship? Then, those lacking good moral conduct need not apply for ‘naturalization,’ the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified. USCIS stated that it will not consider granting U.S. citizenship to green card holders with poor moral conduct, emphasizing that applicants must adhere to high moral and social standards. It referred to a case of an immigrant who entered the U.S. with an active warrant related to grand theft auto, issuing this as a warning.

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a great privilege given only to those who embrace the values, responsibilities, and freedoms that define America, and it is not an automatic right for everyone, USCIS noted on X (formerly Twitter). According to Ketan Mukheja, a senior partner at Burjean Law, “good moral character” is a legal standard applicants must prove under the U.S. citizenship law, showing that their behavior during the statutory period (usually five years before applying) aligns with the moral expectations of an average member of society.

About Naturalization:

Naturalization is the process by which a green card holder becomes a U.S. citizen. Typically, this process takes three to five years, depending on the applicant's status. Applicants must comply with residency requirements, demonstrate good moral character, pass English and civics tests, and pledge allegiance to the United States.

Factors considered for moral conduct include:

Arrests, criminal history, and pending charges against the applicant.

Compliance with tax laws and financial responsibilities.

Honesty in immigration applications and interviews.

Social behavior.