U.S. Citizenship: How Do I Become A U.S. Citizen?

Introduction

To Selena, U.S. citizenship meant far more than two words. As she raised her right hand to take the Oath of Allegiance, her mind drifted back to the day she first arrived at JFK Airport with only a few dollars in her pocket. She was just 23 years old. After winning the Green Card Lottery, she had begun a journey filled with uncertainty. She remembered crying when she received her Green Card. She started by working small jobs at a restaurant; now she owned her own bakery.

When the ceremony officer extended a hand to congratulate her, Selena was no longer just an immigrant—she was an American. The greatest lesson she learned that day was that patience can sometimes turn a country into a true home.