A citizen of the United States is a native-born, foreign-born, or naturalized person who owes allegiance to the United States and who is entitled to its protection. Naturalization is the process by which foreign nationals become U.S. citizens.
There are a variety of requirements for naturalization which vary by different circumstances. See our page on Naturalization Requirements for more information.
In addition to the naturalization process, the United States recognizes the U.S. citizenship of individuals according to two fundamental principles: jus soli, or right of birthplace, and jus sanguinis, or right of blood.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals born in the United States or in U.S. jurisdictions, according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals born in the United States, such as children of foreign heads of state or children of foreign diplomats, do not obtain U.S. citizenship under jus soli.
Certain individuals born outside of the United States are born citizens because of their parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis (which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his / her parents). The U.S. Congress is responsible for enacting laws that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S. citizen parent or parents according to the principle of jus sanguinis. These laws are contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In addition, U.S. immigration law grants special Citizenship rights to CHILDREN who are adopted by U.S. Citizens. See our page on Adopted Children and Citizenship.
WHAT TO DO?? Canadian-US
I was born to 2 US citizens in Canada, I am now 21 holding a Canadian Birth Certificate and Canadian passport, how can I become American, or am I American already, if I am, how to I "announce" it?