What is naturalized or derived citizen?

Naturalized citizens are individuals who were not born in the United States but have obtained citizenship through the process of naturalization. This typically involves meeting certain criteria such as being a legal permanent resident, residing in the U.S. for a certain period of time, demonstrating good moral character, and passing a test on U.S. civics and history.

Derived citizenship refers to the acquisition of U.S. citizenship for certain individuals based on the citizenship of their parents. This can occur through birth abroad to U.S. citizen parents, adoption by U.S. citizens, or other specific circumstances outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Both naturalized and derived citizens enjoy the same rights and privileges as citizens who are born in the United States, including the ability to vote, work, and travel freely within the country. However, there may be slight differences in the process of obtaining citizenship and the requirements that must be met for each type of citizenship.