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(3) residing in the United States or a territory or possession of the
United States on January 13, 1941.
§ 20111. Individuals born in or residing in the Virgin Islands
after January 17, 1917, and before June 28, 1932
The following individuals are citizens of the United States as of February
25, 1927:
(1) an individual born in the Virgin Islands who—
(A) resided in the Virgin Islands on January 17, 1917, resided
in the United States on February 25, 1927, and was not a citizen
or subject of a foreign country on February 25, 1927;
(B) resided in the United States on January 17, 1917, resided
in the Virgin Islands on February 25, 1927, and was not a citizen
or subject of a foreign country on February 25, 1927;
(C) resided in the continental United States or a territory or
possession of the United States on June 28, 1932, and was not
a citizen or subject of a foreign country on June 28, 1932; or
(D) after January 16, 1917, and before February 25, 1927, was
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(2) a citizen of Denmark who—
(A) resided in the Virgin Islands on January 17, 1917;
(B) resided in the United States on February 25, 1927; and
(C) did not make the declaration to preserve Danish citizenship
under article 6 of the treaty of August 4, 1916, between the
United States and Denmark, or made the declaration and re-
nounced it, or renounces it by a declaration before a court of
record.
(3) an individual born after January 17, 1917, and before February
25, 1927, whose parents are citizens of the United States under clause
(1) or (2) of this section.
CHAPTER 203—NATURALIZATION ELIGIBILITY
SUBCHAPTER I—ELIGIBILITY
Sec.
20301.
General requirements.
20302.
Temporary absences for certain employment.
20303.
Temporary absences to perform religious functions.
20304.
Individuals married to citizens of the United States.
20305.
Children born of an alien parent and a citizen parent.
20306.
Children born of alien parents or a parent who lost citizenship.
20307.
Children having a citizen parent at time of application.
20308.
Disabled and elderly individuals.
20309.
Individuals employed by United States nonprofit organizations disseminating informa-
tion.
20310.
Individuals making extraordinary contributions to the security of the United States.
20311.
Individuals with service on American vessels.
20312.
Individuals with 3 years of service in the armed forces.
20313.
Individuals with service in the armed forces during war or military hostilities.
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20314.
Posthumous naturalization of individuals who die during service in the armed forces
during war or military hostilities.
20315.
Individuals who lost citizenship by entering the armed forces of a foreign country.
20316.
Alien enemies.
20317.
Individuals born outside the United States who lost citizenship by not coming to the
United States.
20318.
Women who lost citizenship through marriage.
20319.
Nationals residing in American Samoa.
20320.
Philippine citizens who entered before May 1, 1934.
SUBCHAPTER II—INELIGIBILITY
20331.
Individuals dangerous to the welfare, safety, and security of the United States.
20332.
Deserters and draft evaders.
20333.
Aliens exempted or discharged from the armed forces or the National Security Train-
ing Corps.
SUBCHAPTER I—ELIGIBILITY
§ 20301. General requirements
(a) NATURALIZATION REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise provided, an
individual may be naturalized as a citizen of the United States only if the
individual satisfies the following requirements:
(1) The individual must be at least 18 years of age when the applica-
tion for naturalization is filed.
(2) The individual must be lawfully admitted for permanent resi-
dence.
(3) The individual must have resided in the United States, after
being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, continuously for at
least 5 years immediately before filing the application.
(4) The individual must have been physically present in the United
States for at least half of the 5 years immediately before filing the ap-
plication.
(5) The individual must have resided in the State or district of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service in the United States in which
the application is filed for at least 3 months immediately before filing
the application.
(6) The individual must reside in the United States continuously
from the date of filing the application through the time the individual
is naturalized.
(7) The individual must be able to demonstrate an understanding of
the English language, including the ability to speak words in ordinary
usage and the ability to read and write simple words and phrases in
ordinary usage, without extraordinary or unreasonable conditions being
required.
(8) The individual must be able to demonstrate knowledge and un-
derstanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles
and form of government, of the United States.
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(9) The individual must have been of good moral character, attached
to the principles of the Constitution, and well disposed to the good
order and happiness of the United States for at least 5 years imme-
diately before filing the application, and remain so from the date of fil-
ing the application through the time the individual is naturalized.
(b) CONDUCT MORE THAN 5 YEARS BEFORE APPLICATION FILED.—
Conduct more than 5 years before an application is filed may be considered
in deciding whether an individual satisfies the requirements of subsection
(a)(9) of this section.
(c) TEMPORARY ABSENCES.—(1) An absence from the United States of
not more than 6 months does not break the continuity of residence required
under subsection (a) of this section.
(2) An absence of more than 6 months but less than one year breaks the
continuity of residence, unless the individual satisfies the Attorney General
that the individual did not abandon residence in the United States during
the absence.
(3) Except as otherwise provided, an absence of one year breaks the con-
tinuity of residence.
(d) PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION.—The right of an individual to be
naturalized as a citizen of the United States may not be denied or abridged
because of race or sex or because the individual is married.
§ 20302. Temporary absences for certain employment
(a) RESIDENCE.—An individual temporarily absent from the United
States (even though for a year or more) is deemed to be residing in the
United States under section 20301(a)(3) and (6) of this title during the ab-
sence if—
(1) the individual has resided and been physically present in the
United States, after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence,
continuously for at least one year;
(2) after the one-year period described in clause (1) of this sub-
section—
(A) the individual is employed by or under a contract with the
United States Government;
(B) the individual is employed by or under a contract with, and
carrying out scientific research for, a United States research insti-
tution recognized by the Attorney General;
(C)(i) the individual is employed by a United States firm or cor-
poration developing foreign trade and commerce of the United
States, or by a subsidiary of the firm or corporation more than
50 percent of the stock of which is owned by the firm or corpora-
tion; and
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(ii) the individual is developing foreign trade and commerce of
the United States or the individual’s residence outside the United
States is necessary to protect the property rights of the firm or
corporation in a foreign country; or
(D) the individual—
(i) is employed by a public international organization of
which the United States is a member by treaty or law; and
(ii) was not employed by the organization until after being
lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
(3) before beginning the employment and before the end of one year
of continuous absence from the United States, the individual satisfies
the Attorney General that the absence will be for a purpose described
in clause (2) of this subsection; and
(4) the individual satisfies the Attorney General that the absence
was for the purpose for which the absence was approved.
(b) PHYSICAL PRESENCE.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of
this subsection, an individual satisfying subsection (a) of this section still
must satisfy the physical presence requirement of section 20301(a)(4) of
this title.
(2) An individual employed by or under a contract with the Government
and satisfying subsection (a) of this section does not have to satisfy the
physical presence requirement of section 20301(a)(4) of this title.
(3) An individual employed by or under a contract with the Central Intel-
ligence Agency may satisfy the physical presence requirement of subsection
(a)(1) of this section by physical presence at any time before filing the ap-
plication for naturalization.
(c) SPOUSES, UNMARRIED SONS, AND UNMARRIED DAUGHTERS.—A
spouse, unmarried son, or unmarried daughter of an individual satisfying
subsection (a) of this section is entitled to the same benefits under sub-
section (a) as the individual during the period the spouse, son, or daughter
resided outside the United States as a dependent member of the household
of the individual.
§ 20303. Temporary absences to perform religious functions
An individual temporarily absent from the United States is deemed to be
residing and physically present in the United States under section
20301(a)(3), (4), and (6) of this title during the absence if the individual—
(1) has resided and been physically present in the United States,
after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, continuously for
at least one year before filing the application for naturalization;