Citizenship Simplified

Derek Lawson

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Immigration Conversation. I’m Derek Lawson, and as always, I’m joined by the one and only Ruby Sturt. Ruby, how’s it going?

Ruby Sturt

G’day, Derek! I’m good, thanks. I’ve got my coffee, I’m ready to go, and honestly, I’m still recovering from that last episode about Supreme Court rulings. My brain’s only just stopped spinning.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, that was a wild one. But today, we’re switching gears a bit—talking about something that comes up all the time, not just in our inbox, but all over Reddit, too: U.S. citizenship. I mean, you’d think it’d be straightforward, but judging by the sheer number of questions online, it’s anything but.

Ruby Sturt

Absolutely. I was scrolling through Reddit last night, and it’s just post after post—“Do I have the same rights as a natural-born citizen?” “Can I vote?” “What if I mess up my application?” It’s like, people are genuinely lost, and I get it. The process is confusing, and the stakes are high.

Derek Lawson

Right, and I think a lot of that confusion comes from the fact that, on paper, naturalized citizens have almost all the same rights as folks born here. You can vote, you can run for most public offices, you can get a passport, sponsor family—pretty much the whole deal. But there are a couple of key differences, and they’re not always obvious.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, like, you can’t be President or Vice President if you’re naturalized. That’s a big one. And there’s this thing called denaturalization, which sounds like a sci-fi villain, but it’s real—if you got your citizenship through fraud or something dodgy, you could actually lose it. That doesn’t happen to people born here.

Derek Lawson

Exactly. And, you know, I remember a neighbor back in Detroit—she’d just become a citizen, and she was so excited to vote. But she was worried she’d mess it up, like, “Do I need a special ID? Am I really allowed?” We sat down, went through her Certificate of Naturalization, and made sure she was registered. It was a good reminder that even after you get that piece of paper, there’s still a lot of uncertainty.

Ruby Sturt

That’s such a good point. And it’s not just about the paperwork—it’s about feeling like you belong, right? Like, you’ve jumped through all these hoops, but there’s still this little voice saying, “Are you sure you’re allowed?”

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and that’s why we’re here. We want to clear up some of that confusion, especially around the application process, which is where a lot of people get tripped up. So, let’s dig into that next.

Ruby Sturt

Alright, so, the N-400 application. This is the big one—the form you fill out to apply for citizenship. And honestly, it’s a minefield. People make mistakes all the time, and sometimes it’s just a tiny thing that causes a massive headache.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, I mean, we see it all the time—missing a signature, forgetting to list a previous name, leaving a question blank. Even something as simple as not attaching a marriage certificate if you’ve changed your name. It sounds minor, but USCIS can be pretty strict about this stuff.

Ruby Sturt

Totally. And if you mess up, you might get what’s called a Request for Evidence, or RFE. That’s basically USCIS saying, “Hey, you forgot something, send it in by this deadline.” If you don’t, your application could get denied. And if it’s a bigger mistake—like, you left out a legal issue or gave the wrong info—they can just flat-out deny you, or worse, start looking into your whole case for fraud.

Derek Lawson

And even if it’s just a small error, it can slow things down for months. So, if you realize you made a mistake after you’ve sent it in, don’t panic—but do let USCIS know as soon as possible. Sometimes you can fix it at your interview, but sometimes you need to send in a written explanation or even start over.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and I want to share a quick story from a listener—let’s call her Priya. She emailed us after her interview, totally stressed because she’d forgotten to include her divorce certificate. USCIS sent her an RFE, and she was convinced her whole application was doomed. But she got the document in on time, and it all worked out. So, it’s not always the end of the world, but you’ve gotta stay on top of it.

Derek Lawson

That’s a great example. And then, once you get to the interview, it’s not just about the paperwork. The officer is going to go through your application line by line—your name, your address, your job history, travel, any criminal stuff, taxes, Selective Service if you’re a guy, all of it. They want to make sure everything matches up and that you’re being honest.

Ruby Sturt

And they’ll ask why you want to be a citizen, and if you’re willing to take the Oath of Allegiance. It’s not meant to be a trick, but it can feel pretty intense, especially if you’re nervous or English isn’t your first language.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and that’s before you even get to the test part. But before we get there, just remember—double-check your application, keep your documents organized, and if you’re not sure, talk to a professional. It can save you a lot of stress down the line.

Ruby Sturt

Couldn’t agree more. Alright, let’s talk about the part everyone dreads—the test, voting, and what happens if you’ve got more than one passport.

Derek Lawson

So, the citizenship test. It’s actually two tests in one—the English part and the civics part. For English, you’ve got to show you can speak, read, and write. The officer will chat with you during the interview to check your speaking, then you’ll read one out of three sentences and write one out of three. Not as scary as it sounds, but it’s still nerve-wracking.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and then there’s the civics test. You get up to 10 questions, all oral, from a list of 100 possible questions about U.S. history and government. You only need to get six right, and as soon as you do, they stop asking. So, you don’t have to be a walking encyclopedia, but you do need to study.

Derek Lawson

And once you pass, you’re basically a citizen—just gotta take the Oath. After that, you can register to vote right away. A lot of people do it at the ceremony itself, which is pretty cool. You just need to make sure you meet your state’s registration deadlines, but there’s no waiting period. You’re in.

Ruby Sturt

And that’s huge, right? Voting is one of those rights people are most excited about. But then there’s the whole dual citizenship thing, which gets tricky, especially with travel bans and changing rules. We had a listener—let’s call him Samir—who’s a dual citizen. His other country was on the travel ban list, and he was worried about flying back to the U.S. Would he get stopped? Would his U.S. passport be enough?

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and the answer is, generally, if you’re a U.S. citizen—even if you have another passport—you can come in using your U.S. passport. But, and this is a big but, if there are new executive orders or policy changes, things can get complicated fast. You might face extra questions at the border, so it’s smart to keep all your documents handy and stay up to date on the latest rules.

Ruby Sturt

And if you’re really worried, talk to an immigration attorney before you travel. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially with how quickly things can change. We’ve seen that in past episodes—one policy shift and suddenly people are stuck at airports or facing new restrictions.

Derek Lawson

Exactly. So, whether you’re prepping for the test, registering to vote, or figuring out dual citizenship, the key is to stay informed and don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s what we’re here for.

Ruby Sturt

Alright, that’s a wrap for today’s episode. If you’ve got questions, send them our way—we love hearing your stories. Derek, always a pleasure.

Derek Lawson

Right back at you, Ruby. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. We’ll be back soon with more real talk on immigration. Take care!

Ruby Sturt

Catch you next time. Bye!