On average, it takes three years for a US citizenship application to be approved. This process usually involves endless hours of filling out paperwork, submitting supporting documents and preparing for the naturalization examination. The US government has cracked down on national security so much that the process of naturalization has been made more difficult than ever. Thankfully, with some strategic research, this process can be made much more painless and quick, and you can become a US citizen in less than a year.

First, you need to acquire a copy of the most current naturalization form, which at the moment, is the N-400 naturalization form and is valid until 2010. This step is important, as submitting the incorrect application, can mean pushing back your potential date of naturalization to three years. Secondly, you must prepare adequately for your naturalization examination. Most of the questions you will encounter in the civics section of the test are historic US government facts that might seem trivial, but remember that in order to completely the naturalization process, you must pass this examination.

Becoming a US citizen is a process of jumping through many hoops and can be painstaking and arduous. Throughout the process of naturalization, be proactive. If there is something you do not understand, seek the clarification of a government official or other resource to illuminate the instructions. Craft your naturalization application well to help you stand out amongst the other applicants and speed up the process from years to months.