To become a U.S. citizen, an applicant born outside the United States must first establish continuous permanent residency in the U.S. for a minimum of five years, during which they must also be physically present in the country for at least 30 months. Alternatively, if the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen, they can apply for citizenship after just three years of continuous permanent residency, provided they have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 18 months during that period. This pathway not only emphasizes the importance of residency and physical presence but also underscores the significance of familial ties in the naturalization process.