A resident of the state of Kentucky and you have been living there for longer than five years, you must be aware that as a green card holder, you are now eligible to apply for citizenship. If there are no problems with your resident status and you are happy with your current life, you may wonder why you would put yourself through the hassle of a citizenship application if it is not necessary. It is important to remember that in United States, immigration laws are not only determined at the federal level, but each state also has its own rules and regulations. These regulations can change at any time, and this means that immigration law in each state gets more and more complex as time goes on. If you want to apply for citizenship at some point, the easiest time to do it is right now, before the laws get any more complicated and the citizenship application any more difficult.So just how difficult is it to obtain United States citizenship? If you have been living here legally and are willing to submit to a few basic requirements, it is really not all that much to be intimidated about. For example, there is the residency requirement. If you are here on your own, the residency requirement is five years for naturalization, but if you are married to a United States citizen, the residency requirement is reduced to three years. You also have to be 18 years of age to apply for citizenship, and you must have a clean criminal record so as to show that you are capable of being law-abiding.The one aspect of the citizenship process that most people dread is the interview. In your interview, you will be expected to show a minimum level of skill in both speaking and writing the English language. As well, you will be expected to take an exam in which you demonstrate your knowledge of US history and the American government. It is important to remember that the purpose of this process is not to trip you up, but rather to give you an opportunity to show that you take your citizenship application seriously, and that you understand the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen.The one thing you can do for yourself that will help your application process go more smoothly is to hire a qualified immigration lawyer to help you with your application. Immigration law gets very complex, and it only takes one missing document or one misplaced form for your application to be rejected. Considering the lengthy timeframes involved, each rejected application not only adds to your frustration, but also makes it more difficult for you to have a successful application next time. Making sure that you get your application process right on the first try is well worth it, considering that citizenship lasts the rest of your life, and you will enjoy the full benefits and protections of the United States government no matter what happens.