If you are a resident of North Carolina who is interested in applying for United States citizenship, you may be wondering just how difficult and complicated the process can be. After all, it's not easy to get a green card in the first place, and the thought of having to go through that process all over again may seem intimidating. Of course you do have to meet certain requirements in order to be a United States citizen, and the application process can be time-consuming and will take quite a bit of effort on your part. But the point of these requirements is to make sure that applicants understand the extent of the responsibilities they will have as a United States citizen, and that they appreciate the rights and protections they will be receiving from their new government. In other words, a citizenship application is not easy, but it is definitely worth it.You may have a comfortable life right now in North Carolina, but keep in mind that there is no such thing as a "permanent resident," and that deportation is always a risk if for some reason you should ever find yourself in trouble. Citizens, on the other hand, can never be deported, and have additional rights like the right to vote in elections and the right to seek the help of the United States Embassy when traveling abroad. In other words, once you have gone through the process of naturalization, you are as much an American citizen as the people who were born in the United States.You have probably heard horror stories about the exam process and the interview, but really the worst part of the citizenship application is the waiting. In North Carolina as in any other state, you must be able to show that you have been in continuous residence for at least five years before you apply for citizenship. It is advisable that you not wait until this residence period is fulfilled before contacting a citizenship service or an attorney, as you can be getting your documents together and preparing for the next step so that you can apply for citizenship right away, as soon as you are eligible.While having a qualified representative to help with your application is not strictly necessary, most people find the peace of mind it gives them is well worth any expense. Having to apply and reapply because of rejected applications is frustrating to say the least, and having a qualified immigration lawyer to help you through the process can greatly increase your chances of having a successful application on the first try. After you submit your documents, you will have to have a medical examination, and then you will be given an appointment for an interview and your exam. Providing that you do not have a criminal record and you fulfill the other basic requirements, if you can demonstrate a good knowledge of the English language and of American history and government, it is very likely that your application will be approved.