There is added than just 1 way to create into an American. The most obvious is to be born on United States soil, but there is another option that calls for a little additional paperwork.

Getting a naturalized U.S. citizen does not take location proper away. For men and women born someplace else, its one thing of a lengthy endeavor — from application processing to the citizenship interview and test to the precise oath of allegiance ceremony, it typically requires about 18-24 months to finish, and can take into consideration extended relying on one’s private background.

In the beneath gallery, we’re taking a glimpse at 16 International-Born Rock Stars Who Turned U.S. Citizens, all of whom went by way of the approach talked about more than. Some of them, like Alex and Eddie Van Halen, arrived in the location as modest children with their loved ones members and grew up added or a lot significantly less as American young youngsters. Many other folks, like Peter Frampton or Billy Idol, moved to the U.S. a tiny later in daily living and concluded that provided that they’d lived there so substantial, they need to to have the right to vote in American elections, which citizenship affords.

“I have lived pretty much as an American considering the fact that 1975,” Frampton, who was compelled to turn into a citizen following 9/11, spelled out to Parade in 2011. “I had a eco-friendly card, and I have paid taxes. I was starting off to turn into a minor more politically aware, and I meant to do it before. But when 9/11 took place, I called my lawyer and said, ‘Let’s do it. I need to vote.’ I felt very patriotic that day.”