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The Naturalized

What it means and what it takes to become an American by choice

Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff, and Isabel Allende.

Cast
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende
Self
Charo
Charo
Self
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming
Self
Bai Ling
Bai Ling
Self
Paulina Porizkova
Paulina Porizkova
Self
David Rakoff
David Rakoff
Self
Fareed Zakaria
Fareed Zakaria
Self