參議院稍早以91票對1票過田納西州共和黨籍拉馬．亞歷山大提出的方案，允許英文流利的合法移民能夠在4年變成美國公民，不需過去規定的5年。

移民局表示，將近7百20萬合法移民在美國居留的時間已經符合申請入籍規定；目前的法律規定，必須在成為合法居民後5年才能夠申請公民，與美國公民結婚者僅需3年；亞歷山大表示，較短的歸化等待時間可能促使更多綠卡持有者尋求成為公民。

(b) Faster Citizenship for English Fluency- Section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1427) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g) A legal resident of the United States who demonstrates English fluency, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, will satisfy the residency requirement under subsection (a) upon the completion of 4 years of continuous legal residency in the United States.'.

Sponsored by Senator Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee.

My parents are around 80 years old.  They don't speak English at all.  How can they apply for the US citizenship?

As I understand, English is not required for applicants over 65.
Google the web and good luck.