Ah the Finish Line. One of the most rewarding experiences for a US immigration and naturalization lawyer is to see a client finish their journey and become an American citizenship. But the road toward citizenship can sometimes be long and hard; it takes an experienced and skilled law firm to handle the more difficult cases. Pagliara Law Group, PA is one of the premier immigration law firms in the United States.
Save you valuable time and effort in preparing your applications as well as avoiding costly delays created by errors in making your own applications. If you have spent considerable time outside the USA as a US legal permanent resident, have had issues with prior immigration applications , or have had any criminal charges, it is very important that you contact a citizenship attorney for assistance with your US citizenship case
What is Naturalization?
Naturalization is a process that allows foreign-born persons to obtain citizenship in the United States. Once granted American citizenship, foreign-born persons are granted the right to vote, the right to government jobs, the right to apply for resident status for VI family members and the freedom to travel with an American passport which provides entry without a visa into many countries. A key benefit a naturalization applicant will derive once granted U.S. citizenship is the ability to petition for an immediate family member through a faster petitioning process. There are many eligibility requirements a person must fulfill before they submit an application for naturalization.
Who is Eligible for Citizenship in the US?
If you are over 18 years old and want to become a U.S. citizen, you will probably have to go through the naturalization process. You must fulfill one of the following circumstances to apply for naturalization:
- You are 18 years or older
- You have U.S. permanent residency (aka Green Card) and have lived in the United States for five years.
- You have asylum and have lived in the United States for four years.
- You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen and have lived in the country at least three years.
- You are a permanent resident, have served in the United States military, and have been in the country for three years.
- You have good moral character.
- Applicant can speak, read, and write English.
- Applicant must pass a test on U.S. history and government.
- Applicant was physically present in the U.S. at least half the requisite time.
- Applicant has maintained lawful permanent residence continuously.
- Applicant swears loyalty to the U.S. by taking an oath of allegiance.
If you qualify, you must prove that you have sufficient knowledge of U.S. history and government and can speak, read and write in English. Our immigration and naturalization defense lawyers can guide you through this process.
(note: minor children of U.S. naturalization applicants may also be eligible and included in a naturalization application, under certain circumstances)
Family Benefits
Certain family members may be immediately eligible to receive citizenship, such as minor children. Others are eligible to receive a green card with shorter wait periods than family members of residents.
What Documentation Do I Need for the U.S. Naturalization or U.S. Citizenship process?
- Birth Certificate(s)
- Copy of Legal Permanent Residency Document
- Marriage Certificate (if applying because of marriage to a United States Citizen)
- Employment and residence history for the last five years
- List of trips taken outside of the U.S. during the last five years
- Two passport size photographs on white background
What is the U.S. Naturalization/Citizenship process like?
Stage One:
Prepare and file form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with the appropriate filing fees at the Immigration Service Center in your district.
Stage Two:
Once the application is submitted, the applicant will receive notice of a fingerprint appointment date and shall appear on this date
Prepare for and appear for all meetings and interviews scheduled by the U.S. Immigration Service. (Note: failure to attend scheduled meetings may result in a denial of naturalization).
Attend citizenship interview before an immigration officer. The officer will test the applicant’s knowledge of U.S. civics and government, and English literacy tests.
If the applicant satisfies the interviewing officer and the alien’s file is complete, the applicant will then be scheduled for a swearing in ceremony.
Stage Three:
The applicant is given an appointment notice with an attached list of questions that must be submitted at the swearing in ceremony. This is to ensure that the applicant has maintained their lawful presence and good moral character between the time of the interview and the swearing in ceremony. Once the form is submitted, the applicant will be sworn in. The applicant must turn in their I-551 card (Legal Permanent Residency Document or “green card”) and are subsequently issued a naturalization certificate. At this point, the applicant is an official U.S. Citizen! Although the process can seem complex, working with an experienced U.S. citizenship lawyer can help ease the burden of gathering documentation and applying for naturalization.
What are the USCIS Filing Fees
Fees for form N-400 (click here to verify the U.S. Immigration Service fees as these change regularly).
What are the Fees of our U.S. Citizenship Attorneys in Boston, MA to Petition for Citizenship or Naturalization in the U.S.?
Are There Other Routes to Citizenship?
There are a few ways to become a U.S. citizen without going through naturalization, but most apply only to children. For example, some children born overseas can gain citizenship because their parents are U.S. citizens. However, there is a complex formula determining whether such children can gain citizenship – see Derivative Citizenship.
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