Naturalization is when a person not born in the United States wants to voluntarily become as a U.S. Citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen by birth or did not acquire the U.S. citizenship, you may still be eligible to become a citizen though the naturalization process. Those who are eligible must use the ‘Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) to apply for naturalization.
If you or someone you know is planning on becoming a U.S. citizen, contact an immigration attorney in your area today!
Applying for Naturalization
To apply for naturalization you will need to file Form N-400 As well as passing the Naturalization Test, an English, U.S. history and civic portions of the naturalization test.
Qualifications Include:
- You have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years and meet all other eligibility requirements.
- You have been a permanent resident for 3 years or more and meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen.
- You have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meet all other eligibility requirements.
- Your child may qualify for naturalization if you are a U.S. citizen, the child was born outside the U.S., the child is currently residing outside the U.S., and all other eligibility requirements are met.
In all of these instances you must have not been out of the country for longer than 6 months.
You should know that even if you have committed a minor crime, USCIS may deny your application if you do not tell the USCIS officer about the incident. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents.
What happens next
Once your application is completed, with an attorney, you should send your completed “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) to the appropriate USCIS Lockbox Facility.
Permanent Residents are people who have the permanent resident status in the United States as provided for under U.S. immigration laws. Permanent Residents are normally given Permanent Resident Cards, also known as “Green Cards.” The time it takes to be naturalized varies by location. USCIS is continuing to modernize and improve the naturalization process and would like to decrease the time it takes to an average of 6 months after the Form N-400 is filed.
Get Legal Help
Being approved for U.S. citizenship is an important step in a person’s life. If you or someone you know is considering immigration naturalization, you should contact a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney to help guide you through the process.