Apply for U.S. Citizenship
Apply to become a U.S. Citizen today using Form N400 - Naturalization
What is Naturalization?
Naturalization refers to the process by which a foreign national who were not born inside the U.S. becomes a U.S. citizen. In order to naturalize, immigrants have to have been lawful permanent residents for 3 to 5 years or satisfy other military service requirements. There are several advantages to being an American citizen, including the ability to receive a U.S. passport and travel to any visa-free countries using the passport. If you’ve been a green card holder or permanent resident for a number of years, applying to become a U.S. citizen is a great investment in yourself and your family.
Eligibility for Citizenship through Naturalization
To apply for naturalization, you must:
Be at least 18 years of age at the time you file the application;
Have been a lawful permanent resident for the past three or five years (depending on which naturalization category you are applying under); [see Residency requirements below]
Have continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
Be able to read, write, and speak basic English;
Demonstrate good moral character;
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
Demonstrate a loyalty to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and
Be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Now, we will go into details about the continuous presence and physical presence requirements.
Residency - the following situations will qualify you for naturalization:
You have been a LPR for five years;
You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen and have been an LPR for three years;
You have served in the military for at least one year and were discharged within the last six months;
You performed active military service during a period of conflict (don’t have to be LPR).
Physical Presence - in most cases, you must have spent a certain amount of time being physically present in the U.S.:
You have spent 30 months living in the U.S.;
You are the spouse of a U.S. citizen and have spent at least 18 months living in the U.S.;
No physical presence requirement if you served in the military for at least a year and have been discharged within the last six months;
No physical presence requirement if you served active duty in the military during a period of conflict.
State Residency - you must have lived in a specific state for a period of time:
You have lived in your current state of residency for at least three months;
You have served in the military and are not subject to the physical presence requirement above;
How to Apply for U.S. Citizenship?
There are four main ways to acquire U.S. citizenship:
U.S. Citizenship through birth in the United States
U.S. Citizenship through acquisition from U.S. parents
U.S. Citizenship derivation from naturalized U.S. parents
U.S. Citizenship through naturalization
Naturalization Processing Time
Processing time varies based on which field office or service center is processing your N-400 naturalization application. As of the date of this article, processing time for N-400 ranges from
12 to 18.5 months at the New York City field office,
14 to 21.5 months for the Brooklyn NY field office,
7 to 15.5 months for the Boston MA field office,
15.5 to 18.5 months for the San Francisco CA field office, and
8.5 to 15.5 months for the San Antonio TX field office.
For more up to date processing times, check the USCIS website for the latest processing time.
What to Expect after Submitting your Naturalization Application?
After submitting your naturalization application, you will be contacted by the USCIS to attend a biometrics appointment, where your fingerprints and signature will be taken. A few months after the biometrics appointment, you will be contacted to attend a naturalization interview. At the interview, a USCIS officer will ask your questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.
What about Dual Citizenship? Can I keep my original citizenship?
The U.S. immigration law allows for dual citizenship for naturalized citizens. However, your home country’s laws might not allow for dual citizenship. Therefore, it’s important to check whether your home country allows dual citizenship.
Contact Xu Law Group Now to Guide you through your Citizenship Journey
The immigration law firm Xu Law Group PLLC can help guide you through your application for naturalization and avoid common errors and delays. Our immigration attorneys have successfully helped clients facing complex naturalization scenarios, including prior denials and criminal history, successfully apply for citizenship. Contact our New York immigration law office today at 917-259-0858 or online using our website for the best in class services for your immigration needs.