Citizenship
Top Citizenship Lawyer In Arizona
Our law firm has helped many to obtain U.S. citizenship. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of our profession. As immigration attorneys, we have the tremendous honor to have the opportunity to be part of this process. If you or a loved one need an immigration attorney to help you obtain your citizenship, it would be our pleasure to be of service to you.
Obtaining Your Citizenship
- The right to vote
- Bringing family members to the U.S.
- Becoming eligible for Federal jobs.
- Run for elective office where citizenship is required.
- Obtain certain state and federal benefits not available to noncitizens.
- Participate on a jury.
Citizenship Requirements
- ➡️ Be 18 years of age or older.
- ➡️ Be green card holder for at least five years immediately prior to the filing date. Or be a green card hold for at least three years if you obtained residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen and you are still married to the same spouse.
- ➡️ Have lived within the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence for at least 3 months prior to the filing date.
- ➡️ Have continuous residence in the U.S. as a green card holder for at least five years immediately prior to the filing date.
- ➡️ Reside continuously within the U.S. from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of naturalization.
- ➡️ Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government. Exceptions to the English language requirement which allows you to do it in your own language are: 20 years as a resident and 50+ years old, or 15 years as a resident and 55+ years old.
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➡️ Have not committed the following crimes within the five years immediately prior to the filing date (this list is not all inclusive):
- Aggravated felonies
- Conviction of one or more crimes of moral turpitude
- Conviction of two or more crimes with a combined sentence of at least five years
- Controlled substance (“drug”) violation, except for 30g or less of marijuana
- Been incarcerated for 180 days or more
What To Bring
Here’s what you will need to bring to the interview:
– Green card
– Valid state issued identification
– Passport and travel documents
– Birth certificates of children (if children are indicated on application)
– Tax returns
– Certified court documents (if there is a criminal history)
If approved, the final step is to take the Oath of Allegiance! USCIS will either have you take the Oath of Allegiance immediately after the interview, or they will notify the applicant by mail of the time and date of the ceremony. Once the ceremony is complete and the oath has been recited, the applicant is now a citizen. The Certificate of Naturalization will be issued very soon afterwards and can be used as proof of citizenship.
What Now
How The Process Works
First, we will complete the N-400 form. This form is the application used to apply for citizenship. The filing fee is $725.
The following are some of the documents to send with the form N-400:
- Passport style photos
- Copy of marriage certificate (if applying on the basis of marriage)
- Copy of divorce decrees or death certificates of previous marriage (if applicable)
- Copy of front and back of green card
- Certified court documents (if arrested or charged with a crime, or had a crime expunged)
- Evidence of registration with Selective Service (if a male who lived in the U.S. between age 18 and 26)
Approximately one to three months after submitting the application, the applicant will receive a biometrics appointment letter from USCIS. On the date and time indicated on the letter, the individual must go the location indicated and get his or her fingerprints taken. The applicant may instead receive a letter that they have their fingerprints in their system and a biometrics appointment is not needed.
A couple months after completing the biometrics appointment, the applicant will receive a letter with the appointment for the interview. At the specified time, you will go with your attorney to the local office to answer questions about the application, take the English and civics test, and receive a decision. Before your interview, you will have an appointment with your attorney to prepare for the interview.
There are certain exceptions to the reading, writing, and speaking English requirement. In order to do the interview in your native language, the applicant must either be at least 50 years of age and a LPR for at least 20 years, or at least 55 years of age and a LPR for at least 15 years. If the applicant is over the age of 65 and has been a LPR for 20 years or more, they will be given a shorter version of the civics test that is only twenty questions long. These individuals do not have to take the English language test but have to the take the civics test in the language of their choice.