U.S. Citizenship

California Citizenship Attorney for U.S. Naturalization

Eligibility for U.S. Naturalization

According to the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) official website, a federal government site, to apply for naturalization to become a U.S. citizen, 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);
• 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.

The criteria may seem simple, but to someone experienced in immigration law, it is not. Any immigration attorney will tell you that there is much more to the U.S. naturalization process than USCIS’s website suggests.

Call us or text us at +1 (888) 800-6731 or submit your case here to schedule a consultation with our experienced immigration lawyer for citizenship. .

USCIS N-400 Eligibility & Citizenship Process is More than a Form

There are other facts investigated by USCIS for each citizenship case which are not disclosed on their website. Among other factors, USCIS will:

• Investigate your entire immigration history to determine the validity of your green card;
• Investigate how your green card was obtained to check for misrepresentations or fraud;
• Search for discrepancies between your previous applications in their system and your current application
• Investigate if you have abandoned your green card at any point through excessive trips abroad, including multiple trips under 6 months;
• Search your public records to see if you’ve mistakenly registered to vote or actually voted as a non-citizen;
• Investigate if you have committed any crimes which have not been disclosed, despite your subjective belief your record was expunged or otherwise;
• Verify your tax history to see if you’ve filed as required by law and paid your taxes;
• And more…

Prior to filing your USCIS N 400, it is important you consult with our citizenship lawyer for help.

Why Do I Need a U.S. Citizenship Lawyer for my US Citizenship Application?

The job of a U.S. naturalization lawyer extends beyond filling out your N-400 application. There is much more to the job of an immigration attorney when you apply for US citizenship.

You must hire a U.S. citizenship lawyer to identify and solve legal issues that may affect the success of your N400 application. Each checkbox and question on USCIS forms has potential legal consequences. Even inadvertent errors may cause major delays in the processing of your case, or even a denial.

In some circumstances, some people may make unknowing misrepresentations on their application. These errors may lead to the denial of their citizenship application and it may trigger USCIS to issue a Notice to Appear, or NTA. A NTA orders an individual to appear before an immigration judge – it is the beginning of removal proceedings against an individual.

It is vital to consult with a citizen lawyer prior to applying with USCIS. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC will ensure you understand how to apply for citizenship by helping you identify any legal issues that may arise in your specific case. Your failure to consult with a citizenship attorney may have significant legal consequences that require our help. This will cost you more time, energy, and money to fix.

Our goal is to help you avoid the unnecessary headaches and avoid potential delays or denials. We are here to help you complete your citizenship application correctly the first time around.

What are the N400 Processing Times?

The most frequent question regarding any citizenship case is “how long does it take to become a citizen?” Unfortunately, there is no good answer to this question. There are a variety of factors that go into determining USCIS processing times:

• Pre-existing case backlog;
• Current volume of new N-400 citizenship applications;
• Number of USCIS staff available to process N-400 naturalization applications;
• USCIS budget considerations which may affect availability of necessary resources to decide cases in a timely manner;
• And many more factors…

To see the current USCIS case processing times, you may click here to visit the USCIS website

Where can I find the N-400 Instructions?

USCIS constantly updates their application forms and as such, the instructions may also be updated at any given time. Even for citizenship attorneys, it is best practice to review the N-400 Form instructions prior to starting any citizenship application.

The instructions for Form N-400 can be found on the USCIS website. Click here for the N-400 instructions.

What is the N-400 Fee?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security determines the application fees for all USCIS forms, including the citizenship fee. As with the updates in the forms, the fees may also be changed and must always be verified prior to filing. USCIS fee increases are common so it is always best practice to file as soon as you are eligible.

To find the current N-400 citizenship application fee, please visit USCIS website’s Fee Calculator page.

Contact Our Best O1 Visa Lawyer Now

The O1 visa process is difficult, time consuming, and complex. It requires the expertise of an experienced immigration attorney.

Call us or text us at +1 (888) 800-6731 or submit your case here to schedule a consultation with our best O1 Visa lawyer today.