Whether you have had your Green Card for a few years or decades, you may be eligible to become a United States citizen. The process for each individual may look a little different, but there are some general steps and documentation that are the same for everyone.
Attorney Tim Jones has helped hundreds of immigrants through the Naturalization process. With the help of his team, Attorney Jones compiles documents to submit to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf. Additionally, his team provides resources so you can feel confident in your ability to gain citizenship.
Process of Obtaining Citizenship in Our Office
Each individual has different needs depending on their particular and unique circumstances. However, our general process for helping with your citizenship includes setting up the initial consultation with Attorney Jones, filing the appropriate form and documents, and preparing you for the interview and exam.
Hiring Us for Your Naturalization
Before you officially hire us, schedule a consultation with Attorney Jones. Whether you are a returning client or a new client, we are happy to help you with this next step in your immigration process. Come prepared with questions about obtaining citizenship and the benefits it may offer you.
At this time, Attorney Jones will be able to evaluate your eligibility for citizenship depending on several factors such as the length of time you’ve held your Green Card, time spent in the U.S., how long you’ve lived in your current state, and if you’ve had trouble with taxes or with the law in the past.
Filing Form N-400
After you officially hire us, our team will start gathering the information we need to complete form N-400, which is the form we submit for your naturalization. Our team will compile the completed N-400 and additional documentation, then Attorney Jones will do a final review to ensure that all information is correct and filled out properly before you review and sign the form.
Then we send off the final packet for processing with USCIS! We will wait for a receipt notice and then eventually further correspondence regarding an interview date.
Interview and Exam
After we submit your forms, you will eventually be scheduled for an interview. During the interview, they may ask you a few clarifying questions about your N-400 application.
Additionally, they will also ask you 10 questions about American history and government. These will come from a list of 100 possible questions that you can find here. To pass this portion of the test, you need to get six of 10 questions correct.
You must also demonstrate an ability to read and write basic English. This means that you will need to correctly read aloud one of three sentences in addition to correctly write one out of three sentences. Your English does not have to be fluent to be successful. There is a possibility for special accommodations during your interview depending on your age and the length of time you have been a Permanent Resident. Feel free to ask Attorney Jones if you may qualify for these special considerations.
We do our best to prepare our clients for this portion of the naturalization process. We know it can be stressful, but we also know that you can do it!
Oath Ceremony
After your N-400 is approved and you pass your exams, then you will go to an Oath Ceremony. Sometimes these ceremonies are on the same day as your exam and sometimes they will be scheduled for a later date.
Once you complete the ceremony, you will receive a document that indicates that you are a U.S. citizen. This is called a Certificate of Naturalization. If you’ve chosen to change your name as part of the naturalization process, the Certificate of Naturalization will be in your new name.
You can also use this certificate to update certain documents and other information. You can use it to apply for a U.S. passport!
We Can Help Your Family After You Naturalize
After you obtain citizenship you are eligible to petition more easily for your family members to get Green Cards! In our office, people will often petition for their spouse or parents. However, you can petition for other family members, but the process is a little different and can take much longer.
Another advantage of obtaining citizenship is that your children may be eligible to also become citizens. The qualifications for your child to be eligible for citizenship include:
- They must be under the age of 18
- They must be a Permanent Resident
- They must be in your legal and physical custody
- You must prove that they are your child (which can usually be proven through birth certificates or adoption records)
If your child is 18 or older when you receive U.S. citizenship, then they are not eligible to automatically obtain citizenship. They would have to legally obtain a Green Card and then, five years later, file the N-400 and go through the naturalization process.
Law Office of Timothy Jones
If you have had your Green Card for five years (or three years if you have been married to a U.S. citizen the whole time), then you may be eligible to become a United States citizen! For help to succeed in this application process, contact us today. Attorney Jones and his team have successfully handled hundreds of cases for citizenship.
