If you are an immigrant looking to become a United States citizen, you likely have a lot of questions. From your eligibility to the wait times associated with the naturalization process, it is important to understand the steps and requirements involved. If you have not already, you may wish to employ an immigration attorney to help you navigate your application for citizenship. An experienced immigration lawyer has worked through hundreds of immigration and naturalization cases, and can be an invaluable resource in your bid to become a citizen.
To begin with, you should determine if you are eligible to become a United States citizen.
Requirements for Applying for Citizenship
Most people who apply for citizenship (up to 90% of applications) meet the requirement of having permanent resident status for 5 years.
However, there are other categories which may apply for citizenship, such as being married to/living with a United States citizen, or being in the U.S. military. In most cases you must have not left the United States for a period of more than 6 months in the last 5 years, with the exception being related to military applicants.
Applicants must also show that they are of good moral character. This means, among other things, that an applicant may be disqualified for citizenship if they have been jailed for an aggregate of over 5 years, have violent crime in their history, have been convicted of illegal gambling, prostitution, or excessive drunkenness, or are delinquent with child support/alimony. Lying during the application process will also be grounds for your application being rejected. For a complete list of disqualifying factors, visit the USCIS website or contact an experienced immigration attorney.
Approximate Wait Times for Citizenship Decisions
When applying for citizenship, it is important to have patience. Although the timing will vary upon location, an increase in applications has now resulted in wait times approaching 2 years. Here are the basic steps involved in the citizenship process.
- Application: Be sure that the application is filled out completely and correctly so as to guarantee the process moves forward without delay. Be sure to mail to the correct address, which is determined by your place of residence. If you have any questions about the completion and mailing of your application, ask the immigration officer or your immigration attorney for assistance.
- You should receive your certified mail receipt within 14 days. If you do not, contact the postal service to track your application. If your check has been cahed, you can also determine when your application was received.
- If you change either your place of residence or any contact information (such as an email or telephone number) while waiting for your application to be processed, notify your attorney and the immigration officer.
- Be sure to keep all appointments, such as for your interview, or for fingerprinting. If you miss an appointment – or arrive too late – this will likely result in your application being pushed to the “back of the line”.
These days, USCIS can provide online access to allow you to track the status of your application. The online service will also allow you to reschedule appointments if necessary. Although online records will not speed up the application process, it can help to alleviate undue stress as you wonder if the process is moving forward.
As stated, mistakes or omissions on your application could cause unnecessary delays. Therefore it may be in your best interest to hire an immigration attorney to advise you along the way. Although the attorneys at Probinsky & Cole cannot expedite the process for you, we can ensure that your path to citizenship is as smooth as possible. If you have any questions when applying for citizenship, set up an appointment with one of our Tampa or Sarasota area attorneys.
