The Road to American Citizenship

The political landscape in 2019 has made the immigration debate heat up, and it can be confusing as to where you may stand – and what your options are. If you have arrived in the United States and are planning to become a citizen, there are procedures in place to help you, but if not followed correctly you may find yourself in legal trouble.

The road to American citizenship has milestones and markers – and is best navigated with an immigration attorney who is able to guide the way.  We are happy to provide this quick guideline to the steps you should follow. But we urge you not to go it alone. We are always here to help.

Steps to American Citizenship

1. Determine your status. That may seem an odd assertion, but there are circumstances by which you may already be a citizen, or may have an easier path to American citizenship than you thought. Simply put, you may
   have citizenship through your parent. If one or both of your parents were U.S. citizens at the time of your birth, you may qualify for this classification. Further, if you are a permanent resident who is not yet 18 years old and one of your parents has become a U.S. citizenship through naturalization, you may be further along than you think. This area of immigration law can be complicated, so consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible.
2. Determine your eligibility. Not everyone is allowed to apply for citizenship. The following qualifications are some, but not all, of the criteria you must meet. You must be at least 18 years old and to have been a green card holder (legal permanent resident) for at least five years. You must have had continuous residence in the U.S. for five years before the filing of the citizenship application, and been physically in the United States for at least 30 months in the five years before the filing of the citizenship application. You will be required to prove that you lived for at least 3 months in the state where you filed your application. Applicants for American citizenship should read, write and speak English, pass a history and civics exam, and be of good moral character.
3. Fill out your application. Once you are certain of your status and eligibility, you will need to prepare you application. This is the N-400 Application for Naturalization form. If you are unsure of any part of the application or which documents you need to include, ask for help. Your application can be rejected if it is improperly filled out or incomplete.
4. Submit Your application: Some applicants may be able to file for citizenship online, but most will submit a paper application. The address which you send the application to will depend on the state in which you are filing the documents.
5. Attend Scheduled Appointments: It may be necessary for you to attend an appointment for fingerprints, photographs, or a digital signature. If the USCIS needs this information to confirm your identity or do background checks, you will be notified via a Form I-797C, Notice of Action. You must attend this appointment for your application to proceed.
6. Attend your interview: You will receive a Notice of Action as to the date of your interview. The immigrations officer will ask you questions about you, your family and your application. You may also be required to take an English test and a history/civics exam.
7. Learn of your Approval: You will be notified, once again by a Form I-797c, of your approval. Congratulations! Subsequently, you will be notified of the date of your ceremony, when you will turn in your green card and take an oath of allegiance to the United States.

This is an exciting time for you, but it can be complicated or confusing. If you are applying for American citizenship and need assistance, do not hesitate to call the Sarasota and Tampa immigration attorneys of Probinsky & Cole. We look forward to helping you to attain this milestone in your life.