Naturalization is the process by which US citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The general requirements for naturalization include:
a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
an ability to read, write, and speak English;
a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
good moral character.
The paperwork for becoming a citizen is deceptively simple, but there are many issues that, if not handled correctly, could lead to the application being denied, or a loss of permanent residence. These issues include, but are not limited to: criminal records, extensive travel. tax issues, divorce, job loss, etc. And there are many other issues. Having an attorney handle your case can help you get through such issues in many cases. In addition to the above, we also help with child acquisition of citizenship or naturalization as well. Some children born outside of the US may still be citizens of the US and we can help make such determinations. Please call us with any questions.