Orlando Immigration Lawyer

Becoming a United States Citizen through Naturalization

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, naturalization is "the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigrations and Nationality Act (INA)." The benefits of becoming a lawful citizen are many, as it makes it possible for you to enjoy the full rights of a U.S. citizen. You will be able to vote in political elections, bring other family members into the U.S., help your children become citizens, travel throughout the world with a U.S. passport, and become eligible for federal jobs.

To apply, you must complete the form N-400, "Application for Naturalization." If you want to apply for citizenship for a minor under the age of 18, you could use the "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" or the "Application for Citizenship and Issuance of a Certificate under Section 322."

What is the path to citizenship?

There are several basic qualifications for naturalization and, provided that you can meet these requirements, you should be able to achieve full citizenship. You must have been a permanent resident for at least five years, must be at least 18 years of age, must have lived in the same state for at least three months before filing your application, and must have been physically present in this country for a minimum of 30 months in the past five years.

If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, then you only have to prove that you were a resident for three years. Qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces provides another route to citizenship. If your child is not a U.S. citizen but you are, he or she could be eligible. An attorney from our team can review your situation to determine whether you are ready to begin the naturalization process, and our Orlando immigration attorneys are ready to assist you with everything from completing your application to preparing you for your tests and interviews. Contact us now for a free consultation!