How to Become a US Citizen?

To become a U.S. citizen is the dream of many as U.S. citizens specifically enjoy the freedom of speech and other benefits whereas people from other parts of the world. People all around the world Immigrate to the US to get more opportunities and freedom.

If you are talking about the Naturalization process then it takes almost $725 to become a U.S. citizen. To some individuals, it is an expensive process but they can qualify for a fee waiver.

To become a U.S. citizen you must fill up the N-400 form which is the application of Naturalization in which two separate fees are required to pay, one is the application fees and the second one is the biometric fees. N-400 form application fees are almost $640 and the biometric fees are $85. People applying for military service are exempted from giving any fees. The old people with the age of more than 75 years only have to pay $640.

To process the document of Naturalization will take almost 12 months to complete. The overall naturalization process has many steps in detail.

All the steps to get citizenship are given below:

1. The first step is to make your application regarding naturalization which takes almost 12 months.
2. The second step is to complete your biometric applications.
3. The third step is to attend the interview.
4. The fourth step is the additional months to receive your result on your application.
5. The fifth step is to take an Oath of Allegiance to get your certificate of Naturalization.

The time and duration for getting a visa vary from person to person depending upon where the applicant lives. The other reason for delays in applications is because some officials handle the applications much faster and some handle them slowly.

Completing your application as early as possible and doing everything correctly can increase your chances of getting a visa.

Before applying for U.S. citizenship you must be 18 years of age. You should be a lawful permanent resident for at least three to five years and you should be a continuous residence in the U.S. Moreover, the individual should have a good moral character means he/she didn’t participate in any criminal activity.

10 Steps to Become US Citizen

There are 10 key steps every individual needs to keep in mind before applying for U.S. citizenship.

STEP 1: Eligibility Criteria – The first step is the eligibility criteria USCIS has set the criteria for people which includes that you have to fill-up the Form N-600.

Step 2: Form N-400 – The second step is to complete Form N-400 (already been discussed).

 Step 3: Submit required documents – Along with documents you are also required to submit two photographs of yourself. These should be your recent photographs and should match your current face. Standard has been set by the government to take passport size images.

Step 4: Photocopying the important documents – You are required to submit different documents and there should be photocopies of each document and not the original documents. But it is highly recommended to bring the original documents as well for verification. The essential documents include a green card, visa, passport, and birth certificate.

Step 5: Submitting fees – After filing up the Form N-400 now the next procedure is to send all these documents to the USCIS office. Along with the document you are also required to submit a total fee of $725 as discussed before.

Step 6: USCIS will take your fingerprints – In the next step, USCIS will ask you to provide them with the fingerprints. Fingerprints are necessary for two reasons, one is to add your data to the country’s database and secondly, the government takes a background check to see whether you have been involved or not in any criminal activity in the past.

Step 7: Attend the Interview – The most important part of getting citizenship is your interview process which is scheduled by the USCIS officials. The officials will ask you some questions and examine whether you are eligible or not. If you get late for the interview, chances are that they will deny your citizenship request. The officials in last will examined your Form N-400 and they will confirm everything from you verbally. Be confident while giving all the answers and all the answers should be straightforward.

Step 8: Take your English test -USCIS officials will look into your ability to understand, read or write English. This step is necessary because without understanding English it will be harsh for you to understand other people and even work there.

Step 9:  Wait for the decision from the officials – After giving the interview, USCIS will make a certain decision as to whether to grant you or not U.S. citizenship. The decision will be based on the interview and the details you have provided to the government.

Step 10: Oath of Allegiance – If the government of the U.S. allows you citizenship, the next step for you is to take the Oath of Allegiance, and then you will be given the certificate which will make you an official citizen of the U.S.

How a lawyer can help you become a US Citizen?

To get U.S. citizenship, it is highly recommended for you to hire an immigration lawyer to get your work done. But you should also be kept in mind that helping you to get U.S. citizenship is not the task of every lawyer. Not all lawyers are authorized to help you with Immigration services. Only attorneys and EOIR accredited representatives can help you in completing your application for Naturalization.

If you are interested in getting U.S. citizenship Elisa Kumadey can help you. With professional help, we make it easier for you to complete your application.

DISCLAIMER: This article is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information presented in this article should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Read full disclaimer.