Becoming a Citizen of the United States
For many immigrants, the ultimate goal is to become a citizen of the United States. The immigration laws of the U.S. provide immigrants with a path to realizing this dream by going through the naturalization process. There are many important issues to consider when applying for naturalization.
At The Kasen Law Firm, LLC, we are here to help you attain citizenship in the United States. Our founding attorney, Lawrence M. Kasen, is available to provide advice and guidance along the way as you pursue this important milestone. We have extensive experience providing immigration services to all who seek them, and we are ready to help you.
We are a full-service immigration law firm. For a free initial telephone consultation with a South Carolina naturalization attorney, call 843-376-4085 or toll free at 888-370-5810. You may also contact us online. We have offices in Summerville, South Carolina, and Flushing, New York.
You Are Not Alone on the Path to Citizenship
In order to apply for naturalization, you must already have attained the status of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), as evidenced by a "green card." The timeline, generally speaking, is first to obtain your immigrant visa, then to obtain a green card, and lastly apply for naturalization. Some non-immigrant visas, such as an L-1A intra-company transfer visa, also allow for adjustment of status and eventually naturalization. As experienced South Carolina naturalization lawyers, we are well-versed in the requirements for all of these phases and will be pleased to guide you through the often complicated rules and regulations.
Additional Naturalization Requirements
Immigrants married to U.S. citizens must have and maintain LPR status for three years before applying for naturalization. Of those three years, the immigrant must have continuously resided in the U.S. for one and a half years. For immigrants not married to U.S. citizens, the waiting period is five years, with a continuous residency requirement of two and a half years. The concept of "continuous residency" has a technical meaning and our experienced immigration lawyers will explain it to you and help you satisfy the relevant requirements.
All immigrants seeking naturalization, whether married to a U.S. citizen or not, must additionally meet other applicable requirements, including, without limitation:
- Being 18 years of age at the time of applying for naturalization
- Being free of certain criminal convictions
- Having supporting documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates and two passport photos
- Having income tax returns for the past three years
- Having divorce decrees to prove the termination of any prior marriages
- Passing a civics test on U.S. history and government
If you meet all the qualifications for naturalization, you will need to make sure that your home country allows dual citizenship. For example, Russia is a country that does not allow a person to maintain Russian citizenship and U.S. citizenship at the same time. Our experienced attorneys will advise you about this potential issue whenever necessary.
We Are Here to Help: Contact a Summerville U.S. Citizenship Lawyer
Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen is the culmination of much effort and achievement during your time in this country. With the assistance of our experienced naturalization attorneys, you can be confident that the process will go smoothly. We are here to answer any questions you may have. To learn more about naturalization and U.S. citizenship, and to schedule a free initial telephone consultation, call 843-376-4085 or toll free at 888-370-5810. You may also contact us online.
