- Brentwood, TN and Marina Del Rey, CA
For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is the final step in a process that began years earlier. For others, the first question is whether they may already be a U.S. citizen through a parent. We help people determine whether they qualify for citizenship, identify issues that could affect the case, and prepare for the naturalization process from beginning to end.
We work with lawful permanent residents who are ready to apply for naturalization, including those applying based on five years of permanent residence or three years of permanent residence while married to and living with a U.S. citizen. We also help people whose cases involve extended travel outside the United States, prior arrests or convictions, tax or good-moral-character issues, earlier immigration problems, or a previous naturalization application that was denied.
We also evaluate whether someone may already have acquired or derived U.S. citizenship through a parent or parents. We represent clients throughout the United States from our offices in Middle Tennessee and Southern California.
We start by reviewing your immigration and personal history to determine whether you qualify for naturalization and whether there are issues that should be addressed before you apply. We prepare the application and supporting documentation, identify areas USCIS is likely to examine, and help you prepare for the naturalization interview and civics test.
When there is a potential issue, we look at it before filing rather than waiting for it to come up at the interview.
Naturalization can involve more than establishing that you have held a green card for the required number of years. USCIS can review travel outside the United States, criminal history, tax compliance, prior immigration filings, selective service obligations when applicable, and other aspects of an applicant’s history.
That makes the review before filing especially important. An issue that seems minor may need to be addressed, while another issue that causes concern may not prevent naturalization at all. We help determine the difference before the application is submitted.
Some people acquire or derive U.S. citizenship automatically through a parent without realizing it. This can arise when someone was born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or when a parent became a U.S. citizen while the person was still a child.
Before filing an application to naturalize, we evaluate whether citizenship may already have been acquired or derived. If it was, the appropriate process may be documenting existing U.S. citizenship rather than applying to become a citizen.
Before the naturalization interview, we review the application with you, discuss the questions you are likely to encounter, go over the documents you should bring, and provide you tools to help you prepare for the English and civics tests when they apply. The goal is for you to walk into the interview knowing what to expect and prepared to address any issues in your case.
What permanent residents ask before applying.
Generally after five years as a lawful permanent resident, or three years if you're married to a U.S. citizen and have been living with that spouse throughout. There are separate rules for members of the military and for some other categories.
It is always important to seek legal advice on whether you are eligible for naturalization. We are passionate about representing people during this important milestone, and will meet with you to analyze eligibility and any potential issues, such as long absences from the country, any arrest history, prior denials, document discrepancies, or any uncertainty about how you got your green card.
It can be. Naturalization requires continuous residence and physical presence, and a single absence of six months or more can raise a presumption that you broke continuous residence. It's rebuttable in some cases. Be ready to discuss your travel history and we will analyze the chances of success.
It is important to discuss any arrests with an attorney, even if there were no charges or if charges were dropped. The term conviction is often broader in the context of immigration law, so being up front is critical during our initial consultation. Our consultations are confidential, and failing to disclose can be a bigger problem than the underlying incident.
It's a set number of questions drawn from a published list, and USCIS provides the materials. While we can send you the list, it is your responsibility to study and ensure you know them before the interview.
There are exemptions based on age combined with years as a permanent resident, and accommodations for certain medical conditions. We will analyze whether you may qualify.
If a parent naturalized while you were under 18, or if you were born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, you may have acquired citizenship automatically. We ask questions during our consultation to determine whether this may be the cases.
The United States doesn't require you to give it up. Whether your home country permits dual citizenship is a question for that country's law, and it's worth checking before you take the oath.
An officer reviews your application with you, asks about your history, and administers the English and civics tests. We prepare you for all of it.
Government filing fees are set by USCIS and change periodically. Our fee depends on the complexity of the case. During a consultation, we will discuss your immigration history and other considerations, and we will provide a flat fee quote.
Filing correctly the first time is usually faster and often cheaper than fixing a denial. Start with a conversation.
