U.S. citizens enjoy a wide range of rights, protections, and opportunities that temporary or permanent residents do not have access to.
Non-U.S. citizens resident in New York City or elsewhere in the country can achieve naturalization and U.S. citizen status if they meet the eligibility requirements and follow due process with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This process becomes considerably easier with legal guidance from the experienced Citizenship and Naturalization Attorneys in New York at Urena & Associates. Our in-depth knowledge of the federal immigration system is backed by a long track record of successful outcomes in immigration cases in NYC.
U.S. citizenship means you are legally recognized as a member of the United States with full rights and responsibilities. This means you can:
The two ways to become a U.S. citizen are:
If you migrated to the U.S., naturalization is the path to full citizenship. However, before achieving that, you will need to meet strict eligibility requirements.
Applicants for naturalization must meet some basic U.S. citizenship eligibility requirements:
Before progressing too far with a naturalization application, it’s advisable to discuss your situation with a naturalization attorney who can help you determine eligibility and explain what documentation you need to start gathering.
If you have concerns about a criminal record, long absences from the U.S., past immigration violations, taxation issues or complex family situations, we’re here to help.
After determining eligibility, your citizenship lawyer will walk you through the following naturalization process:
The N-400 form is the Application for Naturalization. You can submit this online or by mail. Either way, you will need supporting documentation, such as a copy of your Green Card, tax records, marriage certificate, etc.
You will also need to pay the N-400 filing fee, which is currently $710 if applying online or $760 by mail (unless you are eligible for a fee waiver or discounted fee).
After submitting the N-400 application, you will receive a notice to attend a local Application Support Center (ASC), typically in Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens.
At your appointment, the USCIS collects fingerprints, a photo, and your signature for a background check.
You will then be scheduled to attend an in-person naturalization interview with the USCIS at one of NYC’s USCIS field offices: either Federal Plaza in Manhattan, 1827 Avenue J, Brooklyn, or 30-00 47th Avenue, Queens.
During the interview, a USCIS officer will:
You will then need to sit an English test (reading, writing, and speaking) and a Civics test on U.S. history and government knowledge.
Note that waivers of the citizenship test or language requirements may apply to people over 55 or who have lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
The decision on the naturalization application can result in one of three outcomes:
The final step to becoming a lawful naturalized citizen of the U.S. is to complete an Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. This is usually held at a federal courthouse or large civic venue in NYC.
After taking the oath, you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization and officially become a U.S. citizen.
The immigration lawyers at Urena & Associates provide the following naturalization and citizenship services:
The naturalization process typically takes 6-12 months in the U.S. However, with the high volume of citizenship applications in NYC, processing times are generally longer—18–24 months is a more realistic timeline.
With such long processing times, it pays to begin the process as soon as possible after confirming you meet the eligibility criteria.
The experience of our naturalization and citizenship attorneys in helping permanent residents in the New York City area take the next step to citizenship can expedite your citizenship application and ensure you meet the critical requirements.
Start with a free consultation with a qualified immigration attorney.
Get trusted legal guidance for your situation. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential consultation.
My husband and I selected Mr. Urena from a big list of qualified lawyers. From the moment that we spoke with him we knew that we had hired the best lawyer. He patiently walked us through the entire process, he was always available to answer our questions day or night, and he always presented us with all the options. We are so grateful for all his help. He fought hard for our case and my husband and I are finally together.
This is an amazing law firm, very honest and caring. Got my wife and kids their green cards in less than 3 months. Very well connected and will get the job done. It’s hard to find a good lawyer but Mr. Rafael is honestly one of the best. Continue doing amazing work and helping people. Thank you.
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