Naturalization/Citizenship

Through Naturalization process a person who is a national or a citizen of a foreign country acquires U.S. Citizenship.

In order to be eligible to file citizenship a person must meet certain requirements. Some of the general requirements are listed as follows:

1. The applicant must be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least five years prior to the filing of Naturalization application. The only exception is person who has acquired the permanent resident status through marriage to a U.S. citizen. If they continue to remain married the permanent resident can apply for naturalization after 3 years from becoming a permanent resident.
2. It is important that the applicant has been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the previous five years (absences of more than six months but less than one year shall disrupt the applicant's continuity of residence unless the applicant can establish that he or she did not abandon his or her residence during such period) has resided within a state or district for at least three months. There are applicants who may be able to qualify for preserving their periods of long absences from the United States so the same can count to satisfy the physical presence requirement.
3. The applicant must be able to show that he or she has been a person of good moral character for at least the statutory period (generally five years) before filing the Naturalization application.
4. Applicants for naturalization must be able to speak, read and write English. The exemption from the language requirement can be obtained if, at the time of filing, the applicant is:
   1. Over 55 years of age and has been residing in United States as a permanent resident for over 15 years;
   2. Over 50 years of age and has been residing in United States as permanent resident for at least 20 years; and
   3. Have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, where the impairment affects the applicant’s ability to learn English.
5. An applicant for naturalization must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and of the principles and form of government of the United States. Applicants exempt from this requirement are those who, on the date of filing, have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, where the impairment affects the applicant’s ability to learn U.S. History and Government
   
   Applicants who have been residing in the U.S. subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence for at least 20 years and are over the age of 65 are sometimes afforded special consideration in satisfying this requirement.

For more information and specific case analysis, please contact our office.

813-599-3509 or 407.226.3659 | info@greencardus.net