Many people who immigrate to the United States ultimately intend to apply for citizenship. Although a lawful permanent resident can live and work in the U.S. indefinitely, there are many advantages to becoming a U.S. Citizen.

• The Right to Vote
• Issuance of United States Passport
• The Right to Run for Public Office
• Immigration Preference for Immediate Relatives
• U.S. Citizens are not subject to removal and cannot loose citizenship.

In order to apply for U.S. citizenship you must first obtain lawful permanent residency. A lawful permanent resident may apply for citizenship after 3 or 5 years of lawful permanent residency depending on how the LPR obtained his or her residency. (Those who obtained residency based on marriage to a U.S. Citizen may apply after 3 years.)

If you have meet the residency requirements you must also meet the following requirements to become a U.S. Citizen:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have been lawfully admitted to U.S. for permanent residence
• Must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the previous 5 years
• Must have resided in state of application for at least 3 months
• Must have good moral character
• Must show attachment to the principles of the Constitution
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
• Must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government
• Must take an oath of allegiance

If you meet these requirements you can apply for U.S. Citizenship by filing USCIS Form N-400.

If you have questions about becoming a U.S. Citizen or would like assistance preparing your application for citizenship please contact us for a free consultation.