CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION – 



Naturalization is the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen.
Citizenship is granted by the U.S. government in three different ways: 
(1) By birth in the U.S. or on U.S. territory: This includes Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and U.S. military bases; 
(2) Through the citizenship of your parents (Form N-600): This includes children born abroad to or adopted by one or more U.S. citizens as well as children born to parents who later became naturalized;
(3) Naturalization (Form N-400): Naturalization is the process in which a person with a green card or permanent resident status can obtain citizenship.

There are many requirements with which a person must comply when applying for naturalization, some of which include that an individual must show that she or he is: 

•  18 years old;
  
• Has had green card for at least five continuous years;
  
• 30 months of which were spent physically in the U.S.;
  
• Filed his or her application in the state or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) district where he or she has lived for at least three months;
  
• Has a basic understanding of U.S. history and government;
  
• Can read, write and speak basic English (in most cases);
  
• Has good moral character and an appreciation for the ideals of U.S. Constitution; 
  

The primary reasons most people desire to become U.S. Citizens include but are not limited to, voting rights, employment opportunities, ability to apply for federal grants and scholarship, absolute security against deportation and removal, and the ability to petition for certain family members. 

We strongly advise that someone interested in becoming a U.S. Citizen seek legal counsel prior to doing so, as there can be many pitfalls in this process of which most people are not aware, such as criminal record, child support, male applicants needing to register with the Selective Service, etc. These are all things that may affect ones application for Naturalization. We can help guide you through this process to ensure that you are indeed a candidate for this privilege, without risking putting your status as a Legal Permanent Resident at any risk. Applications are highly scrutinized and a wide range of issues could prevent yours from being approved. Ms. Torres can quickly identify and evaluate potential problems such as criminal convictions, domestic violence allegations, and other "run-ins with the law."  She can show you how to put the facts of your situation in their best light as you prepare for the application process.