Citizenship

If you filed for Naturalization prior to October 1, 2008 you may choose to take the previous test.  Click here for previous self-test!

A Citizen of the United States is a native-born person, a naturalized person, and in some cases a foreign-born person, who owes allegiance to the United States and who is entitled to its protection.

Some of the advantages of becoming as U.S. Citizen are:

• Right to vote (you can have a voice in local & national government);
• Ability to petition other family members to immigrate to the United States;
• Re-enter the United States more easily at ports of entry;
• Less residency paperwork requirements (no need to renew green card or worry about deportation);
• Ability to run for public office and hold certain government jobs.

If you are eligible to become a U.S. Citizen, we highly recommend you file the application. Our office is available to prepare and file your citizenship application, but there are certain criteria that must be met in order to be deemed eligible for naturalization. You must:

• Have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for at least five years (or if married to a U.S. Citizen spouse, for three or more years - and still be living in martial union with your spouse);
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Be able to read, write and speak basic English;
• Have been continuously living in the United States for at least 30 of the 60 months prior to filing the application (or 18 of the 36 months preceding the application if filing as the spouse of a U.S. Citizen);
• Have resided for at least 3 months in the state where the application is being filed;
• Must have knowledge of American history and government.

Some other reasons to become a U.S. Citizen!

If you are a legal permanent resident of the U.S., I strongly suggest that you apply to become a citizen as soon as you are eligible. There are two very important reasons for this. One is that once you become a U.S. citizen, you are no longer subject to being deported. There are many, many legal permanent residents who have been deported to their home country because they got in trouble with the law or with Immigration. The second reason is September 11, 2001. Even though the changes in immigration law in the last "few" years have not been totally drastic like in 1996, there has been a drastic change in the way the immigration service works and in the way it processes applications. For example, every single application that is filed with Immigration now must be cleared through three different security checks before the application can be approved. An application can be held up for many months because of one security check. Also, the Immigration Service is now looking at applications with the different eye, so to speak. This has made it much more difficult to get applications approved. This applies to every area of immigration law, not just naturalization.

In order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, you must meet certain criteria. Of course, you must lawfully be a legal permanent resident and at least 18 years old. For how long depends on your situation. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you only need to have lived here as a legal permanent resident for three years. During those three years, your spouse must have already been a citizen and you must have lived together as a married couple. In other situations, you must have lived here (as a legal permanent resident) for the five continuous years immediately before filing the application. Even though you must meet the 3 and 5 year residency requirement, immigration law provides that you can actually file your naturalization application three months before reaching that date. In addition, you must have been physically present in this country for at least half of that time. Absences of more than six months are not recommended, however. Also, you must be a person of good moral character, as defined by immigration law. Finally, if you are a male and between 18 and 26 years old, you must register for the Selective Service in order to become a U.S. Citizen.

Immigration law is very complex and there are special situations and many other considerations that must be taken before applying for naturalization.

For the skill, knowledge and dedication you want for all your immigration needs, whether for businesses or green cards for individuals, contact the Law Office of Isabel Machado.