Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization Lawyers - Memphis, Tennessee

Citizens of the United States are entitled to live and work permanently in the U.S., vote in U.S. elections, serve on juries, and hold a U.S. passport. U.S. citizens can sponsor their spouse, unmarried children under age 21, and parents as immediate relatives. These relatives do not have to wait for a visa number to become current.

At The Frager Law Firm, we help individuals and families with the naturalization process. If you have questions or would like to arrange consultation, contact an attorney from our firm today. Representation from an experienced attorney during the citizenship or naturalization process can eliminate many of the confusing aspects.

An individual may acquire U.S. citizenship in a variety of ways:

• Birth in the United States: Children born in the U.S. are automatically U.S. citizens, regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

• Birth outside the U.S. to U.S. citizen parents: Certain children born abroad to U.S. citizen parents are automatically citizens of the U.S.

• Naturalization of a parent: A child born outside the U.S. may automatically become a U.S. citizen if one parent becomes U.S. citizens prior to the child’s 18th birthday.

• Adoption by U.S. citizen parents: Certain children adopted and in the physical custody of their U.S. citizen parents for at least two years may acquire U.S. citizenship. The child must be under the age of 16 at the time of the legal adoption.

The Naturalization Process

USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) administers the naturalization process. A person who is interested in becoming a citizen through naturalization must meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• The applicant must be over the age of 18 and have been a legal permanent resident (LPR) alien for at least 5 years.

• The applicant must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years prior to the date of filing of the application. Further, the applicant must have resided for at least three months within the state in which the application is filed.

• The applicant must demonstrate good moral character, be attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, be willing to bear arms on behalf of the U.S. or perform other work of national importance, and must not otherwise be barred from naturalizing, e.g., as having committed an aggravated felony.

• All naturalization applicants will be fingerprinted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have their criminal backgrounds reviewed by the FBI.

• The applicant must demonstrate a basic ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language. The applicant must also pass a short oral or written test on the history and government of the U.S.

• The applicant must be interviewed in person by an USCIS officer. If the applicant is approved for naturalization, the applicant will attend a public ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. After taking the oath, the applicant will return the green card to the USCIS and receive a certificate of citizenship. This certificate of citizenship can be used to obtain a U.S. passport.

There are many special exceptions and provisions of the law for certain applicants for naturalization. Please consult one of our attorneys regarding which options may be applicable to your case.

Below is a listing of links to detailed information on citizenship and naturalization provided by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The Frager Law Firm, P.C. is not responsible for the content of the articles. Changes in immigration laws and policies occur frequently and the articles may not be immediately updated.

Please be advised that interpretation of general information should not take the place of legal advice provided by an experienced immigration lawyer familiar with the specifics of your case.

Contact The Frager Law Firm if you are a legal permanent resident and need help or have questions about the naturalization process.