Obtaining US Citizenship After Receiving Your Green Card

The main goal of Green Card holders is to eventually become an official citizen of the United States of America. In order to become a citizen of the US, there are steps you must take which include:

  • Have obtained your permanent resident card or Green Card for at least five years, however if you are filing as the spouse of a citizen within the US, then only three years.
    • Be mindful that your card expires within the time frame of six months of applying and Green Card must be renewed prior to applying for citizenship.
    • If you card as already expired, you must also renew your Green Card prior to applying for citizenship.
  • Qualifications and Conditions:
    • Be at least 18 years of age when applying
    • Be able to speak, write, and read basic English
    • Be of good character morally
    • Have basic knowledge of United States history
    • Take the Oath of Allegiance of the United States
    • Prove that you have been living within the US for at least 30 months of the five years prior to filing
    • Prove that you have been lawfully admitted in this US for at least five years as a permanent resident prior to filing
  • Exceptions for the continuous residence requirement
    • Traveling abroad for US business
    • Religious work
    • Working for the US government
    • Prior approval is necessary from USCIS by filing a “preserve residence for naturalization purposes” form
  • You must also endure the 10-Step Naturalization process, which includes:
    • Determining whether or not you are eligible to become a US citizen
    • Completing the mandatory forms, documents, and applications, such as: Norm N-400, the naturalization application, and submitting your form online
    • Taking the United States Naturalization test
    • Preparing for your personal interview
  • Time
    • Must apply for citizenship after meeting the five-year mark, also known as the “five-year rule”
    • It can take up till an average of 14.5 months in order to obtain citizenship in the United States (for application wait time)
    • The entire process of naturalization takes a much longer time as there are more mandatory steps involved in the process
    • After filing your N-400 form, it may take up to 12-17.5 months for the entire process of naturalization
  • Fees
    • The naturalization application fee through USCIS is currently $725, $85 of which is toward the biometrics fee

The process of naturalization can be lengthy and complicated, contact our immigration office today for proper guidance on how to obtain United States citizenship.

It is advisable to seek legal guidance from our office today as we strive to help guide you with your specific case. 

Attorney Ramona Kennedy cares about your case and will fight for you.

You can contact attorney Ramona Kennedy Law Offices (Kennedy Law LC) for an initial consultation and case evaluation. The first consultation is free of charge. 

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