NATURALIZATION EXPLAINED

Naturalization is the process that a non-citizen in the United States goes through to lawfully gain his or her status as a United States citizen. If you are born in the United States, then you are automatically given United States citizenship at birth. The process of naturalization is how people born outside the United States are awarded United States citizenship. Naturalization is available to legal immigrants who have fulfilled certain specified requirements as laid out under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These requirements include being a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for a specified period of time which varies in length depending on the circumstances of the green card holder. For example, a green card holder who is married to a United States Citizen is able to apply for naturalization after three years, whereas a green card holder with no special circumstances has to wait five years until he or she is eligible. Those who meet certain military service requirements are also eligible for naturalization. For example, a member of the United States military who serves any period of time in wartime service is immediately eligible for naturalization whether that soldier was previously a green card holder or not. You may also be required to physically live in the United States for a specified period of time depending on your circumstances in order to be eligible for naturalization.

HISTORY OF NATURALIZATION LAW IN THE UNITED STATES

United States Congress first established the original parameters for naturalization in passing the Nationality Act of 1790. The first (and initially only) people who were eligible to be naturalized as United States citizens were “free white persons” of “good moral character” who had lived in the United States for a period of two years. The provision on race obviously both restricted and discriminated against who could be awarded United States citizenship through naturalization. Over time, the access to becoming a United States citizen expanded slowly, but the provisions on race were not fully eliminated until 1952. While the access to naturalization has grown, so have the expectations and requirements on those applying for citizenship. The naturalization process today is as involved and complex as ever. To be successful, you have to not only meet all the requirements, but be mistake free in your answers and submissions. A mistake on your application may lead to an action for denaturalization in the future if the United States government suspects that the mistake was intended to deceive or defraud the government into awarding naturalized United States citizenship. Denaturalization is exactly what it sounds like; it is the process by which the United States government strips naturalized citizenship from someone. Historically, cases of denaturalization have been rare, but cases of denaturalization have risen sharply in the last three years, so it is extremely important to be as mistake free as possible in all of your naturalization paperwork and interview answers.

WHY BECOME NATURALIZED?

As a naturalized citizen, you will be awarded many of the same advantages that naturally born United States citizens have. This includes the right to vote, and the right to petition for other family members to receive their own green cards. You will also likely be able to keep your original citizenship from your country of origin so long as that country allows for dual citizenship. Becoming a naturalized United States citizen is one of the final steps in planting your roots in the United States for this and the next generations of your family. Your newborn children will also automatically become United States citizens even if they are born in another country once you are naturalized. There are many benefits and entitlements in becoming a naturalized United States citizen as outlined here.

WHY CHOOSE YOU ARE HOME TO HELP YOU BECOME A

NATURALIZED CITIZEN?

You Are Home is a team of immigration lawyers whose mission is to help you obtain your United States citizenship while answering your questions and concerns along the way. Our main goal at You Are Home is to make your naturalization process as simple and pain free as possible. As a You Are Home client, you will be paired with an experienced immigration attorney who will help you identify any potential issues with your case, while also helping guide you through each step together as a team in order to help you best achieve success. Our immigration attorneys are experienced not only in helping people file immigration paperwork and prepare for their naturalization interviews; they have also successfully defended clients facing detention and deportation in immigration court. When you have You Are Home on your side, you will be prepared for whatever legal obstacles that could appear in the way of obtaining your United States citizenship.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH YOU ARE HOME TODAY!

You Are Home is proud to offer consultations with our immigration attorneys via phone or videoconference via Zoom. If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced immigration attorneys to answer your questions and review your documents, you may do so here. If you decide to hire You Are Home to help you further with your naturalization case or any other immigration legal service that we offer, then we will credit your consultation fee towards the cost of those services. Don’t go it alone, let the experienced attorneys at You Are Home help you officially make the United States your (new) home country.