Naturalization/Citizenship Attorney in Newark

There are many reasons a lawful permanent resident may consider becoming a U.S. citizen. Primarily, citizens are provided several important rights, such as the right to vote, the right to travel with a U.S. passport, the right to bring family members to the U.S., the right to obtain government benefits, and the right to apply for federal jobs, among other opportunities.

The naturalization process grants U.S. citizenship to a lawful permanent resident (LPR). Several factors determine whether a person is eligible for U.S. citizenship through naturalization, including:

• How long the person has physically resided in the U.S.
• How long the person has held their permanent residency status (green card)
• Whether the person has served in the U.S. military

A person may also acquire citizenship before they turn 18 years old if both their parents are U.S. citizens.

An experienced citizenship attorney can more closely examine your situation to determine whether you are eligible for citizenship through naturalization and how to proceed if so.

The Naturalization Process

The naturalization application process can be lengthy, but a brief summary of the necessary steps is:

1. Determine eligibility to become a U.S. citizen.
2. Prepare Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, including all the associated paperwork.
3. Submit Form N-400 and pay the associated fees.
4. Go to the required biometrics appointment, if applicable.
5. Complete the interview with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
6. Receive a decision from USCIS on Application Form N-400. The results will be one of three options – “granted,” meaning the applicant is eligible for naturalization, “continued,” which means the applicant must provide additional evidence/documentation or failed the civics test the first time, or “denied,” which means the evidence submitted renders the applicant ineligible for naturalization.
7. If the application is approved for naturalization, the applicant should then receive a notice to take the Oath of Allegiance in a naturalization ceremony, possibly on the same day as the interview. 
8. Complete the questionnaire on Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony.
9. Turn in the original permanent resident card (green card).
10. Take the Oath of Allegiance.
11. Receive the Certificate of Naturalization and notify USCIS of any errors before leaving the ceremony site.

If you have questions about your citizenship options in Newark, New Jersey, reach out to the Law Office of Gregory J. Eck for legal support. The firm can help you determine whether you are eligible for citizenship through your parents or through naturalization and guide you through every step of the process.

Get started in a free initial consultation. Contact the Law Office of Gregory J. Eck today.