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Naturalization Attorney in Boston, Massachusetts

What Is Naturalization?

Naturalization is the process through which a foreign national chooses to become a citizen of the United States of America. Individuals over the age of 18 must undergo the naturalization process in order to obtain U.S. citizenship. There are requirements that must be met in order to qualify for naturalization. If you meet the following requirements, you may be eligible to begin the naturalization process and your journey toward citizenship:

• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must have been a Legal Resident or Green card holder for five (5) years (three (3) years if you are married to a U.S. citizen)
• You must have lived in the U.S. for the last 5 years or more – or 3 years if your spouse is a citizen and you meet all the necessary requirements
• You must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of those 5 years
• You must have lived in the state or USCIS district in which you are applying for citizenship for no less than 3 months before filing your naturalization petition
• You must be able to demonstrate use of the English language readingand writing one sentence, and speaking with competence
• You must be able to demonstrate a grasp of United States history and government
• You must be known as a person who has strong moral character
• You must be able to demonstrate attachment with the U.S. Constitution and the ideas contained in it

Special Exemptions & Circumstances

You should also be aware there are certain exceptions to these requirements. For example, if you are 50 or older and have been a Legal Resident/Green card holder for at least 20 years – or if you are 55 or older and have been a Legal Resident/Green card holder for 15 years – you do not have to take the English language test, though you will need to take the civics test. Also, if your parents became U.S. citizens before you turned 18, you do not need to apply for naturalization as you automatically gain citizenship through them. Additionally, if you are a member of the U.S. military, the path to naturalization looks slightly different for you – it is a simpler and more expedited process. Call us today at (617) 378-8540 to learn more about these and other special accommodations

RETAIN AN EXPERIENCED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP

Searching for a lawyer to answer your questions and help you apply for naturalization to become a U.S. citizen? If you decide to go through the naturalization process, you will first need to file a Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. This form and others are available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. You may also need to include certain documents, filing fees, and photographs with the N-400 petition. You will also need a biometrics appointment in order to submit your fingerprint to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a criminal background check.

Finally, the naturalization process requires an interview with an immigration officer at the USCIS office closest to your home. The officer will ask you some questions and administer English and civics tests. In most cases, you will learn whether or not your application will be approved on the day of your interview after you have taken the exams. If your application is continued, it is probably because:

• You didn’t turn in the proper documents
• Your USCIS officer requests additional documentation
• You did not pass the English and/or civics test, in which case you will have a second chance to retake the test, usually within two or three months of your first interview

U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWYER HANDLING NATURALIZATION CASES FOR OVER 30-YEARS

Need a lawyer for naturalization? If you are ready to pursue citizenship through naturalization, it helps to have a seasoned and knowledgeable immigration lawyer on your side. My name is John Philip Foley, and for more

than 30 years I’ve been helping men and women navigate the naturalization process. I can prepare you for the tests and interview and have a licensed immigration lawyer accompany you to the USCIS office for your interview. I can insure you file all the necessary paperwork and don’t miss any important steps in the process toward citizenship. The stakes are high, so let me help you. Call Foley Law Offices today at (617) 378-8540 to learn more about how I can assist you in obtaining your U.S. citizenship and achieving your own American dream.