Irving Immigration Lawyers

What Are The Criteria For U.S. Citizenship?

In order to apply for U.S. citizenship, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires all applicants to be at least 18 years old (to file on their own behalf) and to be admitted to the United States lawfully.  In other words, you can’t apply for U.S. citizenship on your own if you are not a legal adult or if you entered America illegally.  You must also be present in the United States at the time the application was submitted for review and have lived legally in the U.S. for at least five consecutive years.  During this five-year period, the applicant should not have left the U.S. for more than 6 months.

Other eligibility criteria can include:

• Knowledge of elementary United States history
• The ability to pass a civics test
• The ability to speak, write and read basic English

How Can An Irving Immigration Lawyer Help Me Earn Citizenship?

Even if you do not meet the criteria for U.S. citizenship, you can still qualify.  An Irving, Texas immigration lawyer with expertise in citizenship proceedings may be able to help you earn citizenship.  Even though cases where the applicant doesn’t meet the criteria are more complex, these citizenship cases have still been successfully argued.

An Irving immigration lawyer can help you earn citizenship in a number of ways.  First, if the attorney is retained prior to applying, he or she will ensure the applicant meets the criteria before submitting an application.  The attorney will also ensure that the paperwork is completed and filed properly.  Irving immigration lawyers also have experience with untraditional cases.  They may be aware of loopholes or other ways to get the citizenship petition approved.

Hiring an Irving immigration lawyer to help you with your United States citizenship petition represents your best chances of getting your citizenship request approved.  Immigration lawyers understand the citizenship process and can ensure that you are prepared to meet the criteria.  Without one, you might flounder through the system for months or years and never be approved as a citizen.

• If you need help regarding an Immigration Issue in the United States, Submit Your Case for a Free Review from an expert US Immigration Lawyer in Irving, TX.