Addison Citizenship Attorneys

Addison Citizenship Attorneys

Although applying for citizenship should be a straightforward process for those who are eligible, this is often not the case. Many immigrants want to become United States citizens as soon as they can, yet for reasons that come as a surprise for some, citizenship applications are routinely denied for various reasons. At Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C., we have experienced citizenship attorneys who help clients in the Addison area successfully apply for and obtain citizenship through naturalization. 

Naturalization is the process by which one who was not born in the United States applies and is approved to become a US citizen. 

Requirements for Naturalization (Citizenship)

To be approved for U.S. citizenship, the applicant must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old at least at the time of filing the citizenship application
• Must have been a Green Card holder for the past 3 of 5 years prior to applying for naturalization, depending on what category under which the application is filed 
• Must be continuously and presently residing in the United States
• Must be able to write, read, and speak basic English
• Must show good moral character
• Must know and understand basic U.S. history and government
• Must show loyalty to the principles underlying the U.S. Constitution; and
• Must be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.

The Naturalization Application Process

The naturalization process begins with the filing of Form N-400 Application for Naturalization with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application must be filed with the appropriate USCIS office if physically mailed, and the application must be accompanied by the correct fee. If the application is mailed to the wrong USCIS office or it does not have the application fee, the application will be rejected, and this will result in unnecessary delay in a process that already takes a long time to go through. The N-400 application, however, can be filed online. 

Whether filed by mail or online, USCIS will acknowledge the filing if properly filed by sending a notice of receipt to the applicant. This notice is the official confirmation that the application has been received and is being processed. The notice has a unique number that the applicant can use to check the status of the application, either by calling the USCIS office or checking online.

Because of the large number of naturalization applications received by USCIS, there is a waiting period one must wait before action is taken on their application. Currently, it takes approximately 12 to 16 months to process a citizenship application for Illinois residents. This estimated processing time assumes one has filed the application properly filed and paid the applicable fee. If not, it will take much longer to have the application processed.

Contact Us Today!

If you are thinking about applying for citizenship or have already done so, contact our Addison office to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced citizenship attorneys. You do not wish to find yourself denied citizenship for something that could have been avoided with the help of an experienced immigration lawyer. Contact us today!