Naturalization & Citizenship
Every year, thousands of people from all over the world come to the United States with the hope of one day becoming a citizen of this country. In order to become a United States citizen, a person must go through the naturalization process, and meet specific requirements set forth by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The requirements for naturalization are as follows:
Age: The applicant but at least 18 years of age
Residency: An applicant must have lawfully been admitted to the United States for permanent residency. All applicants will be required to show proof of residency by producing their Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551)
Residence & Physical Presence: To be eligible for naturalization, an applicant must:
- Have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residency
- Have resided in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least 5 years, and have not left the U.S. for more than 1 year during the 5-year period
- Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the previous 5 years
- Have resided within a state or district for at least three months
Good Moral Character: An applicant must prove or somehow demonstrate that he or she is a person of good moral character. An applicant will be barred from applying for naturalization if he or she has ever committed or been convicted of a felony crime, federal crime, or some other unlawful offense deemed unacceptable by UCIS.
Attachment to the Constitution: An applicant must prove he or she is attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Language: An applicant must be able to read, write, speak, and understand ordinary words of the English language.
Knowledge of U.S. Government and History: An applicant must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and the principles and forms of government of the United States. An applicant must also pass the Naturalization Test.
Oath of Allegiance: An applicant must take an oath of allegiance to support the Constitution, obey the laws of the United States, renounce any foreign allegiance or foreign title, and bear arms for the U.S. Armed forces or perform services for the U.S. government when requested
Contact an Atlanta Naturalization Lawyer
If you wish to apply for naturalization, it’s to your advantage to work with an experienced Atlanta immigration and naturalization attorney. The naturalization process can be very complex, but by working with a skilled immigration lawyer, you can ensure all necessary paperwork has been correctly filled out, and that you have successfully met all legal requirements.
Contact an Atlanta citizenship & naturalization attorney at The Muhammad Firm by calling (404) 346-7880.