Naturalization
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The general requirements for administrative naturalization include:
- a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
- residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;
- an ability to read, write, and speak English;
- a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
- good moral character;
- attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,
- favorable disposition toward the United States.
All naturalization applicants must demonstrate good moral character, attachment, and favorable disposition. The other naturalization requirements may be modified or waived for certain applicants, such as spouses of U.S. citizens.
Naturalizations is suitable for:
- Foreign nationals living in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents for at least 5 years prior to filing with no single absence from the U.S. of more than one year
- Spouses who have been permanent residents for 3 years, who are currently married to a U.S. citizen, and have been married to the same U.S. citizen for the past 3 years
- Foreign nationals who have obtained permanent resident status through political asylum or are refugees and living in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents for at least four years
- Certain Veterans of U.S. Armed Forces
- Lawful Permanent Residents with three years U.S. Military Service
- Veterans who have served the U.S. Military Service honorably in any of the periods of armed conflict with hostile foreign forces
- Foreign nationals married to a U.S. citizen who died during a period of honorable active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces
- Foreign nationals who served on a vessel operated by the U.S. government or a vessel registered in the U.S. and owned by a U.S. corporation or citizen, who have been lawful permanent residents for at least five years
- Foreign national employees or individuals under contract to the U.S. Government, who have resided in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents for at least five years
- Foreign nationals performing ministerial or priestly functions for a religious denomination or an interdenominational organization, who have resided in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents for at least five years
Visa processing can be difficult and confusing. If you would like the assistance of an experienced immigration lawyer, please
contact us or call our office at 1-415-601-0210 to schedule a consultation today.
Legal Disclaimer
Content on this site is intended for generalized information reasons. It may become out of date at any time due to changes in the law. It is not intended to offer case-specific legal advice nor should it be deemed valid or accurate for that reason. If in fact you have an exact immigration related legal issue, we recommend you consult with an experienced immigration attorney or immigration lawyer. There exists disclaimers throughout our website stating that we are not an official U.S. Government website.
Contact San Francisco Immigration Lawyer Marko Mikin.
Copyright © 2009 Marko Mikin, Attorney at Law. All rights reserved.
