What are the Requirements to be Naturalized?

To apply for naturalization, you must meet various requirements. You must demonstrate that you have maintained continuous permanent residence for a designated period of time. For most green card holders, the period is five years. For those married to U.S. citizens, the period is three years. For some veterans, the period is one year. Generally, you must also show that during the time of required residence, you have not traveled outside of the U.S. for more than ½ of the time. Another requirement is that you demonstrate residency within the jurisdiction of the USCIS District office where you will file your application for at least three months.

The USCIS may only naturalize people who have good moral character; therefore, you must demonstrate that you have good moral character and are not a person that is removable. The USCIS may find that a permanent resident lacks good moral character if the applicant committed a crime that negatively reflects on moral character, such as a theft crime. A person may also be removed from the United States if he/she committed a crime that is considered a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) or committed an aggravated felony under the Illegal Immigrant & Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996. Please see more on these issues in our following FAQs.

Finally, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she is attached to the U.S constitution by passing the English (oral and written) exams, and the civics exam, which contains information regarding the U.S. Constitution and government. These requirements, as described, can be confusing and difficult. If you intend to apply for naturalization, you should obtain legal representation from an experienced immigration attorney at Garg & Associates. The experienced Long Beach immigration attorneys can walk you through this difficult area of immigration law.

Should you have any questions regarding your immigration matters, please contact the experienced immigration attorneys of Garg & Associates at 949-540-6704 or call our toll-free number at 949-540-6704. You can also submit an inquiry through our Long Beach Immigration Online Inquiry.