Chicago, Illinois Citizenship Lawyer

Naturalization is the process by which a foreign citizen obtains her or his citizenship. When a person becomes a U.S. Citizen, he or she obtains all the rights and responsibilities of a natural-born citizen. The attorneys and staff at Mevorah & Associates understand the importance of citizenship and want to help you through your process. We go that extra mile to explain the entire process to you, review your history to identify potential problems, and work side-by-side with you throughout the process. While many immigration attorneys or agencies just prepare and submit your application, we evaluate your situation to identify potential issues, and we make sure all of your questions or concerns are addressed before and throughout the application process, including the interview.

The naturalization interview itself can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. We have prepared naturalization petitions for countless clients. There is a lot of evidence gathering and fact-finding involved in these types of applications and it is important to have an experienced immigration attorney review your situation for possible problems.

Sometimes the government may seek additional information from you before, during, and/or after your interview. Information sought can include evidence of any criminal history you may have, child support issues, or how many times you have left the U.S. while a lawful permanent resident. At Mevorah & Associates, we have helped numerous clients prepare thorough and comprehensive responses to these types of inquiries. We ensure that all the information sought by the government is provided and that this information is explained in a light most favorable to your position.

Eligibility

In order for one to be eligible for naturalization, he or she must first meet certain requirements. The applicant must:

1. Have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. as a permanent residence;
2. Meet the continuous residence and physical residence requirements:
   • Continuous residence requirement: the applicant must have resided continuously as an LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) in the U.S. for 5 years preceding the date of his or her application. Although applicants may have been outside of the U.S. for periods of time, absences of more than 6 months but less than a year disrupts the continuity of residence requirement unless the applicant can show that he or she did not abandon his or her residence in the U.S. Absences for over a year disrupt the continuity of the residence requirement with very limited exceptions.
   • Physical presence requirement: the applicant must have been physically present in the U.S. for 30 months of the previous 5 years;
3. Show good moral character:
   • There are various ways to show that a person has good moral character. However, if an applicant has been convicted of certain offenses, he or she will be unable to show that he or she is a person of good moral character ;
4. Have an attachment to the Constitution:
   • An applicant must show that he or she is attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and is willing to defend those principles. Applicants will have an opportunity to declare their attachment to the Constitution when they take their Oath of Allegiance;
5. Have an understanding of the English language with the ability to read, write and speak words in ordinary usage:
   • In general, the applicant must be able to display an understanding of the English language. His or her naturalization interview will be conducted in English and he or she will be required to write basic sentences as directed by the interviewing officer.
   • There are certain exceptions to the English language requirement for applicants who are:
     • Over 50 years old and have lived in the U.S. as permanent residents for periods totaling at least 20 years;
     • Over 55 years old and have lived in the U.S. as permanent residents for periods totaling at least 15 years; and
     • Physically or developmentally disabled or have a mental impairment;
6. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and principles of government of the U.S.:
   • During the naturalization interview, applicants will be asked various basic questions relating to the history of the U.S. and its government.
   • Special consideration is afforded to applicants who are over 65 years old and who have lived in the U.S. for periods totaling at least 20 years.
7. Take the Oath of Allegiance and swear to:
   • Support the Constitution of the United States;
   • Renounce foreign allegiances and/or foreign title; and
   • Bear arms for the Armed Forces of the U.S. or perform services for the government of the U.S. when required.