Dallas Citizenship & Naturalization Lawyer

Many people from around the globe dream of becoming United States citizens. Approximately 30,000 Dallas green card holders take the Oath of Allegiance each year and proudly become naturalized citizens. This is a big step, but many permanent residents don’t feel as if they can fully live the American dream until they’ve become U.S. citizens. It’s true that green card holders have many opportunities, but they’re not getting an entire slice of the American pie. If you’re a Dallas immigrant who craves more, working with a Dallas citizenship and naturalization lawyer can help.

Let us help you take this big step toward living the American dream.

Whether you stick to your roots and build a life in one of Dallas’s diasporas or choose to fully identify as an American, the choice is yours. Dallas is ethnically diverse and welcomes everyone, no matter where you come from. MyImmigration would be honored to help you become a U.S. naturalized citizen.

The Benefits and Challenges of Becoming a U.S. Citizen in Dallas

For many, obtaining a green card isn’t the end of their immigration journey; it’s the start. However, simply becoming a lawful permanent resident doesn’t automatically allow you to file for citizenship. Citizenship has to be applied for and comes with a list of requirements. Anything worth having usually has a few obstacles, but those obstacles can be overcome with the help of a citizenship and naturalization attorney.

As a naturalized citizen, you’ll have more benefits than you do as a green card holder. Here’s what comes with citizenship:

The Right to Vote in All Elections: Naturalized U.S. citizens can vote in all elections (local, state, federal), giving them a say in who governs the nation.
More Federal Job Opportunities: Many kinds of federal jobs require applicants to be U.S. citizens, and naturalization provides a much wider range of job opportunities.
Deportation Protection: United States citizens cannot be deported. Naturalization provides a deeper level of security and protection.
International Travel Benefits: A United States passport doesn’t have the restrictions that some from other countries have. Many countries don’t require visas for U.S. citizens.
Renewal Status: Green card holders must renew their residency status every ten years, which involves fees, processing time, and other inconveniences.

Unfortunately, not every green card holder who applies for naturalization will be approved. Some of the most common issues with being rejected early in the process can include:

Failure to Meet Continuous Residence: Spending too much time outside the country (typically six months or more in a year) for any reason could cause problems when applying for citizenship.
Legal Issues: Any legal problems could cause your citizenship application to be delayed, denied, or questioned.
Taxes: Green card holders must file taxes on their yearly income, even if earned outside the United States. Failure to do so can cause issues when applying for naturalization.
Errors or Omissions on the Application: Incomplete forms or those with errors and inconsistencies can cause delays or denial.

If you suspect you may have an issue when applying for naturalization, contact one of our citizenship attorneys, who can help resolve any problems before filing.

The Citizenship Process

When a green card holder applies to become a U.S. citizen, it’s known as the naturalization process. Whether a birthright citizen or one through naturalization, their rights and benefits are the same. Being a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) doesn’t automatically allow for citizenship, as some requirements must be met before an individual can apply.

Be at least 18 years old
Must be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least five years
Must have continuous residency in the U.S. for at least five years
Must have lived continuously in the United States for at least half of the time
Be of good moral character
Must be able to write, read, and speak basic English
Must have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government

Once these requirements have been met, the naturalization process generally follows these steps:

File for Naturalization: Eligible green card holders can start the process by filing Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization).
Attend Biometrics appointment: If the application is accepted, you’ll receive an appointment to take a photo and fingerprints for a background check.
USCIS interview: You’ll meet with a USCIS officer in person. They’ll ask about your history and why you want to become a U.S. citizen.
Pass Exams: Applicants must pass an English language and United States civics exams. The language exam will test your basic understanding of English, while the civics exam will test your knowledge of United States history and government.
Take the oath of allegiance: Once you’ve passed the exams, you’ll be notified to attend a naturalization ceremony. This is where you will take the Oath of Allegiance.
Certificate of naturalization: You’ll receive this document shortly after the naturalization ceremony. It’s proof you are a citizen of the United States and can be used to apply for a U.S. passport.

Contact a Citizenship and Naturalization Attorney in Dallas Today

Nearly a million immigrants become naturalized United States citizens each year. If you’d like to become one of them and enjoy all the benefits of naturalization, contact one of our citizenship and naturalization lawyers. They’d be honored to help you in this last phase of your immigration journey.