Citizenship Lawyer San Francisco

For many from around the world, becoming a United States citizen is a life-long dream, and immigrants in San Francisco are no different. Their journeys began with a dream and a visa, and some made the effort to become permanent residents with a green card. Many crossed the finish line, taking the Oath of Allegiance and becoming naturalized citizens. While green card holders have some rights and protections, naturalized United States citizens can enjoy everything that this country has to offer. With the help of a San Francisco citizenship lawyer, you, too, can become a citizen of the United States.

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

Whether you stick to your roots and live in one of San Francisco’s colorful diasporas or dive head first into life as an American, becoming a naturalized citizen is a must to fully enjoy the pursuit of life, liberty, and freedom. MyImmigration has helped immigrants from all around the globe achieve their immigration goals. Let us help you take the last steps of your journey to U.S. citizenship.

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

For some, obtaining lawful permanent residency isn’t the end of their American dream. Green card holders do have many opportunities and benefits, but without becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, they’re not getting the biggest piece of the American experience. Simply getting a green card doesn’t guarantee citizenship. Plenty are happy with their permanent residency status, but those who want more will work toward being issued a naturalization certificate.

Becoming a United States naturalized citizen provides these additional benefits:

Full Rights to Vote: 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. Naturalization provides a much larger 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, for some, there could be some hurdles to get over when applying for naturalization. Some common stumbling blocks can include:

Failure to Meet Continuous Residence: Spending too much time outside the country (six months or more in a year), no matter the reason, could cause problems when applying for citizenship.

Legal Matters: Any legal problems could cause your citizenship application to be delayed, denied, or questioned.

Not Paying Taxes: Green card holders must file for taxes on their yearly income, even if it’s not earned in the United States. Failure to do so can cause problems 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 are having issues filing for naturalization, speak to one of our experienced citizenship attorneys. They’ll examine your situation and determine the best strategy to overcome any obstacles.

The Citizenship Process

Filing for U.S. citizenship is known as naturalization or becoming a naturalized citizen. Fortunately, the benefits are the same as those born in the country, typically called birthright citizenship. It should be noted that simply having a green card doesn’t automatically grant citizenship. To be eligible for naturalization, applicants must:

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 surface knowledge of U.S. history and government

Once meeting these requirements, the citizenship process usually follows these steps:

Filing: Eligible green card holders can start the process by filing Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization).
Biometrics appointment: If the application is accepted, you’ll receive an appointment to have a photo and fingerprints taken to be used for a background check.
USCIS interview: You’ll meet with a USCIS officer for an in-person interview, asking questions about your history and why you want to become a U.S. citizen.
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 San Francisco Citizenship Attorney Today

Almost a million green card holders become U.S. naturalized citizens each year. If you want to be one of them, you’ll first have to meet the eligibility requirements and jump through a few different hoops. However, nothing worth having is ever all that easy.

Schedule an appointment with a citizenship lawyer today so that you can enjoy all the benefits of being a United States naturalized citizen.