NATURALIZATION
Naturalization is the process by which a lawful
permanent resident (green card holder) becomes a U.S. citizen. In order to naturalize, a lawful permanent
resident has to meet certain requirements.
BENEFITS OF U.S.
CITIZENSHIP
· A citizen has the right to vote for elected officials at the federal,
state and local levels who shape the policy of the government.
· Only a citizen has the right to hold most city, state or federal offices, and the right to hold certain federal, state and city jobs.
· Citizens can leave theU.S.
and live in another country for as long as they want and travel may be easier
for U.S.
citizens to certain countries.
· Citizens can petition for more family members to come to theU.S. with
shorter waiting lists for green card sponsorship.
· Citizens cannot be prevented from re-entering theU.S. or removed
(removed or deported).
· Citizens do not have to worry about renewing their green cards every ten years.
· Citizens who retire abroad receive full Social Security benefits (whereas lawful permanent residents receive only half their benefits) and citizens may be subject to fewer restrictions on estate taxes.
· Certain countries, includingIreland
and the United Kingdom ,
recognize "dual citizenship" permitting naturalized U.S. citizens
to maintain their citizenship of birth and original passport.
· Citizens are eligible for more public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Food Stamps, and certain types of educational scholarships and financial aid.
· In some cases, children under 18 years of age can naturalize automatically with their parents.
· Only a citizen has the right to hold most city, state or federal offices, and the right to hold certain federal, state and city jobs.
· Citizens can leave the
· Citizens can petition for more family members to come to the
· Citizens cannot be prevented from re-entering the
· Citizens do not have to worry about renewing their green cards every ten years.
· Citizens who retire abroad receive full Social Security benefits (whereas lawful permanent residents receive only half their benefits) and citizens may be subject to fewer restrictions on estate taxes.
· Certain countries, including
· Citizens are eligible for more public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Food Stamps, and certain types of educational scholarships and financial aid.
· In some cases, children under 18 years of age can naturalize automatically with their parents.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURALIZATION
1. You must be at least
eighteen (18) years of age. Minor children under 18 years of age are eligible
for citizenship when their parent(s) naturalize(s).
2. You have been a lawful
permanent resident (green card holder) for at least four years and nine months or
you are a lawful permanent resident for at least two years and nine months AND
have been married to a U.S. citizen for that time period AND continue to be married and living with that U.S. citizen.
3. You must have been a
resident of the state from which you are applying for at least three months.
4. You have "good moral
character" - last five (three) years of taxes have been properly paid,
males between 18-26 years old have registered for the Selective Service, no
criminal record, etc.
5. You must be able to speak,
read, write and understand basic English
· unless you are at least fifty (50)
years of age and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least twenty (20)
years;
· or you are at least fifty-five
(55) years of age and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least
fifteen (15) years;
· or you have a permanent
physical or developmental disability or mental impairment making impossible
for you to meet the English language requirement.
6. You must be able to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history
and principles of government
·
unless you have a permanent
physical or developmental disability or mental impairment making it impossible
for you to meet the civics requirement;
·
or you qualify for
"special consideration" because you are at least sixty-five (65)
years of age and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least twenty (20)
years.
7. You must have been
physically present in the U.S.A. for at least 30 months (2½ years) of the five
years or 18 months (1½ years) of the three years you have resided in the U.S. and you have not left the U.S.A. for
more than six months on any one trip and
you intend to permanently reside in the U.S.
These are the basic requirements for naturalization
for most applicants. Other requirements may affect you depending on individual
circumstances. Also, there are exceptions and waivers for some of the
naturalization requirements. Please contact us at the Emerald Isle if you have
any questions or think you may be eligible.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
You will need the following application forms and
materials to apply:
1. Form N-400 (12/23/16. No previous
editions accepted. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on
the Form and Instructions.) (Application for Naturalization).
2. Photocopy of alien
registration card (green card), front and back.
3. $725.00 application and
fingerprint fee, by money order or personal check, payable to the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, with your name, address and alien
registration number on the front of the check.
4. If applying as a spouse of a
U.S. citizen, a copy of your marriage license and U.S. spouse's birth certificate
(if born in the U.S.) or Certificate of Naturalization (if naturalized).
5. If you have a mental or physical disability that makes it difficult to learn English and/or take the Civics examination send a photocopy of USCIS Form N-648 (Medical disability waiver) (03/11/15.
Previous editions accepted) completed by a psychologist or physician
N-400 forms may be obtained in by mail by calling
the USCIS Forms Hotline at (800) 870-3676, or ordered on the Internet at www.uscis.gov.
Application packets for applicants in Connecticut , New Jersey ,
New York and Pennsylvania should be mailed
"Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested" to the following address:
USCIS
P.O. Box 660060
Dallas, TX 75266
Please contact us for the address of your regional
service center if you are applying from another state not listed above or check
the website at www.uscis.gov.
You may also make an appointment with EIIC and
complete your citizenship application with the assistance of a trained
counselor.
CHANGE OF
ADDRESS - If your address changes while your application is pending, you should
call the USCIS Customer Service Hotline (800-375-5283) to change your address
over the phone. You may also change your address online at the USCIS website at
the following link www.uscis.gov/addresschange. If the USCIS does not have your current
address, you will not be able to receive timely notification of fingerprint and
interview appointments, which may cause your case to be closed. Do not rely on the U.S. Post Office mail
forwarding service for timely notification.
TRIPS
OUTSIDE THE U.S. – You are permitted to
travel outside the United
States while your application is pending
provided your trips are for less than six months at a time. You must maintain a permanent residence
within the United States
at all times. While you are away, have
someone monitor your mail in case you are contacted for an appointment with the
USCIS. Generally the USCIS gives at
least two weeks notice before an appointment.
FINGERPRINTS
Citizenship applications are now filed without
fingerprints. Instead applicants are required to submit $85.00 in addition to
the $640.00 application fee. Applicants for naturalization who are seventy-five
(75) years of age or older are exempt from the fingerprint requirement and fee.
Applicants should be notified by mail within 2-4
weeks of filing to be scheduled for fingerprinting at one of the USCIS Application
Support Centers (ASC).
The ASCs in the New York metropolitan area are as follows:
Bronx ,
NY 10472-3017
87 Bethpage Road Hicksville, NY 11801
30 Barretts Avenue Holtsville, NY 11742
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Long Island
87 Bethpage Road Hicksville, NY 11801
30 Barretts Avenue Holtsville, NY 11742
- Manhattan
- Queens
22-11 43rd Avenue Long Island City,
NY 11101
153-01 Jamaica Avenue, 1st Floor Jamaica, NY 11432
153-01 Jamaica Avenue, 1st Floor Jamaica, NY 11432
- Westchester
Do not
appear at any of these sites without an appointment. Applicants should be
assigned to the ASC closest to their current address.
You must appear only at the assigned ASC at the date
and time of your appointment. You may
request a postponement or rescheduling of your appointment by mail. Applicants
should bring photo identification and the scheduling notice received in the
mail.
Fingerprints are only valid for fifteen (15) months
after they are taken. It is possible that the fingerprints may expire before
your application is completely processed. Therefore, applicants fingerprinted more than fifteen months ago who
have not already been sworn in as U.S. citizens must be re-printed
under USCIS regulations.
The USCIS will automatically notify applicants with
expired fingerprints by mail to be re-printed at one of the ASCs.
INTERVIEW
In New York, it is taking around 6 months to be
scheduled for a naturalization interview.
Applicants will receive a notice in the mail telling them
when and where to appear for the interview and what documents they need to
bring with them. If you can not make your scheduled interview, you must notify
the office where your interview is scheduled by mail. Send a letter requesting that your interview
be rescheduled and return a copy of the appointment notice with the letter.
During the interview the USCIS will:
1. Update and review
information on the N-400 application.
2. Test your knowledge of U.S. history
and government, unless you qualify for a waiver based on a disability.
3. Test for a basic ability to
speak, read, write and understand English, unless you qualify for a waiver.
4. Review supporting documents
including tax returns for the last five years, green card, birth certificate,
passports, etc.
5. Determine
your eligibility.
Applicants who fail the English and/or civics
examinations have the right to be re-examined within 90 days. Those who fail a
second time must start the application process all over again from the
beginning. Otherwise, the INS has 120
days from the interview to grant or deny the application. The USCIS will notify
successful applicants of the swearing-in ceremony usually within 1-3 months
after the interview.