PRACTICE AREA: CITIZENSHIP

CITIZENSHIP

Becoming a U.S. citizen can be a difficult process rife with legal complexities and paperwork that must be properly filed if your application is to be approved. Caudle Immigration provides you with comprehensive legal representation to ensure all of your paperwork is done accurately and that all deadlines are met.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURALIZATION?

The applicant must be at least 18 years old (children under the age of 18 automatically obtain citizenship when their parents are naturalized, as long as the child meets certain residency requirements). Some of the residency requirements include:

1. Residence in the United States for 5 years after becoming a permanent resident, or for 3 years if the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen

2. At least half of the applicant’s permanent residency must have been spent physically in the United States

3. The applicant must have lived for at least 3 months in the jurisdiction where the application is being filed

The laws regarding naturalization constantly change, and as such it is important to work with an attorney who stays abreast of these changes. An attorney can answer your questions about whether you may qualify in terms of residency requirements and can also address any other concerns, such as qualifications of good moral character, an attachment to the principles in the U.S. Constitution and basic English skills and knowledge of the U.S. government and history.

There are some factors that may disqualify a person from qualifying for naturalization, such as desertion from the U.S. military, so it will also be important to get information about these if you are interested in applying.

CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP

Our office can assist you with obtaining Certificates of Citizenship for your adopted child, whether the adoption took place overseas or here in the United States. This is an important document that you should not delay in attaining for your son or daughter as with the passage of time, documents necessary to obtain the Certificate of Citizenship may be misplaced or lost. Contact our office for a consultation if you would like assistance in the process of applying for your child’s Certificate of Citizenship.