What Is Naturalization?
Naturalization is simply the process by which people who were born outside of the United States become U.S. citizens. Because you become a U.S. citizen, you are granted lawful permanent residency from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To apply, you must meet the set requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (see below).
What’s the Difference Between Naturalization and Acquisition of Citizenship?
Only for those over the age of 18, naturalization is the act of applying for citizenship. Acquisition of citizenship applies to individuals who attain citizenship because they are:
Born in the United States or a U.S. territory
Born to parents who are U.S. citizens
How we help you with the CITIZENSHIP & NATURALIZATION process
We guide you through the entire citizenship and naturalization process, including form submission:
Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with USCIS.
Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) if your N-400 application is granted.
We explain the time lines, deadlines and processes in clear terms.
We keep track of your case with UCIS.
U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Requirements
To see if you apply, one of the first things we recommend you do is to review the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The following factors have to be true for you to be eligible:
You are at least 18 years old
You are a permanent resident of the U.S. and hold a permanent residency card
You have been a permanent resident for at least five years (or 3-5 years in particular circumstances).
While the above questions are the primary factors, in total, there are 15 questions in the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet referenced above that will determine your naturalization application eligibility. Make sure you can answer yes to those questions.
The Naturalization Application Process
There are eleven primary steps in the U.S. citizenship and naturalization process. They are:
Step 1: Are you already A U.S. Citizen?
Obviously, if you have already acquired citizenship from your parents (see above) or were born in the United States or U.S. territory, you don’t need to naturalize.
Step 2: Determine Your Eligibility for Citizenship
Work through the Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you meet the requirements.
Step 3: Fill Out Form N-400
With Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization), you can fill this out online (creating a USCIS online account) or file it by mail. Don’t forget to also submit the required documentation with your Form N-400:
A copy of your permanent residency card
Two passport-sized (and -styled) photographs if you live outside of the United States
If married, a copy of your marriage license / certificate
A copy of official military orders if your naturalization application is based on your service in the armed forces.
If you need an immigration lawyer to discuss your U.S. citizenship and naturalization application, contact us at Border Pathways. We can help you navigate the law to understand your eligibility.
Step 4: Pay the Fee and Submit Your Application
The filing fee of Form N-400 is $640. There’s also a biometrics fee of $85, so the total cost of is $725. There are fee exceptions but it helps to ask an immigration lawyer such as us at Border Pathways about that.
Step 5: Get Your Receipt Notice
Once the USCIS receives your submission, they will provide you a receipt notice. Make sure to confirm that you get this. You can go online and check your case status by typing your receipt number into the online status update page.
One thing to note: Citizenship application processing time can take between 6 to 8 months on average and can vary by your location. In some cases, the process can take up to 18 months or more.
Step 6: Make Your Biometrics Appointment
USCIS will inform you in writing if you need a biometrics appointment, which includes a digital signing, photographs, and fingerprints. If you do, you will receive information from the USCIS regarding the date, time, and location of the appointment.
Step 7: Take the English Interview and the U.S. Citizenship Test
As part of the process, everyone that applies for citizenship through naturalization must take an English test and a civics test. The USCIS will schedule an interview where both will be administered. You must:
Read aloud at the interview. You must read one out of three sentences correctly to pass.
Write one out of three sentences correctly. The writing topics are about U.S. history and civics.
Note: Depending on when you filed the form, you will either take the 2008 version (10 questions) or 2020 version (20 questions) of the civics test.
Step 8: Get Your N-400 Final Decision
There are three determinations made by USCIS about your N-400, Application for Naturalization:
Granted — You are approved and eligible to become a citizen.
Continued — You are eligible for citizenship, but may need additional documentation or you need to retake the English or civics test.
Denied — You are found to be ineligible for citizenship.
Step 9: Get the Oath of Allegiance Notice and Fill in Form N-445
After you are approved to become a citizen, you will receive a notice to take an Oath of Allegiance. This is the ceremony that will be held either through a judicial ceremony at a court or an through an administrative survey from USCIS. As part of this process, you’ll need to fill out the questions on Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony to give to a USCIS officer at the ceremony.
Step 10: Attend the Naturalization Ceremony
This is the ceremony where you will become an official U.S. Citizen, after taking the Oath of Allegiance. You will then accept your Certificate of Naturalization. At the ceremony, you will also return your permanent residency card, as you will not need it.
Step 11: You’re Now a U.S. Citizen
With citizenship, you’ll be able to exercise the rights that any American citizen would hold, including the ability to vote, serve on a jury, apply for federal jobs, become an elected official (outside of the U.S. presidency), and obtain government benefits.
Why Choose Our Citizenship & Naturalization Legal Services
Can you apply for naturalization on your own? Of course. But having worked with many different clients in the past, we know filling out form N-400 can be confusing and the process can be one in which the path isn’t always clear. As a trusted and accessible immigration lawyer, I will personally handle your citizenship and naturalization immigration case and manage the application process so you have a seamless experience. I’ll work to ensure we file exactly what’s needed to give you the best chance of success.
Our Fees for Citizenship & Naturalization Legal Services/ How We Bill
Regardless of your status or income-level, the clients who come to us want cost-effective pathways to become citizens of the United States. As such, our fees will always be transparent and reasonable. Contact us for a free consultation and we can discuss your case and the costs.
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Tell us a little about yourself
Whether you’re in the Washington, D.C. area (DMV), or you’re just looking on Google in the D.C. Metro area for “an immigration lawyer near me,” our office is located at 2111 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201. We’re happy to serve those living in the District, Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean), Maryland (Montgomery County - Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, etc.), Oxon Hill, College Park, Laurel, Baltimore, and more.
* Consultation is free for the purpose of discussing your specific immigration law case, and the various options available to you at a high level. Consultation is no obligation.