Immigration Lawyer For Citizenship Issue

The citizenship practices in the United States of America are governed and managed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), bureau of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). The regulations laid down by the USCIS are stringent and duly enforced by the law enforcement agencies. Therefore it is extremely essential for all legal migrants to follow the compliance requirements and regulations to have a free of hassle life post the citizenship. It is therefore not a surprise that a majority of applicants prefer to hire immigration lawyers to see them through this vital yet lengthy and complicated process.

Citizenship can be defined as a membership in a state along with the right to elect the government and civic and legal duties of citizen. Although the concept of citizenship may vary from country to country, in United States citizenship is given at a national level. People who are born in US soil are considered natural citizens of the country. However, others who are not born in US soil and are citizens of other nations can apply for citizenship is USA. This is called the naturalization process. An immigration lawyer can prove to be an effective mode to undergo a successful naturalization process.

The qualifications of citizenship are broadly defined by the various immigration laws. The basic requirements are that the applicant must be legally allowed to apply for permanent residence in USA. The minimum age requirement is 18 years. The timelines required for stay are clearly defined at 5 years of stay on US soil with no more than 180 days spent outside (at one go). Moreover the applicant should have stayed in USA for more than 30 months (all put together) during the minimum 5 years stay. Apart from these the moral character of the applicant is also taken into consideration.

Although these basic guidelines seem clear enough, there are many exceptions and waivers offered by the USCIS. These special clauses are reviewed from time to time and changed often. A specialized lawyer keeps abreast of all new regulations and is able to advice a citizenship applicant on the best approach for successful application. Also the application process includes an interview and a test with the USCIS. The purpose of this test and interview is to test the applicant's proficiency in English language and knowledge on America. An immigration lawyer can guide you on the best responses that would help in pushing your citizenship application further.

The naturalization application in USA is called the N- 400 application. The application requires detailed information on your residence in USA. Your immigration lawyer can help you fill out the N 400 and also assist in collation of the various supporting documents. It is essential that the information is correctly filled and supporting documentation be duly attached to ensure a smooth acceptance process. If your application is denied or put on hold, the appeal process and any resulting judicial process is very complicated. Hiring an efficient lawyer will ensure that your application and supporting documentation are filled out appropriately.