Immigration Law

How does someone become a U.S. citizen?

In order to become a U.S. citizen, also known as “naturalization,” a person must meet the following requirements:

• Must be 18 years old;
• Must be a lawful permanent resident for five years (or three years if married to and still living with a U.S. citizen);
• Must live in the U.S. for at least half of the five (or three) years prior to filing the application for citizenship;
• Must have lived for at least three months in the state where the petition was filed;
• Must not be outside of the U.S. for more than one year at a time;
• Must be a person of good moral character for the period for which residence is required.

This summary is general and does not cover all the potential issues that can arise in applying for citizenship. Recently USCIS has been extremely tough on naturalization cases, often revisiting immigration paperwork filed years in the past.

Maris Immigration Law can help guide you through this complicated process. To learn more, contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.