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Becoming a U.S. Citizen
You can apply to
become a naturalized U.S. citizen if:
1. You have been
a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) for at least five years; or,
2. You have been an LPR for three years, and during that time you have
been (and remain) married to a U.S. citizen; or,
3. You are an LPR under the age of 18 who has at least one U.S.
citizen parent; or,
4. You served in the military (applicants for this category must also
file forms N-426 and G325B).
* Children under age 18 can automatically become U.S. citizens at the
time their parents become naturalized.
THE
INTERVIEW FOR NATURALIZATION: After filing your application, you
will be notified to appear at the Immigration Office for an interview to
be conducted under oath. If you are an adult, you must prove that you
possess a basic knowledge of the history and government of the United
States. There are some exceptions from these requirements based upon
disability.
Your ability to read, write and speak English will also be tested. If at
the time of your interview you are 50 years of age and have been a
resident for at least 20 years (or you are 55 years of age and have been
a resident for at least 15 years), you will not be required to take the
English exam. If the English requirement is waived, you can take the
test in the language of your choice.
OATH OF
ALLEGIANCE/SWEARING IN CEREMONY: If your application is
approved, you will be required to take an oath of allegiance to the
United States in order to become a citizen. You will become a U.S.
citizen the day you are sworn in, and you will receive a Certificate of
Citizenship as proof that you are a United States citizen.
What Can We Do
to Help?
This is only general information regarding the process for applying for
U.S. citizenship. For more specific information, contact one of our
offices.
We can help you fill out your citizenship application and assist in
preparing the supporting documentation for proper submission to the
Immigration and Naturalization Service. We can also provide a list of
questions similar to those which you will be asked about U.S. history
and government.
You must pay a $225 filing fee to the INS when you file your citizenship
application (Form N-400). You must also pay $25 to the INS when you get
an appointment to have your fingerprints taken for an FBI record search.
Note: Any person who has had problems with the police or any
criminal-related problems should consult with attorney before submitting
a petition for naturalization, because of new immigration laws which
could result in deportation |
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Information, Not Legal
Advice. We are providing this information as a public
service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the
materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this
information is always up-to-date and correct.
We do not intend this information to
be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting
as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a
lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a
competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
E-mail. Viewing
this web site, or sending an e-mail message to the Michigan Poverty
Law Program or other legal organization through this web site, does
not create an attorney-client relationship between the Michigan
Poverty Law Program or other organization and you. Sending e-mail
to an attorney mentioned in this site does NOT create an
attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney.
Unless you are already a client, your e-mail may NOT be
protected by the attorney-client privilege. Also, unless it is
encrypted, e-mail can be intercepted by other people.
Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters.
You may lose important legal rights if you do not obtain an attorney
immediately to advise you. Many people do not check their e-mail
daily, and some attorneys do not respond to unsolicited e-mail.
Lawyer Advertising. This
web site is not intended to be advertising or
solicitation. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should
not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you
should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.
Links. Some of the items
listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to
information prepared and posted by others. We cannot guarantee the
accuracy of information posted on other sites. The links are not
intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated
with the people who created those sites, nor are the links intended
to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name,
registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted
symbol that may be reflected in the links. |
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