A part of the often-sought-after American dream includes full citizenship. The path to realizing this aspect of that dream is to go through naturalization. While rewarding, the process can often be confusing and time-consuming. At Law Office of William Jang, PLLC, we are committed to helping non-citizens of the United States realize their goals of becoming either permanent residents and/or citizens of the country. Though the road to naturalization is complex and sometimes frustrating, you don’t have to go through the process without assistance. At the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC, our attorneys have extensive experience helping individuals seek U.S. citizenship by way of naturalization. Please take a moment to examine a sample of approved naturalization cases and click here to learn more about our experience with green cards. Call (512) 323-2333 to set up an appointment to start the process and fill out our Naturalization Intake Form.
Why Hire Law Office of William Jang, PLLC
The team at the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC has a unique perspective to share with immigrants seeking naturalization. As Korean Americans with extensive knowledge about the immigration system, we will do all that we can to lead you through the process. We understand the challenge of living in America as an immigrant and the joy that comes with naturalization, and we intend to help our clients reach those goals. We believe everyone should be able to share in the American dream, but the system can be confusing and sometimes impossible to navigate alone. Let us help you achieve citizenship.
The Basic Requirements of Naturalization
An individual who wishes to become a naturalized United States citizen may do so if they meet certain criteria (although some exceptions may exist). The individual must be:
- A permanent United States resident (as a green card holder),
- Residing in the U.S. continuously for at least five (5) years (or three (3) years for most spouses of U.S. citizens),
- Residing in the state the application will be filed in for at least three (3) consecutive months,
- Present in the U.S. for at least two and a half (2 ½) years in the last five (5) years of required residence (or one and a half (1 ½) years in the last three (3) years for most spouses of U.S. citizens),
- Able to satisfy the requirements of the English Test (reading, writing, and speaking),
- Able to satisfy the requirements of the U.S. History and Government Test,
- Of good moral character,
- Residing in the U.S. continuously from the filing date of the application for naturalization until actually granted U.S. citizenship,
- Of at least 18 years of age,
- Committed to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
It will be determined whether you meet these requirements through primarily factual evidence, and it is important that you meet each criterion precisely before you begin the process, otherwise you will be turned away.
Naturalization Application Process:
Upon the completion and filing of the naturalization application, applicants must then consent to have their biometrics taken and recorded. Once an applicant has passed their naturalization interview, english test, and government and history test, they will be considered for naturalization. Once all requirements have been satisfied and the applicant is granted citizenship, the applicant will then have to take an oath during the naturalization ceremony.
Naturalization Fees:
When filed in the United States at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS) (see the disclaimer on this page), the filing fee currently charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS) and the attorney’s fee charged by the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC are as follows:
- $1,500 attorney’s fees
- $760 USCIS filing fee
It’s important to keep these numbers in mind as you move forward, and the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC wishes to be upfront about what to expect. Consider the amounts seen above as further requirements you must meet before you apply for naturalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’re seeking something as important as naturalization, it’s natural that you’d have many questions. We want you to be entirely prepared for everything you’re going to be facing through the process, so we’ve provided a few frequent questions we receive about the subject. If you don’t see your question below, or an answer we provided isn’t as in-depth as you’d like, then please contact us at (512) 323-2333.
Do I need an attorney?
While the short answer to this question is no, it is entirely possible to go through the naturalization process without the assistance of an attorney, the decision to do so is not a path we recommend. With the amount of paperwork and the number of requirements you must meet, having an attorney is an excellent safety net to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. If you fail to meet even one of the required criteria, then your application may be denied after many hours of work. An attorney can also help you prepare for the naturalization test on top of walking you through the steps of the application.
How often are the questions on the naturalization test changed?
The questions on the test should never change, though updates in policy and offices may mean that many of the answers have changed. This is to your advantage because you’ll know for sure what questions are in the pool of questions your proctor will ask. You will receive ten questions out of the list of 100, and you must answer at least six of these correctly to pass.
How many times can I apply for naturalization?
Though you can apply as many times as you want for naturalization, it’s important to keep your timelines in order. If you’re applying for naturalization as your permanent resident card is expiring or at the end of some other deadline, you’ll need to consider that there is a two- to three-month waiting period between your initial interview and the date you can submit your next application. You will have two chances to pass your test with each application before you’ll have to try applying again.
Contact Law Office of William Jang, PLLC
With the help of an attorney, you vastly increase your chances of becoming a full citizen in a timely manner and on your first try. A highly-qualified attorney from Law Office of William Jang, PLLC will be able to help walk you through the process with both compassion and determination. Call them at (512) 323-2333 today.
