Citizenship & Naturalization

Lyndhurst Naturalization Law Firm

Guiding clients through the process of attaining citizenship

statue-of-liberty-828665_1280Our firm is honored and touched when our clients achieve their goals of becoming citizens of our great country. If you wish to become a citizen of the United States, you will have to file a form N-400 which is the form for naturalization. There are requirements to become eligible for naturalization. You need to be over the age of 18 and satisfy one of the following:

  • You have lived in the United States for the past 5 years with a permanent residence status
  • You have lived in the United States for 4 years because of the need for asylum
  • You have lived in the United States for 3 years as the spouse of a U.S. citizen
  • You have lived in the United States for 3 years, are a lawful permanent resident and served in the U.S. military

In addition, you will be required to:

  • Satisfy a residential and physical presence
  • Demonstrate good moral character
  • Provide knowledge of the English language, U.S. history, government, and establish loyalty to the United States.

There are exceptions and the process is complicated. It is in your best interests to contact an attorney to guide you towards citizenship. If you need a passionate and effective attorney to help you navigate the process of naturalization, contact Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC.

Demonstrating residential and physical presence

To be eligible for citizenship, you need to provide evidence of a continuing and ongoing residential and physical presence in the United States. In order to satisfy this requirement, you may not have a single absence from the country that lasts more than one year during the time you used to become eligible. Absences of 6 months or more can disrupt your continuity of residence unless you can prove that you did not abandon your residence during this period.

Demonstrating good moral character

In order to be eligible for citizenship, you need to prove good moral character. You cannot have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. Moral turpitude is a term that describes something that is against society’s normS. Some of the many crimes that fall under this category include:

  • Murder
  • Assault
  • Robbery
  • Rape

In addition, many drug crimes can seriously impact your eligibility. For crimes that don’t fall under this category, a person’s application can be seriously delayed. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible when facing criminal matters that may impact citizenship.

Demonstrating knowledge of English, U.S. History, and government

In many cases, it is required to have a basic knowledge of the English language, U.S. History, and government. There are some exceptions. Those who are over 50 years old and have lived in the United States for over 20 years or over 55 and have lived in the United States for over 15 years are exempt from the English language requirement but still required to pass the civics test. Under these circumstances, one can do so in his or her native language.

Demonstrating loyalty to the United States and becoming a citizen

If you are approved for citizenship, you must take an oath of allegiance to the United States. It is a delightful ceremony where family and friends gather to celebrate the accomplishment. This is where you officially become a citizen. There are many great benefits to becoming a U.S. citizen, including the ability to vote, bring your family over to become citizens, hold government positions, and much more.

Contact a Bergen County naturalization attorney to help you through the process

There are countless factors that can seriously impact your immigration status. If you are having legal issues demonstrating a continuing and ongoing residential or physical presence, you need an attorney to represent you when dealing with immigration officials. If you have been convicted of a crime, you need an effective lawyer to fight for your future. With so much at stake, contact Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC to help ensure a happy conclusion.