Austin Citizenship Attorney

If you have been a legal permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States and are now thinking about obtaining U.S. citizenship, you should contact Ghoshal Law PLLC to find out if you qualify. If you do, we’d be happy to guide you through the naturalization process so you can enjoy the benefits of becoming a United States citizen. 

When you hire our Austin immigration attorney for your family’s immigration needs, you can count on our team to provide the legal guidance and personal attention you deserve. Over the years, we have assisted several green card holders with naturalization, including many complex cases involving prior convictions and disruptions in residence. If you have questions about becoming a citizen or are ready to begin your U.S. citizenship application as soon as possible, call our Austin, Texas immigration law firm today.

If you are living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident, you have the option of eventually becoming a U.S. citizen as long as you meet specific requirements. If you’re unsure if you want to begin this process, consider the many benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Citizenship can offer you many rights and privileges that you and your loved ones can benefit from. In particular, when you become a citizen, you will have the right to:

• Vote in elections
• Run for public office 
• Serve on a jury 
• Get permanent protection from deportation proceedings
• Sponsor certain family members to start the green card process
• Travel abroad with a U.S. passport and no strict residency requirements
• Apply for certain federal grants, scholarships, social security payments, and other public benefits not available to non-citizens
• Apply for state and federal government jobs 

If you’re interested in these benefits of becoming a citizen, you should speak with Austin immigration lawyers to learn how to get started on your citizenship application. Whether you have your green card and want to know when you can apply for citizenship or are just beginning the immigration process from outside the U.S., we’d be happy to provide the answers you need. Call our Texas law office today for the immigration legal services you need. 

Before becoming a citizen through naturalization, you’re expected to meet certain requirements. More specifically, all of the following must be true if you wish to become a naturalized citizen:

• You must be at least 18 years old at the time of filing
• You must have been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years in some instances, such as if you’re married to a U.S. citizen)
• You must meet the continuous residence requirement, meaning you’ve continuously lived in the U.S. for at least five years, or three years if you’re married to a U.S. citizen 
• You must pass the English literacy and civics tests, which means you can speak, read, and write in English and demonstrate sufficient knowledge of U.S. history and civics
• You must be a person of good moral character, which you can prove by not having any criminal charges on your record 
• You must be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance, showing you will support and defend the Constitution and the U.S. in general

If you believe you meet these requirements or need more information before you seek citizenship, you should contact our law firm to get answers from a trusted Austin immigration attorney who understands how important this process is for you and your family. When you hire our firm for help with naturalization, a caring immigration lawyer will guide you through your immigration case from start to finish, so book a consultation today to discuss your current and future immigration status in the U.S. 

The first step is to ensure you’re eligible for naturalization, meaning you have a valid green card and have lived in the U.S. for the specified period and meet residency and good moral character requirements. If you meet these and other requirements for citizenship, your immigration lawyer will help you complete Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to submit to USCIS.

The next step is a biometrics appointment. During this appointment, your fingerprints, photo, and signature will be taken to verify your identity and perform a background check. 

After the biometrics appointment, you will be scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer. During the interview, the officer will likely ask you about the information in your application to ensure accuracy,  take tests to determine your knowledge of U.S. history, civics, and the English language. If you’re concerned about your ability to pass these tests, let your immigration attorney know so they can provide helpful resources, such as study plans and practice questions. 

After the interview, you will receive a notice from the USCIS stating whether you’ve been approved for naturalization. If you have, you will be invited to a ceremony where you will publicly take the Oath of Allegiance. At that point, you will be given your Certificate of Naturalization so you can enjoy all the benefits of citizenship. 

Applying for citizenship can be an exciting process when you’re confident in your ability to meet all the qualifications. However, not everyone gets approved immediately, as some applications are delayed pending more information or outright denied. This is why having an experienced immigration attorney by your side is helpful, as they can make sense of the decision and advise you on what to do next. 

If the USCIS sends you a notice saying your application has been continued, this means you must submit additional documentation to verify your identity, prove you have been a green card holder for years, or back up any other claims you made in the application. A skilled immigration attorney can help you with this step by correcting any errors on the application or gathering more supporting documents. If you failed any of the tests at the interview, your immigration attorney can help you study so you’re prepared to retake them. 

If the USCIS denies your application, they will tell you why and give you a chance to request a hearing to appeal the decision. Depending on why you were denied, you might have the opportunity to fix the issue and eventually get approved. For example, if you failed the tests during the interview or the officer misunderstood an answer you gave about your background, you can reapply for a chance to get better results. 

However, if you were denied because you’re not eligible for naturalization, you might not be able to become a U.S. citizen. For instance, if you have a criminal record – especially one with criminal charges involving drugs, fraud, or violence – you could be barred from citizenship. The same is often true if you have a history of immigration violations, such as entering illegally, overstaying a visa, or being deported. 

Some of these immigration issues can’t be resolved, so you can likely continue living in the U.S. on a green card without becoming a citizen. However, some of these issues could be resolved with help from a trusted immigration law firm, which is why you should contact our Austin area law office to discuss your case. We can review your circumstances and provide legal guidance on your immigration goals, whether they involve applying for naturalization, appealing a decision made within the immigration system, or helping a family member with obtaining a green card. If you need any of these immigration legal services, call our Austin immigration law office today for a consultation. 

In some cases, children born outside the U.S. can become citizens based on the immigration status of one or both parents. More specifically, as outlined in the Child Citizenship Act, any child may automatically obtain U.S. citizenship should all the following criteria be met by his/her 18th birthday:

• Must be younger than 18 years of age on or before the 27th of February 2001
• Must be in the custody of at least one U.S. citizen parent
• Must already hold U.S. permanent residency and reside in the U.S.
• Must have already had a final and full adoption, if adopted

If you’re unsure if your child meets these requirements, contact a Texas immigration lawyer to learn more about obtaining citizenship through a parent. Our Austin immigration law firm has provided guidance to countless clients looking for assistance with the citizenship application process, so we have the legal knowledge and experience you need to take care of your case in a timely manner.

Seeking skilled legal representation can be the difference between success and failure in immigration law. With several complex steps and forms to fill out, mistakes are common and can result in unforeseen difficulties during the interview and denials, causing serious consequences for immigrants wanting to live the American Dream after submitting a citizenship or green card application.

If you want to take the final step in your immigration journey and become a US citizen, our experienced team will be happy to help. We regularly assist with various immigration matters for clients in Austin, Texas, and beyond, so you can count on us to help you apply for a family-based visa, get the legal status you want for yourself, apply for a work permit, and more. Call Ghoshal Law PLLC at 512-456-3536 for immigration law help in Austin, TX.