lisamcfarlane99, Author at USA Immigration Company

MARRIAGE GREEN CARD

Many people believe that marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder is the simplest route for a foreign national to become a permanent resident of the U.S. To encourage family togetherness, the U.S. allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouses and other family members for U.S. Green Cards. If you are a foreign national and marry a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, you will be eligible for a US Green Card. This applies to both domestic and international marriages.

To qualify, however, you must demonstrate that you and your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse are legally married and that your marriage is real. Similarly, you must demonstrate that neither you nor your spouse are married to anyone else.

Your marriage cannot be a fake marriage, and you cannot have married for immigration purposes. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States can marry foreign nationals both in the United States and overseas. People who marry US citizens, initially granted two-year Green Cards with conditions on their residence, and when those cards are about to expire, conditional residents, along with their U.S. citizen or permanent residents’ spouses, must jointly file applications to have the conditions removed, by filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence, to obtain permanent resident cards valid for ten years.

If you are married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, your spouse must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on your behalf in order for you to be sponsored. Immigrant petitions filed by U.S. residents on behalf of their direct relatives are typically processed by USCIS in about two months. After the USCIS authorizes your spouse’s Form I-130, you may petition for an immigrant visa in your native country.

You can go to the United States as a permanent resident if your petition is approved and you receive an immigrant visa. Immigrant visas will be issued promptly to the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, and you will not be placed on a waiting list. As a result, you will be awarded a visa as soon as your petition is approved.

You can simultaneously file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for status adjustment and permanent residency if you are in the country when your U.S. citizen spouse files Form I-130 on your behalf.

If you marry a U.S. citizen while you are in the country on a non-immigrant visa, when your spouse files Form I-130 on your behalf, you can change your status to that of a permanent resident by filing Form I-485. In this situation, returning home to apply for an immigrant visa and going through consular processing are not necessary. You will receive a conditional, two-year Green Card upon the approval of your petition.

Forms that must be submitted along with Form I-130 and Form I-485 are:

From I-130A, Supplemental Information for a Spouse Beneficiary
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
Form I-693, Medical Examination by a certified civil surgeon
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (if needed)
Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document (if needed)

You must submit these USCIS documents together with:

copies of your and your spouse’s birth certificates
copies of your passport copies of your spouse’s naturalization certificate, passport, or US citizenship certificate Form G-325A (one for you and one for your US citizen spouse)
copy of your divorce decree and marriage certificate (if any)

Your U.S. citizen spouse must first submit Form I-130 on your behalf if you get married to a U.S. citizen abroad. Before obtaining an immigrant visa, you cannot enter America. However, as soon as the USCIS approves the Form I-130 submitted by your U.S. citizen spouse, you can apply right away for an immigrant visa. After your U.S. citizen spouse submits Form I-130 and the USCIS approves it, the petition is sent to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your native country. You will need to apply for an immigrant visa in person at the relevant embassy or consulate.

Since there won’t be a waiting list for direct family members of U.S. citizens, you won’t have to wait long to get a visa and will get one as soon as your petition is approved. The necessary fees must be paid, and your petition must be submitted with the aforementioned supporting documentation. You will be informed by the National Visa Center when your petition for an immigrant visa has been granted, and you will then need to show up for a medical test and fingerprints. An immigration visa will then be granted after an interview. You are able to visit America with this visa and obtain a Green Card there. You will only receive a two-year Green Card, so keep that in mind.

It’s important to keep in mind that a conditional Green Card is only good for two years and cannot be renewed. You must submit a petition to have the restrictions on your card lifted by the conclusion of the two-year period, and you and your spouse who is a U.S. citizen must file Form I-751 in order to do so. You will lose your status in America and be deported if you neglect to submit this form before the expiration of your conditional status.

After submitting this petition, you will need to attend an interview with your spouse to confirm that you are still legally married to your U.S. citizen spouse. The immigration officers will approve your petition and provide you an unconditional Green Card with a ten-year validity period if they find that your marriage is sincere. You must include copies of your conditional Green Card and documentary proof that you did not get married for immigration reasons when you file Form I-751, such as joint bank accounts, insurance papers, birth certificates of your children, joint utility bills, or other pertinent documents to

If your spouse is a permanent resident and submits Form I-130 on your behalf, you cannot file an application for adjustment of status. Prior to submitting Form I-485, you must wait until your priority date becomes current.

Forms that must be filed:

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence
Form G-325, Biographic Information (for both the petitioner and the beneficiary)
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
A copy Form I-94 to prove that you entered into America legally
A copy of the petitioner’s alien registration card (Green Card)
Form I-693, Medical Examination Results
A certified copy of the marriage certification
Copies of your birth certificate and your spouse’s
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (if needed)
Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document (if needed)

It’s possible that until the priority date becomes current, you won’t be permitted to stay in the country lawfully. You must get a non-immigrant visa if you need to remain in the United States before submitting Form I-485 in order to do so legally.

After submitting Form, I-485, you can apply for adjustment of status soon after the priority date becomes current and can stay in the country legally.

Keep in mind that you will be subject to removal procedures if your non-immigrant visa expires before your priority date becomes current. You must thus apply for a student visa or another type of non-immigrant visa that will allow you to stay in the country while you change your status. Keep in mind that the priority date may not become current for three years or more.

Our team of highly qualified immigration specialists can help to make process of obtaining your green card quick and painless, not to mention -super affordable! You can request our Green Card Based On marriage Services Here.

HOW TO APPLY FOR K1 FIANCE VISA

A K-1 fiancé visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign national to enter the United States in order to marry their U.S. citizen fiancé. The K-1 fiancé visa is intended for individuals who are engaged to be married and plan to marry within 90 days of entering the United States.

To be eligible for a K-1 fiancé visa, the U.S. citizen sponsor and the foreign national fiancé must have met in person within the past two years. Exceptions to this requirement may be made in certain cases, such as if the requirement would violate strict and long-established customs of the foreign national’s culture or if the requirement would result in extreme hardship for the U.S. citizen sponsor.

The K-1 visa process begins when the U.S. citizen sponsor files a petition on behalf of their fiancé with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition must include evidence of the couple’s relationship, such as proof of their engagement and communication, as well as evidence that the U.S. citizen sponsor is able to financially support the foreign national.

The petition must be filed on Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé. The form can be found on the USCIS website and must be completed and submitted online or by mail. The petition must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee, which at the time of writing is $535.

The foreign national will need to provide certain documents as part of the visa application process, such as a passport, birth certificate, and police clearance certificate. They will also need to undergo a medical examination and a background check.

During the interview, the consular officer will review the foreign national’s application and supporting documents and will ask questions to determine their eligibility for a K-1 visa.

Once the petition is approved by USCIS, it is forwarded to the National Visa Center for further processing. The foreign national fiancé must then complete the visa application process, which includes an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

If the K-1 visa is approved, the foreign national fiancé can enter the United States and has 90 days to marry their U.S. citizen sponsor. After the marriage, the foreign national can apply for a green card to become a permanent resident of the United States.

It is important to note that the K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa, which means that it is temporary and does not lead directly to permanent residency or citizenship. The foreign national must marry their U.S. citizen sponsor and apply for a green card in order to remain in the United States on a permanent basis.

If a foreign national on a K-1 fiancé visa does not marry their U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of entering the United States, their visa will expire, and they will be required to leave the country.

If the couple decides not to marry, the U.S. citizen sponsor can withdraw their petition for the foreign national by submitting a written request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, the foreign national will still be required to leave the United States once their K-1 visa expires.

If the couple is unable to marry within the 90-day period due to extenuating circumstances, such as a delay in obtaining a marriage license or a medical emergency, they may be able to request an extension of the K-1 visa. To do so, the U.S. citizen sponsor must file a request with USCIS before the visa expires. The request must include evidence of the extenuating circumstances and a statement explaining why the couple was unable to marry within the original 90-day period.

If the extension request is approved, the foreign national will be allowed to remain in the United States for an additional period of time, typically no more than six months. During this time, they must marry their U.S. citizen sponsor and apply for a green card to become a permanent resident of the United States. If the couple does not marry within the extended period, the foreign national will be required to leave the country.

Our team of highly qualified immigration specialists can help to make process of obtaining K1 Fiancé visa quick and painless, not to mention -super affordable! You can request our K1 Visa Services Here.

PERM PROCESS EXPLAINED

PERM processing is a permanent labor certification process required for some specific employment-based categories. When an employer wants to hire a foreign national as a worker, they must get certified approval from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (DOL). This approval is known as a PERM Labor Certification. After getting approval from the DOL, the employer must file an immigration petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the foreign national worker. The most crucial step an employer must take to meet the minimum standards for permanently hiring a foreign national is the PERM labor certification.

There are four main steps in the PERM procedure, which are as follows:

Step 1 is to create jobs.

For the employee, the employer creates a position. The necessary responsibilities, tasks, job title, and work history are listed in the job description.

Step 2: Present payment documentation of foreign national

The employer must substantiate their ability to pay the foreign employee in accordance with the DOL’s prevailing wage regulations. A corporation is required to provide supporting paperwork, such as a federal income tax return, annual report, or audited financial statement, to prove that it has continued to be able to pay the foreign national employee’s salary.

Step 3: Verify employment for the foreign workers

According to Department of Labor (DOL) regulations, sponsors are required to “test the American labor market.” As a result, they must make sure that no qualified and willing citizens of the United States or legal residents of the country are able to carry out the jobs for which only foreigners are being employed as part of the PERM procedure. The sponsoring company must suspend the process and wait six months before retesting the labor market after receiving a qualified and eager U.S. applicant for the position. If not, the employer is ready to submit PERM applications.

Step 4: File the application.

Experienced professionals with the authority to mark a case as suspect for PERM audit review each case. To confirm that all necessary procedures were followed, a DOL Certification Officer may also request further paperwork. A decision for the petitioner may not be reached for up to 209 days during the process. It is difficult to provide an exact timeline for the audit process given the delays brought on by COVID-19.

The PERM procedure can take about the following amount of time:

Review of the audit: more than 209 days
180 days for PERM prevailing wage determination (another 120 days to review any audits)
If Form I-140 is not filed with the Perm Certification within six months, it may expire
During the hiring process, an employer must run advertisements for 30 to 60 days.

The PERM processing time cannot be determined by a single factor. Days are needed to obtain clearance for the PERM process because each step must be carefully considered. To get an approximate number of days, let’s examine each phase and the underlying days necessary for approval in detail:

Depending on the quantity and location of requests, the processing time for prevailing wage determination may vary. The DOL may require up to 180 days to approve the determination of the prevailing wage. The time it takes to determine the prevailing wage varies; sometimes it takes over two months, other times it only takes a few weeks. Sometimes the DOL approval arrived in a matter of a few weeks, and other times it took more than two months. Applications that were submitted in October 2021 are currently undergoing the review appeal procedure at this time. The DOL staff will consider the appeals following the completion of the prevailing wage finding, which could take an additional 120 days.

The organization or the employer must post job advertisements as part of the PERM recruitment process. You may, for instance, advertise job openings in the newspaper, online, on the radio, or in schools and institutions. To reach the individuals and give them ample time to respond, the company must publish these employment advertisements for at least 30 to 60 days. The method and timing must also be planned in accordance with the initial and subsequent interviews with job applicants. This procedure doesn’t take very long.

Following the conclusion of the hiring procedure, your business may submit the ETA-9089 PERM application. The employer is required to submit the ETA-9089 PERM application following the hiring. After Form 9089 is submitted, it may take several months for the legal services to process the PERM approval. If your business is not subject to a DOL audit, PERM processing takes little time. However, the PERM procedure may be further delayed if DOL seeks an audit. In this situation, it can take up to six months until your application is officially decided.

The audit review process currently takes more than 209 days.

As a result, depending on the priority of each case, the normal processing period ranges from six to twelve months.

The processing times for applications for permanent labor certification (PERM) have been modified monthly by the Department of Labor (DOL). The processing timeframes for PERM applications in March 2022 were almost longer than those in February. PERM approvals typically take 182 days to move through adjudication and 283 days to complete the audit review, concluding the timeframes every month.

Your timetable may be significantly altered by the PERM processing timeframes associated with an audit because the delay may lengthen. There are two categories for the audits.

Random Audits-The Department of Labor conducts audits on a few cases as a precaution to make sure that no one abuses the system. However, there is no expectation that the applicant will be ready for these audits because selection for these audits is quite random.

Targeted Audits-Targeted audits of PERM applications may be conducted if:

having less than a bachelor’s degree is necessary for the position.
working in a trade-related position
the beneficiary is not qualified for the employment post if the employee is a relative of the employer.
applicants who attended a particular set of preset public schools
a job posting for which the business excludes applicants who have already been laid off from the hiring process because the role requires someone without a bachelor’s degree.

Within six months of submitting the PERM certification, you can get a request for one of these audits. You will receive a letter regarding the application when it has been audited, and you will have 30 days to respond, in roughly 2-3 weeks.

Since the audit was conducted, the DOL’s decision may take up to nine months to be made. You must therefore make the necessary preparations because the processing period could possibly grow to an additional year and a half.

Remember though, audited requests aren’t always turned down. You might still be approved even if the process is audited and takes a while to resolve.

The DOL may ask the employer to take further steps in the hiring process to ensure fairness. The fundamental justification for these actions is that the employer can ensure that their company follows appropriate hiring practices to identify and hire competent U.S. workers before extending job possibilities to immigrants or foreign nationals.

If an employer has recently been informed that their case has been designated for supervised recruiting, they have 30 days to send the advertisement draft in accordance with Department of Labor requirements. A firm advertisement may take several weeks or months to evaluate and accept in the interim. During this point, they could also inquire about the job in more detail.

Carefully completing your PERM application can assist you in processing it quickly and without receiving any audit notices.

The sole stage of the PERM green card application procedure that permits premium processing is Form I-140. You will be given a general schedule for each phase of the procedure, and each step will take several months.

The applicants for PERM green card filing face increased competition.

Let’s say you are submitting a PERM Labor Certification application without the assistance of a lawyer. In such situation, getting a direct clearance notification will be challenging given that they primarily handle H-1B and L-1 visa requests. Therefore, to maximize your chances of receiving a direct clearance notice, you must deal with an immigration lawyer that has substantial experience in PERM Labor Certification.

With a 40% rejection rate for scenarios that are not approved, the average wait time for progress adjudications is 224 days.

The DOL targets 30% of labor certification cases annually for verification, which explains why there are so many audits and supervising recruitments. The audited PERM cases receive more attention and consideration than others.

You need to adhere to Department of Labor requirements for us to approve your PERM applications. Unfortunately, there are a number of risks that could lead to fast rejection. Here are a few explanations as to why your PERM application can be rejected:

Inadequate And Ineffective Recruitment

If you don’t adhere to DOL’s advertising strategies or have insufficient knowledge of its marketing. There are many inquiries on a CV or application, thus mistakes could be seen as an intrusion on the position’s accessibility. Your business must maintain thorough records of all hiring and marketing initiatives, exercise caution during the market testing phase, and be upfront and truthful about job openings.

Inaccurate Job Description

Employers are required to appropriately describe the duties, educational requirements, experience needs, and skill demands when sponsoring a sponsored post. This suggests that businesses are unable to set unrealistic employment requirements in an effort to turn away candidates. This suggests that the employer is not allowed to “tailor” work activities and requirements to the credentials of the sponsored foreign national.

Employer’s Incapacity to Pay Prevailing Wages

The chances of the application being dismissed increase if the company does not provide genuine financial proof. An employer or business must pay a foreign national employee at the going rate for the type of work they are doing. When determining the prevailing wage, the employer must demonstrate his financial stability and ability to pay the employee on time. The prevailing pay decision protects foreign workers from being underpaid and maintains the equilibrium of the labor market.

If you application gets denied you can request reconsideration to the certifying official who rejected your case within 30 days. Only original material that was previously given to the Certifying Officer and documentation that the employer had at the time of filing the PERM application but did not have the opportunity to do so may be included. Additional paperwork that might not be pertinent to the PERM application is not required. You can also request an appeal. However, you should be ready for an immigration specialist to advise you to simply accept the PERM refusal and re-file the case later because the appeal may take some time.

You may: to monitor the status of your PERM application:

Visit the DOL website to check the PERM processing times. You can track the progress of the review of your application.
Verify the day you submitted your tax return. After submitting Form 9089, you can review the status of your case on the DOL’s Permanent Case Management System.
Contact the helpline at the National Processing Center (NPC). Your name and filing date will be used by the NPC to assess whether any additional information is required for your application. If so, they will let you know what extra needs to be done.

Out team of highly qualified immigration specialist can help obtaining PERM quick and painless, not to mention affordable. You can contact us HERE to discuss your options.

US TRAVEL VISA EXPLAINED

A U.S. travel visa is a document that allows a foreign national to enter the United States for a specific purpose, such as tourism, business, or temporary work. There are several different types of U.S. travel visas, each of which has its own requirements and restrictions.

The most common type of U.S. travel visa is the B-2 visa, which is for tourism or recreational purposes. To be eligible for a B-2 visa, the foreign national must have a valid passport, a stable residence abroad, and sufficient funds to cover their expenses while in the United States. The B-2 visa allows the holder to stay in the United States for up to six months but can be extended for longer periods in certain circumstances.

Other types of U.S. travel visas include the B-1 visa for business purposes, the F-1 visa for academic study, and the H-1B visa for temporary work in a specialty occupation. Each of these visas has specific requirements and restrictions, and the foreign national must demonstrate that they are eligible for the visa based on the purpose of their trip to the United States.

To apply for a U.S. travel visa, the foreign national must first determine which type of visa is appropriate for their trip to the United States. After that foreign national must complete an online application, DS-160 on the U.S. Department of State website and pay the appropriate visa application fee, which is $160 at the time of writing. The application must be completed in English, and the foreign national must provide personal information, passport details, and information about their planned trip to the United States. They must also schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, where they will be required to provide supporting documents and undergo a background check.

The decision to grant or deny a U.S. travel visa is made by a consular officer during the visa interview. The officer will consider factors such as the foreign national’s reason for traveling to the United States, their ties to their home country, and their ability to support themselves financially while in the United States.

It is important to note that a U.S. travel visa is not a guarantee of entry into the United States. The visa allows the holder to travel to a U.S. port of entry, where a Customs and Border Protection officer will make the final decision on whether to admit the foreign national into the country.

If the visa is approved, the foreign national will be issued a visa that allows them to travel to the United States for the purpose stated on the visa. The visa must be used within its validity period, which is typically six months from the date of issuance.

Our team of highly qualified immigration specialist can help you submit your travel visa application quick and painless, not to mention affordable. You can find our Visa Petition Services Here.

WORKING IN US

Working in US temporarily, requires obtaining a work visa. There are several different types of work visas, each of which has its own requirements and restrictions.

The most common type of work visa is the H-1B visa for temporary workers in specialty occupations. To be eligible for an H-1B visa, you must have a job offer from a U.S. employer and have at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in your field. The H-1B visa allows you to work in the United States for up to six years and can be renewed in certain circumstances.

Other types of visas for working in US include the H-2B visa for temporary non-agricultural workers, the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees, and the E-3 visa for Australian citizens. Each of these visas has specific requirements and restrictions, and you must demonstrate that you are eligible for the visa based on the nature of your work and your qualifications.

In order to apply for a work visa, you must first have a job offer from a U.S. employer. The employer must file a petition I-129 on your behalf with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including evidence of the job offer and your qualifications.

Once the petition is approved by USCIS, you can complete the visa application process, which includes an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. You will need to provide certain documents as part of the visa application process, such as a passport, birth certificate, and police clearance certificate.

During the interview, the consular officer will review your application and supporting documents and will ask questions to determine your eligibility for a work visa. If the visa is approved, you can enter the United States and begin working for your U.S. employer. It is important to note that the work visa is a temporary visa and does not lead directly to permanent residency or citizenship.

It is important to note that the work visa is a temporary visa and does not lead directly to permanent residency or citizenship. If you want to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, you will need to apply for a green card, also known as a permanent resident card. Your U.S. employer may be able to sponsor you for a green card, but the process can be complex and time-consuming.

Our team of qualified immigration specialist can help make obtaining a work visa quick and painless, not to mention affordable. You can contact us HERE to discuss your work visa needs.

WAYS TO GET A GREEN CARD

The U.S. green card, or permanent resident card, is a coveted document that gives you permission to live and work in the United States without having to worry about gaining an additional visa or other paperwork requirements. The process of obtaining a green card can be complicated and lengthy but with some guidance it’s possible to understand your options and make progress on the road to becoming a permanent resident. Here are some ways to get a green card:

1. Employment-Based Green Card: One way to obtain a green card is through employer sponsorship if you have specialized skills that are needed in the U.S., such as medical professionals or computer engineers. Companies that sponsor employees must prove they can’t find qualified candidates domestically and will be responsible for most of the green card paperwork. The employer must also provide proof that they’re paying you minimum wage and meeting other labor conditions.

2. Family-Based Green Card: If you are related to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for a family-based green card. This could include spouses, parents or even siblings depending on your relationship to the U.S. citizen in question. Generally speaking, the closer the relationship the easier it is to gain approval for a family-based green card; however, all necessary documentation must be filed correctly and timely as any mistakes tend to delay processing times considerably or can result in outright denial of your application.

3. Diversity Lottery Program: The Diversity Lottery Program is a lottery system for those who wish to obtain a green card but don’t have the necessary qualifications or family members needed for either of the two options above. In order to qualify, you must be from an eligible country and meet certain educational requirements. Winners are then randomly selected by a computerized drawing, with 50,000 people awarded green cards each year.

4. Refugee Status: Refugees may come to the U.S., often due to political upheaval in their home countries, and seek protection through asylum or refugee status. If they are able to prove they face potential harm if they were forced to return to their country of origin, they could qualify for refugee status which includes a possibility of obtaining permanent resident status after one year.

5. Asylum: As an alternative to refugee status, you can also qualify for asylum if you are already in the U.S., have been persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion and are unable to return safely to your home country. If approved, applicants will be granted permanent resident status one year after they have applied for asylum status.

The process of applying for a permanent resident card is not always easy but with the right guidance it’s possible to obtain this valuable document. Whether through employer sponsorship, family-based applications, diversity lotteries or even asylums and refugees statuses there may be opportunity to gain legal residence in the United States.

It’s important to note that the application process can take anywhere from six months to a year or more as each green card request is unique and dependent on individual circumstances. The most important step you can take when applying for a green card is to make sure all paperwork is complete, accurate and filed in a timely manner so that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can process your request with minimal delays.

Additionally, you need to seek advice from a qualified immigration experts such as immigration lawyers or paralegals before beginning the permanent resident application process to ensure correct procedures are followed from start to finish. Our immigration paralegal team can help with your green card application here!

Good luck!

HOW TO APPLY FOR US CITIZENSHIP: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

While the process of applying for US Citizenship can seem daunting, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure that you have all the required documentation. In order to avoid any potential delays or hiccups in the process, it’s crucial that you gather everything that’s needed before beginning your application.

The good news is, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) has a very comprehensive list of all the documents you’ll need to submit as part of your US Citizenship application. They include everything from proof of identity and residency to financial documents and employment records. While it may seem like a lot, taking the time to gather everything beforehand will save you a lot of headaches down the road.

The first step is to make sure that you are eligible for US citizenship. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of the United States with a Green Card, must have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to a US citizen, and able to read, write, and speak basic English. In addition, you must be able to demonstrate that you have good moral character and basic knowledge of U.S. history and civics.

The next step is to fill out Form N-400, which is the Application for Naturalization. This form is available on the USCIS website to file online or by mail.

If you decided to file by mail, after you have completed Form N-400, you will need to submit it along with the filing fee and any supporting documents to your local USCIS office. You can find the address here. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your documentation must be original or certified copies. USCIS will not accept photocopies, faxes, or scans of original documents. This means that if you don’t have an original birth certificate or passport, you’ll need to get one before beginning your application. It’s also important to make sure that all your documents are up to date, expired passports or out-of-state driver’s licenses won’t be accepted, so be sure to renew them well in advance of starting your citizenship application.

After your application has been accepted, you will be scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer. At this interview, you will be asked questions about your application and your background. You will also be required to take a civic exam and an English exam. The civic test is an oral exam administered by a US citizenship officer. The purpose of the exam is to test an applicant’s knowledge and understanding of US history and government. There are 100 possible questions on the civics test, 10 of which will be asked, and applicants must answer at least 6 of them correctly in order to pass.

On the day of your scheduled appointment, arrive early and bring all required documentation with you. Once you check in with the receptionist, you will be called back for your interview. The interview will begin with the citizenship officer asking you some basic biographical questions, such as your name, address, and date of birth. After that, it will be time for the civic test. The officer will randomly select 10 questions from the list of 100 possible questions and read them aloud to you. You will have up to 20 seconds to answer each question. If you answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly, you will have passed the civics portion of your citizenship interview.

Another requirement for becoming a naturalized United States citizen is passing an English test. Don’t worry, this isn’t a test of your literary skills or grammar knowledge. The test is meant to ensure that you can communicate in basic English. The US citizenship English test is a simple exam that consists of a written exam. The written exam is composed of two sections: reading and writing. For the reading section, you must read one out of three sentences correctly. For the writing section, you must write one out of three sentences correctly.

If you pass the interview and exams, you will be scheduled for a ceremony where you will take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States at your local courthouse. Congrats—you are now a U.S. citizen!

Applying for US citizenship can seem like a daunting task but following these simple steps will make the process go smoothly. Be sure to check if you meet all the eligibility requirements before getting started on your Form N-400. Once you have completed the form and gathered all the required documents, submit everything to your local USCIS office along with the filing fee. Documentation is one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of applying for US Citizenship. Original or certified copies of all required paperwork must be submitted with your application in order for it to be processed. This includes proof of identity, residency, financial stability, and employment history. While it may seem like a lot to gather upfront, doing so will save you time and hassle in the long run. You will be scheduled for an interview where you will take a civic exam and an English exam. If you pass these exams, you will take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony and officially become a US citizen!

You can find our citizenship services here.

If you need assistance filing for US citizenship you can find our Naturalization Services here.

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MARRIAGE GREEN CARD

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PERM PROCESS EXPLAINED

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