The final step for most immigrants is to become a U.S. citizen by filing a naturalization application. The naturalization process is very personal to me. Both my father and grandmother became U.S. citizens by applying for naturalization.
I always encourage my clients who have been granted permanent residency (a “green card”) to apply for naturalization as soon as they are eligible. A U.S. citizen not only has more rights than a permanent resident, but there are other benefits to U.S. citizenship, such as the ability to petition parents for a green card.
Most green card holders must wait five years to apply for naturalization. However, a permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen may only have to wait three years to apply for naturalization.
I handle both straightforward and complex naturalization applications. I strongly recommend that a person with a complicated immigration history or who has been arrested or convicted of a crime consult with me before applying to become a U.S. citizen.
