If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you may be wondering how long you have to wait before applying for citizenship. The answer to that question depends on your immigration status and how long you have been living in the country. In this blog post, we will discuss the different requirements for citizenship and who is eligible to apply. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration attorney at Zohar Law for more information.
How Long Do I Have to Be a Permanent Resident to Apply for Citizenship?
How Long Do I Have to Be a Permanent Resident to Apply for Citizenship?
Time Requirements And Exceptions
In order to be eligible for citizenship, you must have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least five years. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as if you are married to a U.S. citizen or if you are the child of a U.S. citizen. If you meet these requirements, you may apply for citizenship after three years of being a permanent resident.
Time Spent In The United States
To be eligible, you must also have been physically present in the United States for at least half the time during those five years. This means that if you were out of the country for more than six months each year, then it will not count towards your eligibility period. If you have been a permanent resident for less than five years, you may still be eligible to apply if you meet certain requirements.
How To Improve Your Chances Of Becoming A Citizen
If you meet all of these requirements, then you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. There are several things that can help improve your chances of becoming a citizen: having good moral character, speaking English well enough to take the Naturalization test and pass it (reading writing), being able to support yourself financially without public assistance or government benefits such as food stamps, and being a law-abiding permanent resident.
Why Having An Immigration Attorney Is A Good Idea
An immigration attorney will also be able to tell you if there is anything else that needs doing before applying for citizenship, such as going through an interview or getting a medical exam. Having an immigration attorney will ensure that everything goes smoothly and as quickly as the process allows.
Immigration attorneys are not all created equal, so it is important to find one who has experience with immigration law in general and naturalization specifically. An immigration lawyer can help you understand the process of applying for citizenship and advise on any issues that might come up along the way. At Zohar Law in New York, we have been helping people navigate the process of becoming US citizens for years. Contact us today to learn more.