Here at Alcock and Associates we have the experience and knowledge necessary to help and represent you in your naturalization process. At our law firm we have a team of very dedicated, responsible, and caring attorneys who are here to help you and fight for you.
The immigration process is quite complicated and can even be lengthy, so having the right person by your side can make all the difference in your case. Over the years here at Alcock and Associates, we have had the pleasure and honor of being able to achieve hundreds of positive results from our various immigration cases.
We also offer free consultations as well as reasonable payment plans. Our office has represented many people in their nationalization. We also want to help you in your process. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
One thing that is very important for you to know before hiring our services are the laws and options related to your case.
REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURALIZATION
For someone to qualify for the naturalization process, they must have been a permanent resident for at least five years before being eligible. The only exception to this would be if the individual received their permanent residency through a marriage to a U.S. citizen.
If the person in question received their permanent residence through spousal marriage, has been with the same spouse for 3 years, then they can apply for citizenship.
In the naturalization process, the client must also submit any copies of a criminal record. The applicant must also prove that he or she has been a person of good moral character for the past 5 years.
In other words, this means that an individual must wait 5 years from their last criminal order case to apply for naturalization.
The entire process can take six months, but to become a U.S. citizen, the applicant must meet the following requirements.
Be 18 years of age or older
If lawful permanent residence was obtained by marriage, the green card holder can apply for it after 3 years as long as their spouse has been a U.S. citizen for more than three years, AND the applicant must be married to the U.S. citizen for more than three years.
Have lived within the USCIS state or district with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence for at least 3 months prior to filing the naturalization application.
Have continuous residence in the U.S. As a green card holder for at least five years immediately prior to filing the naturalization application.
Reside continuously within the U.S. From the date of application for naturalization to the time of naturalization
Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government Exceptions: 20 years of LPR and be over 50 years of age, or 15 years of LPR and be over 55 years of age.
You have not committed the following offenses within the five years immediately preceding the date of submission (this list is not all-inclusive):
Serious crimes
Conviction of one or more crimes of moral depravity
Conviction of two or more crimes with a combined sentence of at least five years.
Controlled substance violation, except 30 grams or less of marijuana
Be incarcerated for 180 days or more
Prostitution offences
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
First, you will need to complete the N-400 form. This form is the application used to apply for citizenship. The form costs $640.00. However, the biometric exam is always included in the filing fee, totaling $725.00.
The following are some of the documents to submit with form N-400:
Passport-style photos
Copy of marriage certificate (if applicable on the basis of marriage)
Copy of divorce decrees or death certificates from the previous marriage (if applicable)
Copy of the front and back of the residence
Certified court documents (if you are arrested or charged with a crime, or a crime has been eliminated)
Evidence of registration with the Selective Service (if you are a man who lived in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 26)
After about one month after applying, the applicant will receive an appointment letter from USCIS. On the date and time indicated in the letter, the individual must go to the indicated place and take their fingerprints.
Approximately two months after completing the biometrics, the applicant will receive a letter with the appointment for the interview. At the specified time, go to the local office to answer questions about the application, take the English and civics test, and receive a decision.
There are certain exceptions to the requirement to read, write, and speak in English. The applicant must be at least 50 years of age and be an LPR for at least 20 years, at least 50 years of age and be an LPR for at least 15 years, at least 65 years of age and be an LPR for at least 20 years. If the applicant is over the age of 65 and has been an LPR for 20 years or more, they will be given a short version of the history and government tests that have twenty questions. These people do not have to take the English language test, but the civics test in the language of their choice.
Here’s what you’ll need to bring to the interview:
Green card
Valid state-issued ID
Passports and travel documents.
Birth certificates of children (if children are indicated on the application)
Tax Returns
Certified court documents (if there is a criminal record)
Now the only step left is to take the oath! If approved, the final step is to take an oath of allegiance. USCIS will notify the applicant by mail of the time and date of the ceremony. When the date arrives, the person must arrive at least 30 minutes early to register and turn in their green card. If more than one day has passed since the interview, several questions may be asked of the applicant. Once the ceremony is completed and the oath has been recited, the applicant is now a citizen. The certificate of naturalization will be issued and used as proof of citizenship.
Here are some of the questions one should ask to determine if they are eligible for the naturalization process.
How did you enter the United States?
How long have you lived in the United States?
Have you ever left the United States? If so, when and for how long?
Have you ever been deported?
Have you ever signed a voluntary departure?
Have you ever been denied entry to the United States?
Have you ever used fraudulent documents to gain entry into the United States?
Have you ever told someone you were a U.S. citizen?
Have you ever been arrested for any crime?
Have you ever been convicted of committing any crime?
We hope this information will help you better understand your case. Thank you
If you have any questions about how the naturalization process works or would like to schedule a free consultation, please feel free to call us at 703-789-3333 or come to our office in Manassas, VA.
Very happy for having obtained my residency and for the patience they had handling my case. I went to my interview outside of the United States and I came back well, being a resident. When I went to my interview, they gave me everything I needed. The service was the best and with a very good price for the service. I recommend this law firm a lot, especially my attorney Lisa Elkin, excellent work!
- R.L.
Excellent service, thank you Alcock and Associates for your services, especially to Daniella Hernandez for her help and patience and explaining to us my siblings’ case, thank you very much Daniella.
- E.Z.
I am very thankful with the Alcock group, for the very good experience that I had from my first interview with Emmanuel and later on with Daniela Hernandez. I thank my attorney Nicholas for having excellent people and for solving my case, which was a petition through my daughter, and everything got resolved favorably.
- S.S.
Hi, my experience was very satisfactory, from the beginning the treatment was very good all the way up until the end, the attorney Lisa Elkin and the assistant Daniela were very nice and very professional, I was very happy with their service, I recommend them very highly, I thank them and I am going to highly recommend them.
- M.O.
It was a pleasure to have as a representative this wonderful work team. The immigration attorney Lisa Elkin and her very professional assistant Daniella Hernandez were always looking after my wife's case from beginning to end.
- B.A.
Thank you very much Alcock and Associates for your excellent service, especially attorney Lisa Elkin who helped me obtain my residency. This law firm is very recommended. Thank you!
- F.G.
I definitely recommend these attorneys, they helped me so much with my residency case. They were always there for anything I needed, especially attorney Lisa and Daniella Hernandez.
- R.J.
Thank you very much Alcock and Associates for all your service. I obtained my residency and came to the United States from El Salvador. Especially to my attorney Lisa, thank you very much. I recommend this firm very much. Thank you for everything!!!
- Y.M.
Thank you very much to my attorney Lisa and to Daniela. They were always very attentive in my case and thanks to that we obtained very good results. I completely recommend them and once again thank you.
- A.G.
After waiting for a long time, we finally are able to feel more at peace with our residency, thanks to Jennifer for her guidance and to Daniela for her help and patience, and to the attorney Nicholas for being interested in our case. Thank you.
- M.O
FREE CONSULTATION WITH AN ATTORNEY
During our consultations, we will dedicate ourselves to answer your questions, explain your options and your first consultation is completely free. We will make sure we know the details of your case so that you can have the best possible support. We have the best specialized attorneys to give you the best options and know how to proceed with your legal situation.
Alcock & Associates, PC has attorneys licensed to practice immigration law throughout the United States. Our offices in Virginia provide representation to those in need of U.S. federal immigration services. Our attorneys are not authorized to practice the laws of the State of Virginia and will not provide legal advice on any matter or case that falls within the jurisdiction of the laws of the State of Virginia or any local law of any municipality of Virginia.