What are the steps to becoming an American citizen?

US citizenship opens up loads of opportunities that includes receiving a US passport and the right to cast your vote in the elections and hopefully put someone in office that is good to law abiding Americans, believes in personal responsibility, a strong national defense, balancing the budget, and having a strong private sector.  

In addition, once you become a citizen you cannot be easily deported although that doesn’t mean that everyone has a free reign if they commit crimes and run amuck as if they were in a sanctuary city like San Francisco that did not really care about how many crimes an illegal alien commits. Immigration lawyers highlight the fact that there are few steps and rules and regulations you must comply with in order to become an American citizen.

The First Step is Getting a Green Card

You must first become a Lawful Permanent Resident by securing a green card. To begin the process of acquiring a green card it would be prudent to consult an immigration attorney since there are several criteria for eligibility.

It is only after you obtain a green card that you can apply for a US citizen or naturalization. Legally the authorities are concerned about your moral character, duration of your stay in the US, your proficiency in English, and your knowledge of US history and government. Do you need to know that America spends far too much money on education and certainly health care and that America is about $18.4 trillion in debt? Probably not but you should.

Take Steps to Remove the Hindrances that are making You Ineligible

Analyze your past and present conduct as a resident in the country. Even committing minor crimes or violations can be an impediment to citizenship. If this is the case consult an immigration lawyer immediately to know how you can mitigate the problem. Sometimes spending too much time outside the US goes against an applicant. It would be wise to start taking steps to eliminate any possible hindrances, if any.

File Form N-400 with USCIS

Potential applicants are required to file an N-400 with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. This form must be submitted along with the relevant fee which is currently $595 to start the process of naturalization. Along with this fee you will have to pay an additional $85 for the biometrics process. Legal professionals suggest you do not forget to attach a copy of your green card. You can make a copy at a Fed Ex store or a Staples for example.

Get Fingerprinted

The FBI conducts a thorough background check and finger printing before the immigration authorities process any application. You will have to visit a local office to complete the process. These details are then passed on to the FBI for this purpose.

Attending the Citizenship Interview

After the background check is over and the FBI has given you a clean chit, a USCIS officer will conduct a citizenship interview. Usually the officer goes through the N-400 form to verify your answers once more following which you must qualify in an English Language and US civics test (which some people believe are far too easy to pass so you should not have any problem in passing them).

You may not have the right to vote yet but you have the right to use the Internet. You can get online all over the place, anywhere from a Starbucks to a supermarket with free WiFi. You need an immigration lawyer to become an American citizen, certainly if you want to save yourself time and make this a simple affair and not a gambling one. There are not any guarantees but the guessing game will end if you secure legal help. You can do so right here:  http://immigration.usattorneys.com/. 

Taking the Oath Ceremony

After the USCIS authorities approve of your application you will be asked to attend an oath ceremony. This means you have passed all the major hurdles and you are only required to attend an oath ceremony to qualify. This is usually a public ceremony attended by several people where you are required to swear loyalty to the US following which you will receive a certificate of naturalization.

While you may not need legal assistance to file an application for US citizenship it is always prudent to seek the services of an immigration lawyer to make sure there are no errors in the paperwork. Any glitches could only prolong the process or prevent you from receiving US citizenship. If you want to make this right and to make sure everything is done on the up and up you should hire a legal professional.