Naturalization

The process through which a person becomes a US Citizen.

USCIS Immigrant Integration Initiatives Fact Sheet

Introduction

As part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (Public Law 111-83), Congress provided $11 million to enhance U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS’s) immigrant integration initiatives. This funding will bolster the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program and support additional initiatives for aspiring citizens, immigrant-serving organizations and citizenship instructors. These initiatives include:

Chicago Field Office updates – 07/01/10

Completing a naturalization application where the applicant is unable to recollect all the times  

In situations where the applicant travels frequently on business or when an applicant is a long-time permanent resident who traveled frequently since first obtaining permanent residence the Chicago Field office accepts an affidavit attesting to approximate dates of travel.

 

N400 Interview and selective services

Question details

How important is your enrollment in selective services when you appear in a citizenship interview. Will the interview officer ask you about why u did not register in selective service.

I believe this can be a problem. You should speak with a lawyer. You will need to establish that the failure to register was inadvertent, not intentional.

Citizenship and criminal record

Question details

In 2001 I was charged with shoplifting (retail fraud 3rd degree in michigan. I was convicted and paid fine and 7 days community service. In 2005 i got my green card. The case was expunged in 2008. Ever since 2001 i do not have any other criminal record in the last 9 years. Would this be a problem during the citizenship cause the application says good moral character in the last 5 years. My case is 9 years old and so i satisfy the 5 year rule for good moral character but not sure.

Generally speaking, USCIS looks at the last five years preceding the application, but they CAN go back as long as they wish for adjudicating good moral character. My guess is, you should be fine.

USCIS Fact Sheet on Naturalization Process for the Military

USCIS recognizes the important sacrifices made by non-citizen members of the United States armed forces and their families, and is committed to processing their naturalization applications in a timely and efficient manner while providing exemplary customer service, maintaining the integrity of the immigration system, and the security of the process. Qualifying military service is generally in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.

Oath Completed US passport Applied !!! Long Immigrtion Journey Ended !!!

Finally my long immigration journey has ended this moning. Oath ceremony took only couple of hours & at the end was given that precious naturalization certificate. Feeling bad to give up that GC but guess in order to get something bigger you have to gve up something !!!!!! Just kidding !!! Man I'm excited. I'm a proud US citizen now. I didn't wait any longer. My US pssport form that I alreay completed last night was turned in right after the oath ceremony at a US post office. Now just have to wait for that passport to arrive at my mail box. 

Citizenship and Naturalization

Reentry permits and citizenship application

Question details

My husband is a LPR (since 1993) interested in applying for naturalization. He was granted a reentry permit and used it to enter the country nearly 2 years ago. How long does he have to wait to apply for naturalization?

If he was out of USA for more than one year at any one time, the reentry permit will allow him to file after 4 years and 1 day from re-establishing domicile in USA.

Shoplifting and naturalization

Question details

I am permanent resident of USA for 5 years,and I was shoplift in JCPenny and caught by securities in 2008,they took me to their office,took my picture, and got copy of my driver license,and asked me to sign 2 form of documents,one was saying I can't enter store for a year,second one was a civil demand($500 fines),they did't called police,do I have criminal record? FBI will check it out? I already sent in the citizenship application,and have wait for 3 months after the fingerprint taken,still didn't receive interview notice. Will they reject my application?

From what you have described it does not appear you have a criminal conviction. Nevertheless, in my view, you should get yourself a local lawyer to assist you with the naturalization process.

Travel while citizenship/naturalization pending

Question details

I am currently a GC holder and have resided in the US for 30 month out of 5 years. I will be eligible to file my Citizenship (N400) paperwork next month. Once I have filed my application for Citizenship, can I leave the US and travel to Canada to visit my daughter? I was planning to be out of the US in Canada for 3 months. Will it be ok or me to leave the US once I have filed my application or Citizenship? or should wait to file upon return back from Canada?. Do I need to live continuously in the US while my application for Citizenship is in process?

Temporary absence of three months while your citizenship application is pending should not pose a problem as long as you remain a permanent resident of USA.