U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION

The Huynh Law Firm is committed to assisting our clients in properly filing their Naturalization Applications, preparing for the exam and interview and successfully reaching their goal of U.S. Citizenship in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Please contact us at (972) 992-8181 or at info@bdhimmigration.com for additional information.


U.S. citizenship is typically granted by either birth in the United States or through the naturalization process. To become a naturalized citizen of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident ("LPR") must meet a number of requirements which include:
 

Lawful admission as a lawful permanent resident Residence for at least three months immediately preceding the filing for naturalization in the state in which the petition is filed Continuous residence in the U.S. as a LPR for at least five years immediately preceding the filing for naturalization (three years for the spouses of U.S. citizens) Physical presence within the U.S. for an aggregate total of at least one half of the period of required continuous residence (two and a half years for most LPRs or one and a half years for LPR spouses of U.S. citizens) Ability to read, write and speak ordinary English Knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history and government of the U.S. Good moral character and attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and Continuous residence in the U.S. from the date of filing the naturalization application until actual admission to citizenship

Two of these requirements are that the LPR must reside continuously in the U.S. for a period of five years after becoming a LPR (or three years if the LPR is the spouse of a U.S. citizen), and that the LPR must be actually physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that period. Please note that these requirements do not end upon the filing of your Application for Naturalization. At your U.S. citizenship interview (which could be as long as 18 months after you file your application), the examiner will look back over the last five (or three) years to determine whether or not you still meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements. Some LPRs are exempted from these requirements, particularly spouses of U.S. citizens when the U.S. citizen spouse is assigned abroad by a U.S. employer.

The requirement that the permanent resident have resided continuously in the U.S. for a period of five (or three) years after becoming a LPR can be a difficult one for persons who must leave the U.S. on foreign assignments. An absence from the U.S. of six months or more may break the continuity of the LPR's residence in the U.S. for naturalization purposes, even though the absence may not have affected the LPR's ability to return to the U.S. as a permanent resident.

There are many benefits to U.S. citizenship including the ability to vote, greater flexibility and faster processing in sponsoring family members and eligibility for federal jobs and grants.