Who should talk to a citizenship lawyer before filing the N-400
Many people file on their own and are approved. Still, the N-400 asks about your whole history since you became a permanent resident, and USCIS looks at everything again. A short review is worth it if any of these sound like you.
- You have ever been arrested, charged, or cited, even if the case was dismissed.
- You spent long periods outside the United States, or one trip of six months or more.
- You owe back taxes, or did not file in some years.
- You got your green card through marriage and the marriage later ended.
- You are a man who lived here between ages 18 and 26 and did not register for Selective Service.
- A disability or medical condition makes the English or civics test very hard for you.
How the naturalization process works, step by step
Naturalization is a federal process decided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In general, you may apply after five years as a lawful permanent resident, or after three years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You may file up to about three months before you reach that date.
USCIS also checks two timing rules. Continuous residence means you kept your home in the United States during that period; a long trip abroad may break it. Physical presence means you were actually inside the country for at least half of it. Then USCIS reviews your good moral character: criminal history, honesty on the form, taxes, and child support.
- File Form N-400 with USCIS, usually online, with proof of residence and travel.
- Attend a biometrics appointment for fingerprints and a background check, if required.
- Go to the interview, where an officer reviews your N-400 under oath and gives the English and civics test.
- Receive a decision: approved, continued (more evidence or a retest), or denied.
- Take the Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony. At that moment you become a U.S. citizen.
What USG Law Group does for your citizenship application
We do not just fill out the form. We first review your full immigration history, and when needed we request your government records (see our FOIA Requests page) so there are no surprises at the interview. If we find a problem, we tell you honestly. Sometimes the right advice is to wait a few months before filing.
- Review your eligibility, travel history, and any past arrests or applications.
- Prepare and file the N-400 with the right supporting evidence.
- Prepare a Form N-648 medical disability exception with your doctor when a condition keeps you from learning English or civics.
- Practice the interview and the test with you in English or Spanish.
- Respond to any request for evidence (RFE) from USCIS.
- Accompany you to the interview when your case calls for it, and explain your options if a case is denied.
The English and civics test, and who may be exempt
At the interview, the officer tests your ability to read, write, and speak basic English, and asks civics questions about U.S. history and government from a published list. It is simpler than many people fear, and there is usually a second chance.
Some applicants do not have to take the English portion. If you are 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, you may take civics in your own language with an interpreter. Applicants 65 or older with 20 years as a resident study a shorter list. If a physical or mental condition makes learning very hard, a licensed doctor may complete Form N-648 so USCIS can excuse one or both parts. We help prepare it correctly, since a weak N-648 often causes delay.
What can go wrong, and why a record review comes first
An N-400 is a request for USCIS to look at your entire file again. In most cases that is fine. In some cases it can expose a problem nobody noticed when the green card was approved: a misstatement on an old form, an arrest that was never disclosed, or a trip that may have broken continuous residence.
When that happens, the risk is not only a denial. In serious situations USCIS may question whether the green card itself was properly granted, which can lead to immigration court (EOIR). This is rare, but it is exactly why we do not want you to file blind.
Common problems include unpaid taxes or child support, a DUI during the five-year period, voting by mistake, and a long unexplained absence. Many can be handled with the right documents or by waiting. A free consultation lets us check before you spend anything on filing.
Why families in Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC choose USG for naturalization
Attorney Marianela Uribe went through the immigration system herself before becoming a lawyer. She is licensed in Maryland and Virginia, serves clients in Washington DC, and explains every step in plain English or Spanish. Clients tell us they appreciate that we explain everything in detail and that their cases moved faster than other offices had told them to expect.
Our office is in Woodbridge, near Potomac Mills, with evening, Saturday, and virtual appointments by phone or Zoom. We offer a free initial consultation and payment plans, and Gigi, our USCIS Practice Manager, is your first point of contact by phone. If you are also helping a spouse or parent with a green card, see our Family Petitions and Adjustment of Status pages.
