Immigration Law
Naturalization & Citizenship Attorney
The United States offers extensive opportunities in education, employment, and personal freedom, attracting people from all over the world who hope to build a better life here. For many, immigrating to the U.S. is only the first step; their long‑term goal is to obtain citizenship and fully share in the rights and responsibilities that come with being an American.
Eligibility for Naturalization
Naturalization is the process the U.S. government uses to grant citizenship to a foreign national who meets all legal requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It is the final step in becoming a U.S. citizen.
In most cases, applicants must first be lawful permanent residents and have lived in the United States continuously for at least five years, while spouses of U.S. citizens who are permanent residents may be eligible to apply after three years of residence.
Requirements of Citizenship Through Naturalization
The first step toward U.S. citizenship is becoming a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). You may then be eligible to apply for naturalization if you meet the following requirements:
- Have been a permanent resident for at least five years (or three years if qualifying through marriage to a U.S. citizen);
- Have lived at least three months in the state or USCIS district where you file;
- Are at least 18 years old;
- Were physically present in the United States for at least 30 months during the required five‑year period;
- Maintain continuous residence from filing until you take the Oath of Allegiance;
- Can read, write, and speak basic English (unless you qualify for an exception);
- Pass the citizenship interview and civics test;
- Show good moral character.
While USCIS typically reviews the last five years (or three years, if applicable) for good moral character but can look further back, and under current policies there is often closer scrutiny of criminal records, immigration violations, misrepresentations, and security‑related concerns. This can mean more detailed questioning, additional evidence requests, or longer processing times. Because of this heightened review, it is critical to be completely honest about any past issues; our citizenship attorneys in Utah can help you prepare strong supporting evidence, including detailed explanations and letters from people who can attest to your good moral character, and explore waivers or appeals when available.
Application Process for Naturalization
The first step toward U.S. citizenship is becoming a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). You may then be eligible to apply for naturalization if you meet all of the following general requirements:
- Have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if qualifying through marriage to a U.S. citizen);
- Have lived at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file;
- Are at least 18 years old;
- Were physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months during the 5‑year period (or 18 months during the 3‑year period, if applicable);
- Have maintained continuous residence in the U.S. from filing until you take the Oath of Allegiance;
- Can read, write, and speak basic English (unless you qualify for an exception);
- Can pass the citizenship interview and civics test;
- Can show good moral character during the required period.
USCIS typically reviews the last 5 years (or 3 years, if applicable) for good moral character but can look further back, and under current policies there is often closer scrutiny of criminal history, immigration violations, misrepresentation, and security‑related concerns. Because this can lead to more questions, evidence requests, and longer processing times, it is important to be completely honest about any past issues; our citizenship attorneys in Utah can help you prepare thoroughly and present your case as clearly and strongly as possible.
