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Naturalization: Your Path to Citizenship
September 03, 2021
Are you a foreigner looking to become a citizen of the United States? Do you have questions about the process and need legal help? If so, the Law Office of Robert Eckard & Associates is ready, willing, and able to help!
Naturalization is the process where a non-citizen of a country acquires nationality or citizenship of that country. It can be done automatically by law, for example, without any effort of the individual. Or it may require an application or a motion and approval by authorities.
The United States Constitution provides several rights to both citizens and non-citizens. But some rights are reserved only for United States citizens. An immigration attorney Palm Harbor FL can help you with the application process.
Naturalization, the means to becoming a U.S. citizen, offers many benefits, including:
- Voting. Only citizens can vote in federal elections. Many states also restrict the right to vote to U.S. citizens.
- You can bring family members to the United States. Citizens typically get priority if petitioning to permanently bring family members to this country, to obtain a green card through family-based immigration.
- Children born abroad to U.S. citizens automatically become U.S. citizens.
- You are able to travel with a United States passport. A United States passport allows you to get assistance from the government when traveling overseas.
- You become eligible for federal jobs. Most of the jobs with government agencies require United States citizenship.
- You can become an elected official, as many of the offices require U.S. citizenship.
- You can demonstrate your patriotism. Becoming a citizen of the U.S. shows your pride and commitment to your new country.
One of the most valuable benefits of naturalization is financial savings. Once you’ve become a U.S. citizen, you are no longer required to pay USCIS immigration fees again. That’s a considerable saving over a lifetime.
If you are interested in pursuing U.S. citizenship, a Palm Harbor immigration attorney is available to help. They will explain that to become a U.S. citizen, you are required to:
- Be 18 years old when you file the application
- You are required to be a permanent resident for the past three or five years, based on the naturalization category you apply under
- You must have continuous residence and physical presence in the United States
- You are required to read, write, and speak basic English
- You must demonstrate good moral character
- You must demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the U.S. government and history
- Loyalty to the principles of the United States Constitution
- Proudly take the Oath of Allegiance
An immigration lawyer Palm Harbor represents individual and business clients before the USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Immigration Courts and the federal circuit courts with issues of:
- Adjustment of status
- Emigration
- Green cards
- Immigration
- Visas
- Political asylum
- Other important naturalization and immigration issues
If you or a friend desires to become an American citizen, contact the law firm of Robert Eckard & Associates for all the assistance you need.