There are a few different ways that an immigrant can be recognized as legally valid in the U.S. Each of these comes with different application requirements and parameters. It’s also important to realize that every route to citizenship might not be available to each person who would like to become a U.S. citizen.

This is where sitting down with an immigration lawyer helps to clear up common misconceptions and to lay out a plan. One thing that your immigration attorney might suggest is pursuing citizenship through naturalization. This process requires a lot of details and paperwork, but your lawyer can help to guide you through it.

Regardless of where you find yourselves in the immigration process, it is recommended that you retain an experienced immigration lawyer who help guide you through the possibility of avoiding common mistakes.

An immigration attorney will be a valuable resource you can turn to as you have questions about your individual situation. Starting with the citizenship process means understanding the various rules required. Naturalization is the US citizenship process that allows for citizenship to be granted to a foreign national or a citizen after he or she has met the requirements outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act. The form N-400 application for naturalization must be submitted by a person in this situation. You could qualify for naturalization under a variety of different circumstances, such as;

• If a child is currently residing outside the US but was born outside the US and the parent is a US citizen.
• You have obtained qualifying service in the US armed forces.
• You have been a permanent resident of the United States for three years and more and currently meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a US citizen.
• You have been a permanent resident in the US for at least five years and meet all of their eligibility requirements.

You should consult with an experienced immigration lawyer if you need to complete the paperwork for form N-400. It is important that all of these materials be carefully and correctly written and submitted properly to avoid mistakes, delays or denials in processing.