US Citizenship New York Attorney
If you are beginning the process to apply for US citizenship, New York attorneys who specialize in these applications can often streamline the process of application and approval for you and your family. You must meet a number of requirements before you can begin your citizenship application. Working with a qualified New York immigration attorney is usually the right first step in the process of obtaining citizenship in the United States.
Requirements for US Citizenship New York Residents Should Know
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has established some basic requirements for attaining citizenship:
- In most cases, you must have maintained lawful permanent residency status in the United States for a minimum of five years. For spouses of U.S. citizens, this time requirement is reduced to three years.
- Members of the military who served for one year and received an honorable discharge in the last six months must be lawful permanent residents at the time of their naturalization interviews with USCIS. Performing active military service during a period of armed conflict eliminates the requirement for lawful permanent residency.
These requirements also include physical residency guidelines and state residency regulations. Individuals who are not subject to a federal residency requirement are exempt from New York state requirements for citizenship.
Time Frames for Citizenship Applications
The time needed to complete your citizenship application will depend on a few key factors:
- Your immigration status
- The length of time you have already held lawful permanent residency
- The backlog currently in place at the USCIS field office
You can expect to wait about nine months to a year for your application to make its way through the system at the New York City USCIS office. This may change depending on future circumstances and can vary depending on other factors that could affect your application.
At Oltarsh & Associates, we offer the guidance and support for US citizenship New York residents need to achieve their goals. If you need a qualified and caring New York immigration attorney, our team can provide the best representation for your citizenship application and other matters related to legal residency and immigration status. Call us today at 212-944-9420 to schedule a free case evaluation with our immigration attorneys. We are here to deliver the right solutions for your citizenship and immigration needs.
