Things To Know Before You Hire A Naturalization Attorney For US Citizenship
Are you looking to become a naturalized US citizen? If so, you may need to work with a naturalization lawyer for help. Take a look at a few things to know before you get started.
Are you eligible to become a naturalized citizen?
Naturalization is not a possibility in every situation. Before you opt to look for a naturalization attorney, make sure you are actually a candidate to become a US citizen via the naturalization process. It is not uncommon for individuals to reach out to one of these legal professionals only to discover that they have to take a different path or do not meet the eligibility requirements for naturalization. For example, if you have not spent all of your time in the past several years in the United States because you traveled between the US and your home country, you may not be eligible to apply to become a naturalized citizen.
Do you need a naturalization attorney to speed up the process?
Having an attorney to guide you through the process can definitely be beneficial if you are trying to become a naturalized citizen. Certain documents and actions have to be taken at certain points in the naturalization process. Not filing these documents in a timely way can impede the process and slow things down. For example, if you are nearing the end of the required time frame to submit your initial petition, the attorney can have those documents ready to submit by the time the date arrives. If you are simply looking to achieve naturalization and you are not in a hurry, you may not necessarily have to hire an attorney unless there is something specifically complicated about your situation.
Is your naturalization situation complicated?
Several factors may make your road to naturalization more complex than usual, such as:
- You have been convicted of a crime either in the US or your home country
- You have not paid taxes while living in the US
- You have not paid court-ordered payments, such as child support or alimony
- You have traveled between several countries since you initially came to the US
- You have not focused on getting to know the native language, laws, and cultural attributes of the country
If any of these apply to you, it is important to discuss your situation at length with a naturalization attorney. Be sure not to leave out anything that you suspect could complicate your application, as these types of issues can be discovered further into the process.
Contact a local naturalization attorney to learn more.