Schaumburg Citizenship and Naturalization Lawyers

Helping Permanent Residents Become U.S. Citizens

Countless immigrants come to the U.S. hoping to live the American dream. While becoming a permanent resident is a good start, the ultimate goal for many immigrants is U.S. citizenship since this legal status comes with many benefits. To change your immigration status from permanent residency to citizenship, you’ll need to complete the naturalization process, which our skilled immigration attorneys would be happy to assist you with.

When you hire Metcalf & Associates, P.C. for immigration law assistance, you’ll get legal support from Schaumburg immigration lawyers with years of experience helping immigrants throughout Chicagoland. If you want to learn how to become a naturalized citizen, call our Schaumburg, IL immigration law firm for a consultation with a caring immigration lawyer.

What Is Naturalization?

Anyone born in the United States is automatically granted U.S. citizenship at birth. Similarly, anyone born outside the U.S. to American citizens can request a certificate of citizenship before they turn 18. Everyone else must use the more complex naturalization legal process to gain U.S. citizenship. So, if your parents aren’t U.S. citizens and you weren’t born in the U.S. or one of its territories, you’ll need to qualify for naturalization to become a citizen.

Fortunately, you can hire Chicagoland immigration attorneys who are knowledgeable enough about immigration law to tell you if you’re eligible to become a naturalized citizen. If you are, they will help complete the necessary paperwork, starting with Form N-400, and file it with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Schaumburg immigration lawyers you hire can also prepare you for the tests, interviews, and other aspects of becoming a citizen. Call our Schaumburg, Illinois immigration law firm to schedule a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney in Chicagoland.

Who Is Eligible to Apply for Naturalization in Chicago?

Immigration law is known for having strict requirements associated with certain immigration matters, and naturalization is no exception. To become a U.S. citizen, you must meet several eligibility standards, including the following:

  • You must be at least 18 years old
  • You must have been granted permanent residency at least five years ago, or three years ago if you married a U.S. citizen
  • You must have lived in the U.S. for at least the last 30 months, or the previous 18 months if you’re married to a U.S. citizen
  • You must be of good moral character
  • You must know how to speak, read, and write in English
  • You must be able to show you understand the basics of U.S. history and civics

If you meet the criteria, the next step is to prove this throughout the application process, which an experienced immigration attorney can assist you with. Be prepared to present official documents proving you’re at least 18, got your green card over five years ago, and have resided in the U.S. for 30 months or more.

If you’re applying as the spouse of a citizen, be ready to prove you got your green card at least three years ago, have lived in the U.S. for over 18 months, and have a valid marriage to a citizen of this country. Similarly, if you’re eligible to become a naturalized citizen due to your service in the U.S. armed forces, be prepared to prove you served honorably for at least one year.

Once you and your Schaumburg immigration lawyers prove these details, you can move to the next step. This usually means attending interviews with USCIS officers and passing tests to prove your knowledge of U.S. history and the English language. If you pass these steps, you can take the oath of allegiance and get your naturalization certificate. If this outcome appeals to you, contact our law firm for legal assistance from Chicagoland immigration attorneys.

Why Should You Become a Citizen?

If you have a green card, you might wonder if it’s worth the effort to become a citizen. For many immigrants, it is, since citizenship offers access to certain benefits that green cards don’t. More specifically, when you become a citizen, you can:

  • Vote in U.S. elections
  • Run for public office
  • Apply for public benefits
  • Get a passport and travel outside the U.S. more easily
  • Avoid the threat of deportation to your home country
  • Give your children birthright citizenship
  • Become eligible for federal government jobs
  • Sponsor family members for family-based immigration programs

If these benefits would make your life easier as an immigrant in the U.S., you should contact Chicago immigration attorneys to determine your eligibility to become a citizen. If you are, the trusted Schaumburg, IL immigration attorneys at our law firm would be happy to provide the immigration law services you need for your immigration case. Contact our Illinois law firm today for help with your immigration matters as a permanent resident in Chicagoland.

Are You Ready for Legal Assistance from Schaumburg Citizenship and Naturalization Lawyers?

If you or your family members need immigration law help from knowledgeable immigration attorneys serving Chicagoland, contact our Illinois immigration law firm for a free consultation. We have spent years helping clients with immigration cases in Schaumburg, IL and beyond, handling issues involving humanitarian relief and green cards to naturalization and deportation cases. So, regardless of the immigration law challenges you face, you can rest assured an attorney from our Schaumburg law firm will work hard to get you the best possible outcome in immigration court.

If you have questions about immigration law and want to talk to skilled citizenship and naturalization lawyers, Schaumburg, IL is home to Metcalf & Associates, P.C. Our Chicagoland immigration attorneys would be happy to provide legal guidance on U.S. immigration law issues before your court date. Call 224-328-1900 for a free phone consultation with caring Schaumburg, IL immigration attorneys.