The dream of many people living or working in the US is to become citizens. You will be paying taxes to the country if you have been a lawful permanent resident or green card holder and have been living and working there, but you will not be entitled to the same privileges as Americans. For some government programs and services, like Medicare, you must pay higher rates until you are naturalized.
Additionally, citizenship guarantees that you have equal access to benefits, like those provided to the elderly and those with disabilities. You could still maintain a deep connection to your native nation. The good news is that you do not forfeit your heritage when you become a citizen of the United States. Most nations today permit dual citizenship, allowing you to retain your status in both your native country and the United States.
But becoming a citizen of the United States is not always straightforward. Numerous obstacles will be in your way, and some can even make you lose hope. Knowing about these difficulties and how to go beyond them is beneficial. Talk to an immigration lawyer with experience for further information and legal assistance.
Why Obtaining a US Citizenship is Important
Both citizens and immigrants can profit significantly from living in the United States. However, its citizens receive preference for the majority of these advantages and possibilities. Knowing that you will only be eligible for certain benefits until you are naturalized is helpful whether you already have a green card or are about to apply for one. When you take the next step and become an American citizen, you will gain the following advantages, among others:
You Are Protected From Deportation
If immigrants disobey immigration department rules and laws, they risk being deported from the United States. For example, you cannot continue to live and/or work in the nation if your paperwork is invalid or your visa has expired. Criminals are likewise liable to swift expulsion upon a conviction. It could be difficult for you to enter the nation again, even after a long absence, if you have certain convictions that result in you being marked as inadmissible. It does not happen to Americans. Even if you maintain your status as a citizen of your country of origin, citizenship shields you and your loved ones from deportation.
Your Children Automatically Become US Citizens
Knowing that your children will likewise fully benefit from being Americans makes the excitement much greater. Once you become a citizen, your children, who are minors at the time of your naturalization, also become citizens. It is a huge relief for parents whose children are minors. Remember that you cannot seek US citizenship until you are eighteen.
You Can Submit an Application to Reunite With Your Family
You can petition the immigration department to be reunited with your loved ones once you become a citizen. Some immigrants leave their loved ones behind in their home countries when they move here. You can only apply for the reunion of your spouse, minor children, and unmarried children with a green card. However, once you apply as a citizen, you can reunite with still more family members, like your parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Applying for a Government Position is Possible
Only citizens of the United States are eligible for some jobs, like government positions. To be eligible to work for the federal or state government, you must first obtain naturalization. Most occupations you can obtain as a holder of a green card pay far less than government jobs and those solely open to Americans. Economically speaking, citizens typically perform better than noncitizens. Additionally, citizens are more likely to find work. Your income can rise once you become a naturalized citizen, among other benefits.
You Can Travel Freely
If you enjoy traveling but are constrained by your immigration status, naturalization will give you the flexibility to see the world as you please. The number of trips Green Card holders can make each year is restricted. But there are no limits on the freedom of movement for citizens. If you face civil or personal turmoil in your travels, you are entitled to assistance and protection from American embassies and consulates abroad.
You Can Vote
The only people who vote in the U.S. are American citizens. No matter how long you have lived in the country, you are not eligible to vote until you become a naturalized citizen. Your vote and political ideologies begin to matter after you are a citizen. Then, you can pick a leader you think will represent your interests and those of your family and community.
Challenges You Could Face When Applying for US Citizenship
It could be time to apply for citizenship if you have been residing and/or working in the United States for a long time and have always wished to take advantage of the benefits mentioned above and several more. If you already have a green card, you are qualified to apply for citizenship. To become naturalized, however, you must undergo a few further procedures.
Every year, hundreds of applications from persons hoping to immigrate to the United States to live and/or work are processed by the immigration department. Most of these candidates want to become citizens of the United States, even though some are just concerned with improving their families' standard of living. Fortunately, many people who have already entered the nation can become citizens. However, the procedure can be complex and drawn out. It helps to be aware of and be ready to manage potential legal hurdles if you want to apply for citizenship for yourself or a loved one. The difficulties that arise most frequently are:
Unresolved Tax Issues
Before completing your citizenship application, you must take steps to rapidly remedy any unpaid taxes or tax-related issues with the IRS. Due taxes will impact your chance to obtain citizenship. Therefore, if you have been working in the United States but not filing your returns, you should address the issue as soon as possible before submitting your petition for naturalization to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you have unresolved tax difficulties and have not shown that you have made an effort to fix them, USCIS will probably reject your application.
You do not need to pay all your tax obligations to be eligible for naturalization. USCIS only wants to see evidence of your efforts to resolve the tax issues. Remember that additional elements will contribute to determining whether you qualify for naturalization. As a result, your eligibility will not be determined solely by your outstanding taxes. Thus, if you meet all other eligibility requirements and are actively working to clear your tax debts, USCIS can accept your citizenship application.
Therefore, if you want to become an American citizen, you can show the immigration department that you tried to contact the IRS and that you did some work toward resolving your tax problems. You could also seek assistance, counsel, and support from a qualified immigration lawyer.
Family Problems
Family issues can occasionally impact your efforts to become a citizen of the United States. For example, if you are married to an American and apply for citizenship through them, the USCIS will decide whether to approve your petition based on your relationship at the time of the application. If there are problems in your family, your application will not be accepted. When you marry an American, obtaining a green card is simple, but obtaining citizenship can be more difficult. This is because USCIS will snoop into your personal affairs to authenticate the nature of your relationship and the life you lead with your spouse.
Immigration can reject your application if they find that your marriage is invalid. It will frustrate you and make you feel uneasy, particularly if you have to acknowledge some intimate matters regarding your marriage. But it is a crucial step in this procedure. Sensitive family issues can occasionally make it difficult for you to integrate into the community. For example, if you are separated or divorced and owe alimony or child support, USCIS will probably reject your citizenship application.
Before submitting a petition to immigration, it is helpful to identify some of the family concerns that can cause difficulties in the procedure and resolve them. Additionally, ask your lawyer for assistance and support in managing some of these issues before they become a problem for you.
Selective Service
If you have not registered for selective service, applying for citizenship in the United States could present difficulties. The government keeps personal data on its citizens and other inhabitants who could be required to enlist in the military in a Selective Service database. Typically, it is a legal requirement for every man in the United States between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five to register for this service. A selection service number is provided to you, which you can use on various applications, like one for US citizenship.
If you fail to complete this necessary registration, USCIS can reject your citizenship application. You will be required to submit your selective service number with your application if you satisfy all other application requirements. For those aspiring to citizenship, it is a critical number without which you risk losing the opportunity.
Concerns with Your Moral Character
According to the US immigration agency, applicants must show exemplary moral conduct to become citizens of the United States. USCIS will often look into your behavior over the last five years. However, the officials could delve further into your background in exceptional circumstances to assess your character. Immigration takes into account two main concerns in terms of moral fitness:
- Your criminal history
- How truthful have you been during the application process
You will be automatically denied citizenship if you have a serious criminal history. If you break the law while holding a green card in the United States, the rules about what should happen are incredibly explicit. Certain criminal convictions for serious felonies like murder and rape necessitate an immediate removal from American territory. More lenient offenses could delay your eligibility for American citizenship for a few years.
If it is determined that you provided incorrect or misleading information in your application, USCIS will probably reject it.
Although "excellent moral conduct" is broad, USCIS has offered a list of potential red flags. Some of the problems that could affect your application for American citizenship include the following:
- A conviction for a crime committed against another person to cause harm to that person
- A conviction for fraud or malicious intent-related felony involving damage to government property
- Two prior convictions for offenses that carried a minimum five-year jail sentence
- Having been found guilty of a drug-related offense
- Unlawful gambling
- Habitual intoxication
- Polygamy
- Prostitution
- A lie to obtain immigration advantages
- Failing to make alimony or child support payments
- Failure to adhere to parole, probation, or a suspended sentence
- A minimum of 180 days' incarceration within the previous five years
- Terrorist acts
- Persecuting anyone because of their race, religion, political views, social group, or country of origin
If you have a criminal past but still want to apply for citizenship in the US, it helps to first speak with an experienced immigration lawyer. Working closely with an immigration lawyer while preparing your application will also help you avoid some problems that could cause it to be rejected.
Issues With Documents
Applying for citizenship in the United States is long and complicated. Before receiving approval, your application must pass through several levels and offices. As a result, numerous documents are involved. Before accepting your request, the immigration service needs enough information from your paperwork to know who you are as a person. Several papers and documentation will be included with your application. Depending on your immigration case, more documents could be required along the road.
Your application for US citizenship could be delayed or rejected if USCIS discovers anomalies with the documents you have presented, particularly with documents received from your country of origin. Your application will also be delayed if you do not supply all the necessary paperwork.
Having your paperwork ready in advance ensures that it will be accepted before submitting your petition to the immigration department. Have a knowledgeable immigration lawyer review your documents to ensure they are precisely what immigration requires. To avoid delays, fix any document problems you could encounter as soon as possible.
An Immigration Attorney Can Help
Difficulties with citizenship applications could bring on anxiety and dissatisfaction. Sometimes the process does not go as planned. It can cost more or take even longer than you thought. But having a legal expert by your side during this drawn-out and tiresome process is helpful. While an immigration lawyer cannot significantly speed up immigration procedures, they can make sure that your applications are being processed, even though slowly. Your lawyer can also assist you in avoiding some of those difficulties that could cause a citizenship application to be delayed or rejected.
An immigration lawyer can first assist in determining your eligibility for citizenship in the United States. Keep in mind that not everyone who works or lives in the United States is eligible to become an American. To apply, you must fulfill several requirements, including holding a green card for the previous five years. Your lawyer can look through your traits and explain the criteria to you. With a lawyer, you have someone by your side every step of the road.
You can prepare the necessary paperwork and the application with the assistance of your lawyer. Experienced immigration attorneys know the types of details that USCIS requests from applicants. As a result, you will not forget to include anything important in your application. Your attorney will also help you fill out the application forms with accurate and sufficient information that the immigration authorities will accept. When you have a legal professional on your side, you will probably make fewer mistakes.
Additionally, the counsel and advice of an immigration lawyer could assist you in making choices that will favorably affect your application for US citizenship. For example, your lawyer can advise you on what to do to prevent family problems from adversely influencing your application if you have not been paying alimony and/or child support.
Find a Competent Los Angeles Immigration Attorney Near Me
It helps to be aware of some of the obstacles you can run into when applying to become a citizen of the United States and how to get past them. Although the procedure is drawn out and challenging, the rewards it produces are enormous, including the right to vote and immunity from deportation. An experienced immigration lawyer can ease the process and assist you in overcoming some of the difficulties.
At California Immigration Attorney, we also offer our clients advice on matters that can hasten the application process and remove the chance that their application will be rejected. Call us at 424-789-8809 to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled immigration lawyers. We will not stop working until your immigration case is successfully resolved.