Reasons Your Citizenship Application Was Denied
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The goal for many green card holders is to become U.S. citizens. However, becoming a U.S. citizen is not automatic after becoming a green card holder. Rather, those who seek U.S. citizenship must apply, and their applications may or may not be approved, depending on various eligibility factors. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we have experienced immigration attorneys who help clients in the Chicago area to successfully apply for citizenship.
Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship
To obtain U.S. citizenship, one must go through a naturalization process, which requires the applicant to first apply for citizenship by completing and filing Form N-400 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS).
Before submitting the application, the applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old at the time of submitting the application
- Must have been a green card holder for the past three or five years, depending under which category they are applying for citizenship
- Must have continuous physical presence and residence in the United States
- Must be able to write, read and speak basic English
- Must show good moral character
- Must show a knowledge and understanding of basic U.S. history and government
- Must show loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and
- Must be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Being eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship is, however, only part of the naturalization process. Once the application is submitted, a USCIS examiner must determine that the applicant is not disqualified from being a U.S. citizen on other grounds or reasons provided under the law. There are many reasons that an application for U.S. citizenship may be denied, but the main ones are as follows:
Failing to Meet Financial Obligations
If the applicant has been ordered to pay child support but has failed to do so, then this will be a good reason for their application to be denied.
This can also be the outcome if the applicant has failed to pay taxes or is behind in paying their taxes. This is by far the most common reason many applicants are denied citizenship, but it need not be fatal. If you owe taxes, then you should contact the IRS and arrange to pay the taxes. The IRS will usually agree to a payment plan to pay the overdue taxes.
Fraud on the Application
If there is evidence of fraud or if the USCIS examiner handling the file suspects fraud, an application for citizenship can be denied on that basis alone. Fraud is usually established if the applicant provides information on their application or says things at their interview that are inconsistent or contradicted by other documents.
USCIS will usually provide an opportunity for the applicant to overcome the fraud finding, and in some cases, an applicant is able to do just that, usually with the help of an experienced naturalization lawyer.
Reach Out to a Chicago Citizenship Attorney
If you are interested in applying for citizenship, contact our office today for a consultation to determine your eligibility and to guide you on how you can address issues or problems that may result in denial of your application.
What Our Clients Say
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Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
Kevin Raica and his team handled my immigration application and i can other recommend them enough. They made a stressful process very easy. They are very knowledgeable in this area and helped us at every stage from beginning to end.
Brittni Rivera She is my Attorney from 2017 Thank you so, so much. This truly wouldn’t have been possible without you, Brittni. Can’t wait to file for the green cards.
We hoped and prayed for this day, not knowing if it would ever come. Deportations are incredibly scary and overwhelming. We wanted to give a very special thank you to Jennifer Peyton of Chicago for securing this victory for us! With Jennifer on our side we were able to get our loved one back. On behalf of our family, thank you. When we started this journey, we had hoped and…
Matthew Kriezelman, first of all, thank you very much; you and your team are the best immigration lawyers in Chicago. I had a great experience—your professionalism was outstanding, and you were always there whenever needed. I give you five stars for the wonderful work you and your team did. Thanks again.
Hay momentos en la vida en los que una familia siente que el mundo se detiene. Nosotros vivimos uno de esos momentos y, en medio de la incertidumbre y el miedo, tuvimos la fortuna de encontrar a la abogada Sheila McNulty y al paralegal Rafael Rodríguez . Nos escucharon con empatía, nos guiaron con paciencia y defendieron nuestro caso con un profesionalismo, una dedicación y una calidad humana realmente excepcionales.…
We would like to take a moment to sincerely thank Khiabett for her exceptional work and dedication in handling my husband’s removal proceedings case. We also want to thank Agata for her great communication during the gathering of all documents. Khiabett we are incredibly grateful for your expertise, guidance, and persistence throughout the entire process. I can't thank you enough for your empathy and standing by me during such a…
Justin Burton is extremely professional knowledgeable and helpful. I’m extremely thankful for his help and patience with my case. I strongly advise to use his services and refer him to anybody in need of legal help. Thank you.
I wanted to share my experience and say that attorney Britney Rivera is extremely competent in her work. I had heard from friends that she was a very strong lawyer, and she certainly proved to be one. She won our case in a very short time, and my family and I are incredibly grateful to her!🌹And a big thank you to her team as well!🌹🌹🌹
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