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On What Grounds Can I Be Denied U.S. Citizenship?
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Many green card holders dream of becoming U.S. citizens. However, this is not automatic because a green card holder must still qualify and get approval for citizenship from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Unfortunately, many who apply are denied citizenship for various reasons. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we have experienced immigration attorneys who help clients in the Chicago area to successfully apply and get approved for citizenship.
Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship
U.S. citizenship for those not born in the U.S. is obtained through a process known as “naturalization.” This process requires the applicant to first submit Form N-400 Application for Naturalization to the proper (USCIS) office.
Before filing the application, the applicant must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old when submitting the application.
- Must be a green card holder for the past three or five years, depending on which category under which they are applying for citizenship.
- Must have continuous residence and physical presence in the United States
- Must be able to speak, write and read English basic English.
- Must have good moral character.
- Must demonstrate an understanding of basic U.S. history and government.
- Must show loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and
- Must be willing and ready to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Eligibility to apply for U.S. citizenship, however, is only part of the naturalization process. Once USCIS receives an application from someone who is eligible for citizenship, an immigration officer will determine whether the applicant is disqualified to be a U.S. citizen on other grounds. An application for citizenship can be denied on various grounds, including the following, which are the most common.
Failure to Meet Financial Obligations
One of the reasons applicants get surprised when applying for citizenship is failure to pay child support. If an applicant has been ordered by a court to pay child support, but they have failed to do so, then this will be grounds for denying their application for citizenship. It is, therefore, important if you have ordered child support to make sure you are current or discuss with an experienced immigration lawyer what your options are.
This is also true for an applicant who has failed to pay taxes or is behind in making payments as agreed with the IRS. This is one of the most common reasons many citizenship applicants are denied, but, as in the failure to pay child support, there are options that one can pursue. For example, one can contact the IRS and arrange with them to pay the outstanding taxes.Â
Fraud in the Application
If an applicant for citizenship lies on the application or during the naturalization interview or there is evidence of fraud, then the application for citizenship will be denied on this ground.Â
The application can also be denied simply because the immigration officer suspects fraud, in which case the onus will be on the applicant to prove there is no fraud involved. Fraud is typically established if the applicant for naturalization provides information on their application or says things during their interview that are contradicted by facts.
USCIS will usually provide the applicant an opportunity to overcome the fraud finding or suspicion. If that is the case, then the applicant greatly improves their chances of overcoming this fraud finding with the help of an experienced naturalization lawyer.
If you are in the Chicago area and are applying for citizenship, contact our office today and schedule an appointment for a consultation to learn how we can help you.
What Our Clients Say
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I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
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