On What Grounds Can I Be Denied U.S. Citizenship?
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
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.
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.
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.
Co Mówią Nasi Klienci
Ocena 5 gwiazdek | Na podstawie 200+ pozytywnych opinii na Google
Mr. Jeffery and Mr. Kevin Racia were the attorneys handling a complex immigration case of mine. On the assurance of both attorneys that the case is going to be presented in a systematic way, I went ahead with confidence. I was able to become a legal permanent resident. I highly recommend Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC for all your immigration needs.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the remarkable team of Khiabett Osuna, Brittani Rivera, and Rafael Rodriguez, who were responsible for the successful release from detention of one of our parishioners, husband and father of four, after over 10 weeks of incarceration. From his detention to the payment of his bail and from Immigration Court to his reunion with his family, there were blessings aplenty made possible through the…
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my attorney, Brittni Rivera, for her professionalism and support during a very difficult time. I was in detention for 6 months, and thanks to her hard work and filing a habeas corpus petition, I was finally released. In addition, when I was released, ICE did not return my documents. Brittni did not ignore this issue — she took action and successfully…
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
Schedule a consultation!:
Umów się na konsultację!
Libertyville
Reklama prawnika. Informacje te mają wyłącznie charakter ogólny. Przedstawionych informacji nie należy interpretować jako formalnej porady prawnej ani tworzenia relacji prawnik/klient. Wcześniejsze wyniki i referencje nie stanowią gwarancji, rękojmi ani przewidywania wyniku Twojej sprawy i nie powinny być w ten sposób interpretowane. Wyniki z przeszłości nie mogą zagwarantować przyszłych wyników. Jakikolwiek wynik w pojedynczej sprawie nie ma na celu stworzenia oczekiwań podobnych wyników w przyszłych sprawach, ponieważ każdy przypadek wiąże się z wieloma różnymi czynnikami, dlatego też wyniki będą się różnić w każdym przypadku. Podając dane kontaktowe, użytkownicy potwierdzają i wyrażają wyraźną zgodę na kontakt za pośrednictwem udostępnionych metod komunikacji, w tym wiadomości SMS. Mogą obowiązywać stawki za wiadomości i transmisję danych. Częstotliwość wiadomości może się różnić. Odpowiedz STOP, aby zrezygnować.
NUVEW | Prawo autorskie 2026 Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone | Informacja o dostępności | polityka prywatności