While permanent residents can live and work permanently in the United States, U.S. citizens enjoy additional rights and protections, including the right to vote, serve on juries, and sponsor family members for immigration. Citizens also cannot have their status revoked except in cases of fraud during the naturalization process, whereas permanent residents can lose their status under certain circumstances.
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Citizenship and Naturalization
Chicago Citizenship Lawyers
If you have immigrated to the United States and would like to enjoy all of the rights and benefits of U.S. citizens, call the law office of KB&A to discuss your options for citizenship and naturalization. Our team of experienced immigration attorneys has helped countless individuals become citizens of the United States and receive the right to vote, right to sponsor family members, right to travel freely, and much more. If you are interested in learning more about the citizenship and naturalization process, please consult with a member of our team today.
Requirements for Citizenship
Not everyone qualifies for U.S. citizenship simply because they request it. Instead, if you have foreign citizenship, you must meet certain requirements and go through the process called naturalization. Some of the requirements under the law include the following:
- Actual presence in the U.S.;
- Continuous residence in the U.S. for five years and in your state for three months;
- Status as a permanent resident for five years or more (though in some cases, only three years are required);
- Have the ability to write, read, and speak English at a basic level;
- Understand the basics of U.S. civics, including history and governmental structure;
- Demonstrate a belief in the U.S. Constitutional principles and ideals; and
- Show good moral character.
An experienced immigration lawyer can help you determine whether you meet the requirements necessary to qualify for naturalization or whether you qualify for a waiver or exemption of certain requirements due to special circumstances. Such circumstances may include certain medical conditions, the applicant’s age, or whether the applicant is a member of the military or married to a U.S. citizen. In addition, some people are able to bypass the naturalization process by deriving citizenship from one or both of their parents.
The Process of Naturalization
Naturalization does not occur overnight. Instead, you must take several specific steps in order to obtain citizenship. Some of these steps include:
- Complete and file an application for naturalization with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
- Attend a biometrics appointment and submit your fingerprints for a criminal background check;
- Attend a USCIS interview regarding your background and the information provided on your application;
- Pass the United States civics test and an English test, including speaking, reading, and writing;
- Receive approval of your application from the USCIS;
- Take the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.; and
- Understand what it means to be a citizen, including your responsibilities and rights.
Helping You Overcome Citizenship Obstacles.
While many people applying for naturalization have no criminal record or issues from their past that may interfere with the process, many individuals have made an error in judgment in their lives that may make obtaining citizenship more challenging. An experienced Chicago citizenship and naturalization attorney can help you try to overcome past criminal convictions, allegations of domestic violence, or other legal issues by framing your situation in the best way possible to the USCIS.
Contact An Experienced Chicago Citizenship And Naturalization Lawyer
Becoming a U.S. citizen is extremely rewarding; however, the process is not always an easy one. At the Chicago law firm of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we will guide you through every step of naturalization and aim to make the process go as smoothly as possible for you. If you would like more information on how we can help you, please call our office at 312-332-2550 for assistance.
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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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