The United States is known around the world as the land of opportunity. If you hope to become a permanent citizen of the U.S., it takes a lot of work. According to Boundless, there are several requirements you must meet, including:
- You must have been living in the United States on a green card for a certain number of years.
- Establish residency in the state you plan to apply
- You must have an excellent moral character.
- You must be proficient in basic spoken and written English.
- You must have and demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. government and history.
- You must swear allegiance to the United States.
If you don’t know how the immigration process works and what you need to do, you should hire an immigration lawyer.
If you aren’t sure if you need a lawyer, you should understand the benefits of hiring someone to help with the immigration process.
Avoid Mistakes
There is a lot of complicated paperwork to fill out to become a United States citizen. According to the Miami Herald, one of the most common reasons applications are denied is errors on the paperwork. If your application is rejected due to a clerical error, you will need to start the process over again, which can take a significant amount of time.
A good immigration lawyer can help you with the paperwork, ensuring everything is filled out completely and correctly, allowing the process to move forward.
Get Asylum
If you are immigrating to the U.S. due to threats regarding your political views, religion, race, or war, it isn’t uncommon to be worried you will be deported back to your own country. Fortunately, an immigration lawyer can help. They will utilize every possible avenue to help you gain refuge in the U.S. If for some reason, your application for sanctuary is rejected, your lawyer can present your case to the court, which could make it possible for you to stay and eventually become a citizen.
Proper Guidance
Immigration laws constantly change, and adjustments and revisions are made every month. This can make it challenging to handle your citizenship yourself. If you use outdated information or miss a deadline, your pathway to citizenship will be blocked.
An immigration lawyer will always be up-to-date regarding any changes or adjustments in the law, ensuring you get everything right preventing a delay or denial.
Receive Regular Updates
If you try to handle the immigration process yourself, you can go months and even years without knowing the status of your case. If you work with an immigration lawyer, you will have someone to keep you updated regularly about your case status, preventing the stress and anxiety of not knowing.
Protect Your Rights
Although you aren’t a U.S. citizen, you still have rights when applying for permanent status. Hiring an immigration lawyer can protect you from exploitation and abuse and will defend your rights. Trying to become a U.S. citizen doesn’t have to be a terrible experience, and an immigration lawyer will do everything necessary to make it as easy as possible.
Referrals
As mentioned above, you need to be able to read and speak English, and you need to know U.S. history and how the government works. Your immigration lawyer can help you find learning centers where you can learn English and take history and government classes, which is essential in passing your citizenship tests.
If you are coming to the U.S. for asylum, or it has always been your dream to be a United States citizen, you should expect a long, complicated process. Fortunately, an immigration lawyer can help you navigate the immigration process, increasing your chances of being granted permanent citizenship.
