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Applying for U.S. citizenship is a major milestone but working through the U.S. citizenship and immigration service can feel overwhelming. From eligibility questions to paperwork and interviews, the naturalization process is full of small details that can have big consequences if overlooked.
At Tingen Law, we help you make sense of it all. Our immigration team walks you step-by-step through the process so you can apply with confidence, avoid delays, and take that final step toward becoming a U.S. citizen.
Whether your case is simple or complicated, we’re here to guide you through every requirement and every form—until you’re proudly holding your naturalization certificate in hand.
Becoming a U.S. Citizen Should Feel Like a Celebration, Not a Legal Headache
If you’re ready to apply for U.S. citizenship, congratulations, you’ve already come a long way. But the final step in your immigration journey still runs through one more complex process: applying through the U.S. citizenship and immigration service (USCIS).
The naturalization process involves more than just filling out a form. You’ll need to meet specific eligibility requirements, complete Form N-400, gather supporting documents, and prepare for both a test and an interview. And if there are any complications like time spent outside the U.S., an old arrest, or a tax issue, those things can affect your application if not handled properly.
That’s why it’s so important to have a guide. At Tingen Law, our U.S. Citizenship Lawyers have helped hundreds of immigrants become U.S. citizens by walking them through every part of the process, from the first application to the final oath ceremony.
We’ll help you understand what USCIS expects, avoid common mistakes, and move forward with confidence so you can focus on what really matters: the future you’re building as a U.S. citizen.
Why U.S. Citizenship Matters
For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is more than just a legal status—it’s a moment of arrival. It means stability, opportunity, and the freedom to fully participate in the life you’ve built here.
When you become a citizen you unlock rights and protections that aren’t available to green card holders. These include:
- The Right to Vote: You gain a voice in the future of your community and the country.
- Protection from Deportation: Once you're a citizen, no future immigration changes can threaten your legal status.
- The Ability to Sponsor More Family Members: As a citizen, you can petition for your parents, married children, and siblings—expanding opportunities for your loved ones.
- Access to U.S. Passports and Federal Benefits: You’ll be able to travel more freely and apply for benefits that require citizenship.
More than anything, citizenship means peace of mind. No more green card renewals. No more status uncertainty. Just the security of knowing you belong.
But getting there means navigating the legal process carefully—and working with USCIS can sometimes feel intimidating. That’s where we come in.
Who Can Apply for U.S. Citizenship?
Not everyone with a green card can apply for citizenship right away. USCIS has a specific set of rules for who qualifies and it’s important to understand where you stand before you apply.
In general, you may be eligible to apply for naturalization if:
- You’re at least 18 years old
- You’ve had a green card for at least 5 years: Or 3 years if you're married to a U.S. citizen
- You’ve lived in the U.S. continuously for the required period (usually at least 30 months out of the last 5 years)
- You’ve demonstrated “good moral character”: This usually means no serious criminal history, unpaid taxes, or false statements to the government
- You can read, write, and speak basic English
- You can pass a U.S. civics test: You’ll need to answer questions about American history and government
- You’re willing to take the Oath of Allegiance: This means pledging loyalty to the United States
There are exceptions for people with disabilities and waivers available for some older applicants or those who’ve been permanent residents for a long time.
If you’re unsure whether you meet the requirements, our team can help you review your immigration history, identify any risks, and build a clear path forward—before filing anything with USCIS.
Our Citizenship Support Services
At Tingen Law, we do more than just fill out forms, our U.S. citizenship lawyers help you navigate the citizenship process with clarity and strategy, every step of the way.
Whether your case is simple or complicated, we’ll make sure your naturalization application is accurate, complete, and set up for success.
Here’s how we help:
- Full Review of Your Immigration History: We look at your green card status, travel history, and any issues that might raise flags so there are no surprises.
- N-400 Application Prep and Filing: We complete and file your naturalization form correctly and with all the necessary supporting documents.
- Help with Red Flags or Complications: Have a past arrest, missed taxes, or long absences from the U.S.? We’ll help you explain and document your case properly.
- Interview and Test Prep: We walk you through what to expect during the civics and English tests, and we offer interview coaching to help you feel confident.
- Help Responding to USCIS Requests: If you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or notice from USCIS, we’ll help you respond quickly and correctly.
Whether you’re ready to apply today or just want to understand your options, our goal is to help you move forward with confidence and a plan.
Why Choose Tingen Law?
Applying for citizenship is more than just filing paperwork, it’s a legal process that can shape the rest of your life. And when something this important is on the line, you want a legal team that actually shows up for you.
At Tingen Law, we’re not just here to fill out your forms. We’re here to guide you through every step of the U.S. citizenship process with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Here’s what makes us different:
- We Know Immigration Law Inside and Out: From naturalization to green cards to tricky waivers, we’ve helped thousands of immigrants reach their goals.
- We Personalize Every Case: Your immigration story is unique, and we treat it that way. We craft a strategy based on your background, not a generic checklist.
- We Actually Call You Back: Our clients love that we keep them in the loop. You’ll never be left wondering where your case stands.
- We Speak English and Spanish: Clear communication is key, and we offer full bilingual support to make the process easier for you and your family.
When you're ready to take the final step toward citizenship, we’re here to walk it with you.
What Will You Find in Our Free Guide?
Our Free Guide: Your Path to Citizenship was carefully crafted by our experienced U.S. citizenship lawyers to give you a clear, complete, and easy-to-understand overview of everything you need to know before starting your immigration process. Whether you're just beginning your journey or you’re facing uncertainty midway through, this guide is the ideal starting point.
And beyond the content, you’ll also get an exclusive look at how we operate at Tingen Law, and how our U.S. citizenship lawyers can help maximize your chances of approval with expert legal support every step of the way.
Read U.S. Citizenship Lawyer Articles
in our Knowledge Base
Meet Your Team
The Attorneys at Tingen law have years of experience helping clients like you. We work with an experienced paralegal and support staff team. We'd love to see how we can help you overcome the immigration challenges you face.
Trent Powell
Trent brings a decade of experience to the Immigration practice at Tingen Law. Get to know him and how he helps clients get legal status in the U.S.
Jacob Tingen
As Managing Partner, Jacob coordinates the firm's practice generally. Learn more about Jacob and the work he does at Tingen Law.
James Williams
James represents clients across the intersection of immigration, business, and family law. Listen to his interview and discover how Tingen Law helps clients move forward with their life.
Frequently asked questions
The process of becoming a U.S. citizen begins with filing Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization. Once your form is accepted, here’s what typically happens next:
- Biometrics Appointment – You’ll be scheduled to provide fingerprints and photos for a background check.
- Naturalization Interview – You’ll meet with a USCIS officer to go over your application and answer questions about your background.
- Civics and English Test – During the interview, you’ll take a short test covering U.S. history, government, and basic English skills—unless you qualify for an exemption.
- Decision – You’ll receive a notice approving, continuing, or denying your application.
- Oath Ceremony – If approved, you’ll take the Oath of Allegiance and officially become a U.S. citizen.
Each step involves specific deadlines and paperwork, and mistakes can lead to delays. That’s why having a lawyer to guide you through the citizenship process can be so helpful.
On average, the naturalization process takes 7 to 12 months from the time you submit Form N-400 to your oath ceremony. However, timelines can vary depending on:
- Your local USCIS field office's backlog
- Whether your application is complete and accurate
- Background checks or interview delays
- Any requests for additional information (RFEs)
Once your case is submitted, USCIS will send you updates along the way, but many applicants find the process easier and less stressful with a lawyer keeping things on track.
Maybe, but it depends. To qualify for naturalization you have to meet this physical presence requirements:
- Continuous residence (no trips outside the U.S. longer than 6 months)
- Physical presence (at least 30 months in the U.S. over the last 5 years, or 18 months over 3 years for spouses of U.S. citizens)
If you’ve taken long trips, especially ones over 6 months, you may have interrupted your continuous residence, which could make you ineligible for now. However, we’ve helped many clients overcome these challenges with careful documentation and strategy.
Most applicants are required to take a short English and civics test during their naturalization interview with USCIS. You’ll need to:
- Read and write a sentence in English
- Answer questions about U.S. history and government (the civics portion)
However, you may qualify for an exception if:
- You’re 50 or older and have lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for 20 years, or
- You’re 55 or older and have lived in the U.S. for 15 years
There are also disability waivers available (Form N-648) if a medical condition prevents you from meeting the test requirements.
We help our clients determine if they qualify for any exemptions.
If USCIS denies your Form N-400, it can feel like a major setback—but it’s not always the end of the road.
Here’s what typically happens:
- You’ll receive a written decision explaining why your application was denied.
- In most cases, you have the option to file an appeal (Form N-336) within 30 days.
- USCIS will schedule a hearing with a different officer to review your case.
If appealing doesn’t make sense based on the facts, you might be able to refile a new application once you’ve fixed the issue, whether it’s related to residency, documentation, or good moral character.
We help clients figure out the best next step based on the reason for denial. Whether that means appealing, reapplying, or addressing a legal issue, you don’t have to face the process alone.
It depends on the crime, when it happened, and whether you’ve maintained “good moral character” since.
Our immigration laws take criminal history seriously. Certain convictions—like aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude, can make you ineligible for citizenship or even trigger removal proceedings.
That said, not all criminal records are deal-breakers. Many people with minor offenses or older charges still qualify for naturalization, especially if they’ve taken steps to show rehabilitation and positive community involvement.
If you have any kind of arrest or conviction in your history, it’s critical to talk to a lawyer before you apply. We’ll review your record, assess the risks, and help you decide how and when to move forward safely.
If you’re a male applicant between the ages of 18 and 26, USCIS expects you to have registered for the Selective Service, the federal program that maintains information for a potential military draft.
If you forgot or didn’t know you had to register, you’re not alone. Many applicants find out too late, especially if they immigrated young or weren’t aware of the requirement.
Here’s the good news:
If you’re now age 31 or older, USCIS generally won’t deny your case solely because you didn’t register. But you’ll still need to explain what happened and show that it wasn’t intentional.
We regularly help clients file sworn statements, legal explanations, and supporting evidence to satisfy this part of the application. It’s a common issue and one that we know how to handle with care.
Yes, but only if you fully understand your history first. Many people who apply for naturalization don’t realize how past immigration issues can resurface during the citizenship process.
Common concerns include:
- Past visa overstays or unlawful presence
- Misstatements on earlier immigration forms
- Old deportation orders or voluntary departures
- Green cards obtained through errors or problematic petitions
USCIS will review your full immigration record when you apply for citizenship, so it’s important to be proactive. If there’s anything in your past that could raise questions, we recommend reviewing your records with a lawyer before applying.
At Tingen Law, we dig into the details and help you avoid surprises because peace of mind matters.
You’re not required to have a lawyer, but having one can make the process smoother, safer, and a whole lot less stressful.
Here’s why people hire us to help with their citizenship process:
- To avoid delays, rejections, or paperwork mistakes
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To handle complicated histories or legal gray areas
- To get peace of mind that the process is being handled the right way
If your case is straightforward, we’ll tell you! But if there’s even a small risk of denial or complications, a lawyer can save you time, money, and a lot of anxiety.