Citizenship Lawyer in Houston, Texas

The citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm works with individuals who are applying for U.S. citizenship. If you are a permanent resident, the next step might be to apply for U.S. citizenship. Citizenship confers individuals many benefits, including the ability to vote, petition family members to move to the U.S. or receive Green Cards, having the ability to visit abroad without losing status, and never again having to worry about removal proceedings or having your residency status in question. There are several ways a person can become a U.S. citizen. You can become a U.S. citizen by birth or through your parents, or you can apply to become a U.S. citizen.

Permanent residents must meet certain qualifications to apply to become a U.S. citizen. If you are not sure whether you qualify to become a U.S. citizen, or need help with the application process, reach out to the citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm. Our citizenship lawyer can review your situation and offer guidance on the next steps.

Are You Eligible to Apply for Citizenship?

Permanent residents must meet certain criteria to be eligible to apply for citizenship. If you have a permanent resident status and are wondering whether you qualify to become a U.S. citizen, here are some things to keep in mind. Qualifications can include:

• Having had a Green Card for at least five years. If you are a refugee or received a Green Card through marriage, you may qualify to apply for citizenship sooner.
• If you have been married to a U.S. citizen for three years, and your spouse has also been a U.S. citizen for three years, may also qualify to apply for U.S. citizenship.
• You have lived in the U.S. for five years while having a Green Card and haven’t left the U.S. for more time than permitted.
• You must establish at least three months residency in the city where you plan to apply for U.S. citizenship.
• You must demonstrate good moral character. You must show that you have paid your taxes, paid child support, and haven’t committed crimes that could bring your moral character into question.
• You must be able to write and speak basic English and have a fundamental knowledge of U.S. history and government.

These are just some of the basic requirements. Issues can arise when applying for U.S. citizenship when people think they meet these basic requirements but don’t meet them. Individuals who don’t meet some of these requirements could put themselves at risk of removal proceedings if they apply for citizenship and haven’t taken care of some of these issues. If you are not sure about whether you qualify to apply for citizenship, reach out to the citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm. Our citizenship attorney in Houston, Texas, can review your situation and assist you with the next steps.

Issues that Can Arise When Applying for U.S. Citizenship

There are some situations where individuals might be denied U.S. citizenship. The best way to prevent denial of your U.S. citizenship application is to understand the citizenship application process thoroughly and ensure you meet all qualifications before you apply. The citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm can review your situation, identify any red flags, and assist you with resolving these issues as you navigate the citizenship application process.

What are some reasons why citizenship applications get denied? Here are a few:

• Good Moral Character. One of the key aspects of a U.S. citizenship application is the good moral character requirement. Good moral character can be brought into question if a person had any encounters with the law. Some criminal offenses could put your application on hold for a while. Things like a DUI might require you to wait before you can apply for U.S. citizenship. The length of time you might need to wait before you can apply for citizenship will generally depend on the seriousness of your criminal conviction. People can be denied citizenship if they have drug offenses, illegal gambling convictions, have committed violent crimes, failed to pay child support or alimony, or violated other laws. If you have a criminal record or were arrested for a crime and are wondering whether you can apply for U.S. citizenship, you may want to speak to a citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm.
• Physical Presence. Even if you have held a Green Card for five years or more, you must still be able to show that you were physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 of the 60 months. And if you are applying for citizenship because you received your Green Card through family-based immigration, failure to meet physical presence requirements could also result in the denial of your application.
• If you aren’t up to date on your taxes, your citizenship application could be denied.
• Validity of your Green Card. If your Green Card was not obtained properly or if there was any error in the process of obtaining your Green Card, you could face issues when applying for U.S. citizenship.
• Failing the Citizenship Tests. Unless you meet certain qualifications, you’ll need to pass an English, civics and government test. Studying for this test is paramount.

If your citizenship application is denied for any of the above reasons, you may have the right to appeal the denial, or take steps to remedy the situation that led to your denial. The citizenship lawyer in Houston, Texas, at The Fonseca Law Firm may be able to help you with your case. If your citizenship application was denied, we can review your application, review the reasons you were denied, and may be able to help you with the appeals process. If you are in the process of applying and want assistance in getting your application right, The Fonseca Law Firm is a Houston, Texas, citizenship law firm that may be able to assist you.