First, you have to provide all the information about yourself necessary for the lawyer to fill out the form, answer the lawyer's questions about things that may have happened in your past, and gather documents that the lawyer asks you for. (You'll need to submit various forms of documentation both with the N-400 and at your interview .)
Keep in mind that you can only use the online option if you’re currently living in the U.S. Anyone residing outside of the U.S. at the time of applying must do so through the mail. How Long Does It Take for Form N-400 to Process?
Form N-400 can take roughly eight months to process. This is primarily due to the sheer number of submissions every month and the amount of work required to conduct background checks, confirm documents, etc. This is why you want to get things done right the first time.
Applying for U.S. citizenship means you’ll have to complete Form N-400 from the USCIS. Completing a form sounds simple, right? The truth is that these forms can be challenging to complete accurately, and one little mistake can set you back to square one.
An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship? No. You can file USCIS forms yourself, including Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which can be submitted online.
One of the benefits of having a lawyer at a citizenship interview is that we are allowed to ask for clarification. If you are ever confused by one of the questions the USCIS officer asks, your attorney can communicate the issue with the question.
$725$640. (Add the $85 biometric fee for a total of $725, where applicable. See exceptions below.) If you file your Form N-400 online, you may pay your fee online.
around 6-24 monthsThe current average processing time for Form N-400 is around 6-24 months (as of August 2022). Generally, however, the speed of processing depends on the USCIS field office handling the application, and some applicants can get a head start on the process (see “Filing Early” below).
The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS officer will ask you to answer 20 out of the 128 civics test questions.
Bring the following documents to the appointment:Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card;Appointment notice; and.A second form of identification (driver's license, passport, or state identification card). Your second form of identification must have your photograph on it.
It's not necessary to dress formally for your U.S. citizenship interview and test. You may dress comfortably but look professional. "Business casual" is a good rule of thumb. Avoid wearing jeans, shorts and t-shirts.
about 20 minutesA typical citizenship interview lasts about 20 minutes, but the exact timeframe varies by applicant.
$725How Much Will It Cost To Become A U.S. Citizen? As of February 2021, the total application fee for naturalization is $725. This fee consists of the processing fee of $640 and the biometrics fee of $85. The USCIS does not refund these filing fees regardless of the outcome of the naturalization application.
$725What are the Citizenship by Naturalization fees? As of 10/14/2020, $725 is the current fee to become a U.S. citizen. This total includes a $640 fee for processing the Form N-400 and an $85 biometric services fee. Both the filing fee and the biometrics fee are non-refundable.
Submitting your application online will likely get you in the queue a few days faster than if you were to submit a paper version of the application by mail.
It's going to be harder to find a lawyer who is willing to just review work you've done before you send your application . This is because even a simple review creates a lawyer-client relationship and all of the responsibilities that come with it for the lawyer. Most lawyers will want to have complete control over the work product ...
Most lawyers will want to have complete control over the work product if they are going to take on the lawyer-client responsibilities, and therefore a reduced fee for what you hoped would be a simple review is not going to be worth it to the lawyer. When you're ready to hire a lawyer, make sure the lawyer-client agreement says exactly what ...
The lawyer can also attend your citizenship interview with you — mostly to take notes about what happens during the interview in case you are denied, but also to speak up on your behalf if the USCIS officer needs clarification or asks you inappropriate questions.
In the American system, an immigration lawyer does not have any special influence over the government's decision. There is nothing outside the law that a lawyer can do that will make your application process go faster or make it more likely that you will get your citizenship. However, a lawyer will know everything that is legally possible ...
However, a lawyer will know everything that is legally possible to make your application process go as quickly and successfully as it can. Your lawyer cannot tell you how to answer any questions on the application form, although he or she can explain the questions to you so you can understand how to answer. At your citizenship interview, your ...
An immigration lawyer can save you time. Not just the time it would take you to figure out how to apply, but also time you might waste if you make a mistake in applying or don't send the right type of document. At the least, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency in charge of naturalization, ...
Don't expect your lawyer to give you a ride to the USCIS office, unless you've agreed to this arrangement. There aren't many immigration lawyers who will help you with your English or your knowledge of U.S. history and government (civics), if you need that kind of test-preparation help. The best the lawyer can do is tell you where to find ...
Form N-400, Part 1: Information About Your Eligibility. The first section is only 1 question: your citizenship eligibility category. You may select only one category. Don’t write your A-number in the box to the right.
Form N-400, Part 6: Information About Your Parents. These questions ask for information about your parents including if one of or both of your parents are U.S. citizens . If one of your parents is a U.S. citizen, you could be eligible for citizenship automatically and do not need to complete Form N-400.
If you have lost your card, submit a photocopy of the receipt of your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
Form N-400 is the application for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. A long and complex application, the form is 20 pages and has 18 sections. Here’s a step-by-step guide to complete Form N-400 along with some filing tips.
In most cases, the requirement is 30 months within the 5-year period (18 months within a 3- year period for spouses of U.S. citizens), though there are exceptions.
An original or court-certified copy of the court order vacating, setting aside, sealing, expunging or otherwise removing the arrest or conviction, or an original statement from the court that no record exists of your arrest or conviction
You are not required to answer every question on the N-400 application. Depending on your situation, there may be several questions that don’t fit your situation. In these cases, you should write “N/A” (not applicable) rather than leaving the space blank.
So they may charge more if your case involves complications like a criminal record or a history of arrests or deportation proceedings.
References in this article to survey results come from Martindale-Nolo Research's 2017 immigration study, which analyzed survey responses from readers who had filed immigration applications and had researched hiring a lawyer. The names of any quoted readers have been changed to protect their privacy. References to attorney reports of fees and billing practices are based on a database of thousands of attorneys who claimed their profiles on Avvo.com and provided information about their practice.
No offense, but a lawyer is an overpaid paper-pusher for most "regular" N-400 cases. Most people who are capable of filling in simple forms really do not need one, as there is little value-added to the process. That said, you should get one involved if there is anything in your immigration history that could result in unexpected deportation; e.g. criminal conviction, possible GC abandonment issues etc, etc.#N#Even sponsoring someone for a family-based GC doesn't really require a lawyer. Employment based applications are another matter entirely...
I had a simple case and I did it myself. Application was processed normally and I'm now a US citizen. As many others have said, N400 is very easy if you don't have any complications.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services give out a form called N–400 to whoever wishes to become a natural citizen. This is not a single–page application. Instead, it is over 20 pages long and has 18 separate sections asking the applicant for many details about their lives to determine if their application should be accepted.
The N-400 form has 18 separate sections that require your answers. However, you are not required to answer every question. Unnecessary answers must be avoided, and you should only answer questions that are applicable in your situation and simply write NA on all remaining questions.
N–400 form is long and requires complete honesty from your side to complete your naturalization successfully. It is in your best interest to seek legal help and have an attorney so that you do not make any mistakes since each mistake reduces your chances of having citizenship granted drastically.