Requirements to File for Citizenship
As an experienced Morristown, New Jersey immigration lawyer, an important question that often comes up concerns the requirements for filing for citizenship. There are multiple requirements: one is that someone must be a Green Card holder. Sometimes, three years is sufficient if you are married to a US citizen. Otherwise, it must be Green Card holder for five years. Likewise, someone must be physically present in the US for 51% of the time. If you have too many absences from the US, it will bar you from applying for citizenship and you must wait until you’ve acquired the 51% physical presence in the US.
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Also, you must be able to demonstrate good moral character and therefore if you have been arrested for a serious misdemeanor or a felony or something of that nature, it will also make you ineligible for filing for citizenship. Someone must possess the ability to speak and read English and take the civics and history test in English. There are certain exceptions: I believe if you are a Green Card holder for 15 years and you are 60 years old, likewise 50 years old and you’ve had your Green Card for 20 years, that would make you exempt from the English language requirement, but those are the major requirements for filing for citizenship. It’s a very important question.
This informational blog post was brought to you by Susan W. Scheer, an experienced Morristown, New Jersey Immigration Lawyer.
