Do I Qualify for Citizenship? The First Questions to Ask

Many people ask the firm to help them become American citizens.  Many are eligible – but, many are not.  Many factors go into determining eligibility for naturalization – eligibility cannot be determined in a five minute conversation.

These questions will help many determine whether they are eligible for naturalization.  The questions are:

Are you a [...]

Does Bankruptcy Affect Immigration Status?

What happens when an immigrant files for bankruptcy?  Can a foreign national file for bankruptcy?  What consequences are there to immigrant bankruptcies?

The good news is that bankruptcy is generally available to noncitizens.  Possible bankruptcy consequences follow:

Applying for Citizenship

Filing for bankruptcy will not automatically derail a citizenship application.   However, any fraudulent activities that [...]

Good Moral Character and the Naturalization Application

An individual applying for naturalization must have “Good Moral Character.”  The immigration agency has wide discretion in determining whether someone has good moral character.  However. there are some set principles that apply.  If you are thinking about naturalizing, please contact a naturalization lawyer to ensure your eligibility.  As the follow demonstrates, naturalizing can get confusing.

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Naturalization Ceremony In Iraq For 53 Service Members

On President’s Day, the USCIS held a ceremony in Iraq to naturalize 53 service members who are currently serving their country.  The 53 service members are able to naturalize in Iraq due to changes in the law that allow service members to naturalize while serving overseas.   Noncitizens who have serviced in the armed forces may [...]

Naturalization Test Questions Change

Due to the recent election, the USCIS is reminding naturalization applicants that some of the American civic test question answers will be changing in the coming weeks.  Naturalization applicants must pass the American civics test to qualify for citizenship.  The changed questions include:

Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?   (New York naturalization [...]

USCIS To Offer Naturalization Ceremonies At National Parks

The USCIS and the National Park Service have extended their agreement to hold many naturalization ceremonies at national parks throughout the United States. Around New York City, naturalization ceremonies will be held on Ellis Island.   These ceremonies will not happen daily, but will instead be held on special days, such as Constitution Day, Independence Day, [...]

New York City Naturalization Pitfalls

The New York Times recently ran an article about the naturalization process in New York City and the nation as a whole.  Although the article had a positive tone, it is worth noting a statement made by an immigration attorney that appeared in the article.  The article noted that over 90% of the individuals who [...]

Over 10,000 Soldiers Became U.S. Citizens Last Year

Last year, 10,505 U.S. service members became U.S. Citizens.   This is the largest number since the Vietnam War.  Being a member of the Armed Forces offers numerous advantages to those seeking to become U.S. Citizens.  These advantages include a waiver of the $675 application fee and accelerated eligibility for citizenship.

To learn more [...]

Immigrant Soldier with Temporary Visa Becomes U.S. Citizen

The USCIS recently announced that the first nonimmigrant soldier to participate in the Defense Department’s Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) recruiting program has become a naturalized U.S. Citizen.  As previously discussed on the Immigration Insight blog, MAVNI allows a foreign national who is in the United States on a temporary visas to [...]

CBS News Reports on U.S. Citizens Forced to Live Abroad

Last week, CBS Evening News featured a report by Seth Doane about an all too common occurrence – the forced relocation of U.S. citizen children to foreign nations due to their parent’s deportation from the United States.  This story brings a personal touch to the problem by focusing on one particular family from Texas, and [...]

Military to Recruit Non-Immigrants and Offer Citizenship

The New York Times is reporting that the United States Military will recruit non-immigrants into its ranks for the first time since the Vietnam War.  Non-immigrants who volunteer to serve the country will have the opportunity to naturalize within six months of entering the miilitary. Non-immigrants are foreign nationals who are legally in the [...]