Activity

If you find you are serious about becoming a U.S. citizen nevertheless, you have no idea where exactly to commence, you’ve attained the right place. The application process can appear lengthy along with complicated, yet being aware of certain requirements and learning the correct steps to consider will surely minimize stress and hasten the process. This information details the first handful of steps in the application process so that you can be prepared to know exactly precisely what to do after you complete each point.

THE FIRST STEP: Complete and Submit Form N-400

The initial step during the process is generally to complete Form N-400. This form may be the official application for U.S. citizenship. The form is readily available for download at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. Before completing the proper execution, be sure to are absolutely sure that you are eligble for citizenship. To confirm that you meet every condition, consult with a Guide to Naturalization (Form M-476), which may be accessed on the USCIS website. If you don’t qualify for citizenship, your application might be automatically rejected.

Form N-400 requires you provide essential information regarding oneself. You are likely to be asked to reveal the reason you are qualified for citizenship, the date that you became a permanent resident, your countries of birth and citizenship, and other specifics of days gone by, including marital background and information had a need to conduct a court records search. If another person-such as a lawyer-completed the form for your benefit, he / she must sign the form.

In the event that you submit the N-400, you must include two identical passport-style photographs of yourself and a copy of one’s permanent resident card. It is very important to maintain copies of your form just in case it happens to be lost or damaged in the mail. Make sure to submit the proper execution to the specific location matching your place of residence. Information about where to mail the form are available in A Guide to Naturalization.

The total amount due as you submit Form N-400 is $680 ($595 covers the filing fee and $85 for the biometrics fee which covers your fingerprinting costs). The fee can be paid by check or money order and needs to be produced payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

After Form N-400 is received and reviewed, a judgement is manufactured about whether you are allowed to continue to the next thing within the naturalization process, and be a U.S. citizen.

SECOND STEP: Get Fingerprinted

The moment Form N-400 has been approved, you will definitely receive a letter coming from the USCIS notifying one to your eligibility for citizenship. The notice should also include a time and date for the fingerprinting appointment. USCIS has authorized fingerprint sites located in the united states, and they are going to schedule an appointment for you at the location nearest your existing address. Using areas that are far away from fingerprinting sites, a car will come to get your fingerprints. If that is applicable to you, it’ll be mentioned in your letter from USCIS.

It is strongly advised that you can visit the fingerprinting site on the date and time that is scheduled for you. If you cannot make the appointment promptly, this technique could be postponed. You won’t likely have the ability to continue on to the next steps of naturalization unless and until you have been fingerprinted.

When you reach the specified fingerprinting site on your appointment date, be sure to bring with you all documents mentioned in the appointment letter (passport, permanent resident card, driver’s license, etc.). After your prints are taken, they’ll be taken up to the FBI and a criminal background check can be done. Once in a while, USCIS may request that you send in supplemental documents after your fingerprints already are taken. For individuals who are asked for just about any of the records, mail them as quickly as possible so that they can expedite the whole process.

The FBI usually processes fingerprints and sends the outcome to USCIS within 3 to 4 weeks. If Immigration Lawyer Hampshire desire to sign in on the status of your respective fingerprint processing, you may contact the FBI by telephone at (304) 625-5590 or at (304) 625-2406. The FBI struggles to release any important information identified regarding the prints, however they should be able to inform you about if they are processed and delivered to the USCIS. If the fingerprints are not connected with any previous criminal activity or ongoing investigations, USCIS sends you a letter to get ready for the citizenship interview.