Practice areas · Citizenship
The last form you will ever file.
Naturalization is the finish line of an immigration journey — and the one application where the government reviews everything that came before it. Done right, it is a celebration. Done carelessly, it can reopen old problems. My work is making sure it is the former.
This page explains the law in general terms. It is legal information, not legal advice about your case.
Are you eligible?
The core requirements, in plain terms:
Time as a permanent resident
Generally five years with a green card — or three years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen.
Presence and residence
You must have actually lived in the U.S. — physically present for at least half the period, without trips long enough to break your continuous residence. Long absences are one of the most common hidden problems.
Good moral character
The government reviews your record — taxes, arrests (even old or dismissed ones), and the honesty of every application you have ever filed.
English and civics
A reading, writing, and speaking test in English, plus civics questions about U.S. history and government. Exemptions exist based on age and years of residence, and disability waivers are available.
The process
From N-400 to the oath
The honest file review
Before anything is filed, we review your entire immigration history — every application, every trip, every encounter with the law. If there is an issue, we find it before USCIS does, and decide the right strategy and timing.
The N-400 application
Twenty pages of questions where precision matters. We prepare it completely and consistently with the rest of your record.
Biometrics and the wait
Fingerprints and background checks. Increasingly, USCIS reuses prior biometrics — one of many small procedural details that change often.
The interview and the tests
An officer reviews your application under oath, then administers the English and civics tests. We rehearse it beforehand — the format, the documents to bring, the questions your file makes likely.
The oath
The ceremony where you become a citizen of the United States. You take the oath; the certificate — and every door it opens, from the passport to the ballot — follows the same day.
When you should not file alone
Most people can survive an easy case. Lawyers exist for the other kind. Talk to one before filing if any of these sound familiar:
- Long trips abroad, or time living outside the U.S. since getting your green card
- Any arrest, charge, or conviction — anywhere, ever, even if dismissed or expunged
- Unfiled or amended tax returns, or unpaid support obligations
- Anything on a past application that was not fully accurate
- A green card obtained through a marriage that later ended
- Extended registration, selective service, or status questions
A complication is not a disqualification. But it deserves a strategy — sometimes the right advice is simply to wait, and knowing that in advance is worth far more than the consultation costs.
Common questions
Can I keep my original citizenship?
U.S. law does not require you to renounce your prior citizenship to naturalize. Whether your home country allows dual citizenship is a question of its law — for Turkish citizens, this is a conversation I can have with you directly.
How long does naturalization take?
Processing times vary by field office and change frequently, so any fixed number would soon be wrong. What I can do is check the current timeline for your office and build realistic expectations into your plan.
What if I fail the English or civics test?
You get a second chance at the failed portion, typically a few weeks later. Preparation makes this rare — and exemptions based on age, residence, or disability may apply to you in the first place.
Do I really need a lawyer for this?
Honestly: not always. If your history is simple, I will tell you so. The consultation exists to answer exactly this question — before you file, not after a problem surfaces.
Apply once. Apply right.
Bring your questions and your history. Thirty minutes later, you'll know if you're ready to file — and if not, what to do first.
30 minutes · $120 · English or Turkish · virtual