The naturalization process provides a path to citizenship for resident immigrants living in Texas. A strict list of requirements applies to immigrants who wish to become U.S. citizens, but the benefits are well worth the trouble.
Eligibility requirements
The path to nationalization is not complicated for immigrants who meet all criteria. Interested parties can find the complete list of requirements on the website maintained by USCIS. These requirements are also part of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Applicants for naturalization must have already reached 18 years old and be permanent residents of the U.S. for at least five years. The five-year residency requirement becomes reduced to three years for immigrants married to a United States citizen.
Applicants must demonstrate their presence in the country for a minimum of 30 months of the five years preceding their applications. They must also show they lived in their current states of residence for a three-month minimum before their applications become valid.
Applicants will increase their chances for a successful test and interview by ensuring that they are ready to demonstrate their ability to read, write, and speak in English. Applicants must satisfactorily pass a civics and history test. Successful applicants will also need to show good moral character during their time in the country.
Application Process
A completed Form N-400 is the document needed to initiate the naturalization process. Applicants will need to prove at least five years of residency and submit applicable fees along with their applications. A marriage certificate applies when the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen.
The next step for the applicant is the testing and interview process. Applicants will need to prove their identities and produce residency cards before taking the interview. Applicants who pass their tests and who have their applications approved will receive notice to take an Oath of Allegiance. Once taking the oath, the applicant is a U.S. citizen.
The rules and regulations that comprise the U.S. immigration system are comprehensive and may require professional attention to navigate. An immigration attorney may prove helpful to this process.