Los Angeles Citizenship Lawyer

The dream of many immigrants is to pursue a better life in the United States. You work here, start families here, and establish roots. The final piece of the puzzle is to attain citizenship and the perks and opportunities that come with it. Because it is often a time-consuming and difficult process, it helps to have an experienced citizenship lawyer on your side who can navigate you through the steps and paperwork needed to become a naturalized citizen.

Our Los Angeles citizenship lawyers can provide you with the guidance you need to make the process to become a U.S. citizen as smooth as possible. Our attorney Hari Heerekar is an immigrant himself and understands how important of a milestone it is to finally become a legal citizen of this country. When you hire our firm, he will work directly with you and assist you every step of the way. We have assisted hundreds of clients in filing citizenship papers resulting in them earning a Certificate of Naturalization. Let us work to do the same for you.

To get started on the citizenship process, please call us at (213) 682-2338 or complete our simple online form to schedule a free initial consultation with immigration attorney Heerekar.

How the Naturalization & Citizenship Process Works

In order to qualify to naturalize and become a U.S citizen, you must first already be a lawful permanent resident in the country by obtaining a green card. Once the green card is secured, you will have to adhere to a mandatory waiting period which can last between 3 to 5 years depending on how your green card was acquired. During this time you will need to have a physical and continuous presence in the country.

When applying for citizenship, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years or older
• Be a lawful permanent resident (hold a green card) for at least 5 years
• Pass a test that requires you to be able to read, write, and speak basic English
• Pass a test that requires you to basic U.S. civics and history.
• Demonstrate you are a person of good moral character (have no criminal record)
• Take an oath of allegiance to the country

Additional requirements include submitting requested documents such as forms, photos, copies of green cards, and marriage certificates, among others. As you can tell, this is a heavily detailed and demanding process that can overwhelm many.  The last thing you want is for your application to be rejected or delayed because you made a mistake.

To increase your chances of successful completion, it is crucial that you speak with a knowledgeable citizenship lawyer in Los Angeles who will guide you through the process to ensure everything is done properly.

Why Apply for Citizenship if I Already Have a Green Card?

Long-time immigrants that have lawful permanent resident status in the United States may feel it is unnecessary to apply for citizenship if they possess a green card. However, by not becoming a legal citizen, you miss out on a number of benefits and advantages.

Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen affords you the following:

• The right to vote in elections
• Run for elected office
• Apply for government jobs
• Protection from deportation
• Secure U.S. citizenship for new children
• Petition and sponsor overseas relatives
• Travel with a U.S. passport
• Other federal benefits (stimulus checks, etc.)

What If My Citizen Application is Denied?

As frustrating as a denial may seem, all hope is not lost. You can appeal the decision and file a request for an administrative review (Form N-336) in front of a different immigration officer within 30 days of your application denial. A new officer will review your application and allow you to take a repeat of the English exam and test on U.S. civics.

At the hearing, you will have the opportunity to present to the USCIS your reasoning of why you believe they made an error with their decision. This can be intimidating, but it helps to have an experienced immigration attorney who can represent you and help you to prepare what to say, predict the officer’s responses and what you can say in return, and more to help you get your citizenship approved.

Choose Immigration Attorney Heerekar for Your Citizenship Case

Navigating the citizenship problem can be too much to handle on your own. By having an accomplished Los Angeles citizenship attorney working with you, you can have peace of mind, and improve your chances of approval. 

At the Law Office Of Hari Heerekar, we can:

• Assist you in filing your application
• Manage communications with the USCIS
• Help you prepare for your citizenship exams
• Give you guidance in case of denial

We are passionate about helping our clients achieve their dreams of naturalization and will do everything in our power to see that you officially become a citizen.

Schedule a free consultation by dialing (213) 682-2338 or contacting us online. We speak Spanish, Russian, Punjabi, Hindi, and Arabic.