What Are the Requirements for U.S Naturalization in Phoenix?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 625,400 people became citizens in the fiscal year 2020, and Mexico accounted for 13.3 percent of all naturalizations, India represented 7.7 percent, the Philippines accounted for 5.3 percent, Cuba was 5 percent, and the People’s Republic of China accounted for 3.7 percent. USCIS also reported that 71 percent of people seeking naturalization lived in California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, or Virginia, with the top five cities for naturalization being Miami, Brooklyn, Houston, the Bronx, and Las Vegas.

U.S. Naturalization in Phoenix Requirements

An immigrant seeking naturalization cannot be less than 18 years of age at the time they file an Application for Naturalization, must be able to read, write, and speak basic English, demonstrate good moral character, have a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government, and express a loyalty to the principles of the United States Constitution, as well as a willingness to take the Oath of Allegiance. Lawful permanent resident (LPR) periods may vary and could be any one of the following:

• Over 90 percent of applicants were LPRs for the past five years and have no special circumstances, meaning they have five years as an LPR without leaving the United States for any trip of six months or longer.
• If an immigrant is currently married to and living with a United States citizen, has been married to and has been living in the same city for the past three years. Their spouse has been a citizen for the past three years; the applicant needs three years as an LPR without leaving the United States for trips of six months or longer.
• Suppose an applicant is in the United States Armed Forces or is filing an application within six months of an honorable discharge and has served for at least one year. In that case, they must be an LPR on the day of their interview, although there are no continuous residence requirements.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and was in the United States Armed Forces for less than a year or is at least 18 years of age and was in the United States Armed Forces for one year or more but had a discharge more than six months ago, they need to have been an LPR for five years without leaving the United States for any trip of six months or longer. If an applicant was out of the country as part of their service, this time out of the country does not break their continuous residence and is treated just like time spent in the United States.
• When an applicant performed active duty military service during either World War I (April 6, 1917-November 11, 1918), World War II (September 1, 1939-December 31, 1946), Korea (June 25, 1950-July 1, 1955), Vietnam (February 28, 1961-October 15, 1978), Persian Gulf (August 2, 1990-April 11, 1991), or any time on or after September 11, 2001, they are not required to be an LPR and have no continuous residence requirements.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and was married to a United States citizen who died during a period of honorable active duty service in the United States Armed Forces, they must have been married to and living with their citizen spouse at the time of their death and must be an LPR on the day of their interview, but there are no continuous residence requirements.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and is a United States national (meaning a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States), has become a resident of any state, and is otherwise qualified for naturalization, they are not required to be an LPR and faces the same continuous residence requirements as any other applicant for naturalization, depending on their qualifications.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and served on a vessel operated by the United States or served on a vessel registered in the United States and owned by United States citizens or a United States corporation, they need to have five years as an LPR without leaving the United States for trips of six months or longer. However, time spent out of the country while serving on a vessel does not break continuous residence and gets the same treatment as any time spent in the United States.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and is an employee or an individual under contract to the United States government, they need to have five years as an LPR without leaving the United States for six months or longer trips. An absence from the United States for one year or more will break their continuous residence. Still, they can keep their continuous residence if they have at least one year of unbroken continuous residence since becoming an LPR. They get an approved Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, before they have been out of the United States for one year.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and performs ministerial or priestly functions for any religious denomination or an interdenominational organization with a valid presence in the United States, they need to have five years as an LPR without leaving the United States for trips of six months or longer. An absence from the United States for one year or more will break their continuous residence. Still, they can keep their continuous residence if they have had at least one year of unbroken continuous residence since becoming an LPR. They get an approved Form N-470 at any time before applying for naturalization.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and has employment by an American institution of research with recognition by the Attorney General, an American-owned firm or corporation that is engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce for the United States, or a public international organization for which the United States is a member by law or treaty (if the employment began after they became an LPR), they need to have five years as an LPR without leaving the United States for any trip of six months or longer. An absence from the United States for one year or more will break their continuous residence but they can keep their continuous residence if they have had at least one year of unbroken continuous residence since becoming an LPR and they get an approved Form N-470 at any time before applying for naturalization.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and has been employed for five years or more by a United States nonprofit organization that principally promotes the interests of the United States abroad through the communications media, they need to have five years as an LPR but there are no continuous residence requirements.
• When an applicant is at least 18 years of age and is the spouse of a United States citizen who is also a member of the United States Armed Forces, an employee or individual under contract to the United States government, an employee of an American institution of research that is recognized by the Attorney General, an employee of an American-owned firm or corporation that is engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce for the United States, an employee of a public international organization for which the United States is a member by law or treaty, or performs ministerial or priestly functions for a religious denomination or an interdenominational organization that has a valid presence in the United States and they will be proceeding to join their spouse whose work abroad under orders of the qualifying employer will continue for at least one year after the date they will be naturalized with Form N-400 being filed prior to departing, they must be an LPR at the time of their USCIS interview but there are no continuous residence requirements.

U.S. Naturalization Application Process in Phoenix

An immigrant can apply for naturalization either online or by paper application. Filing online involves creating a USCIS online account to file an application and submit evidence and pay fees electronically, receiving case status updates and seeing a complete case history, communicating with USCIS, and responding to all requests for evidence.

If an applicant files by paper, it is important to read all instructions on Form N-400, complete and sign Form N-400, pay the filing fee when applicable, and provide all required evidence and supporting documentation. After USCIS receives a Form N-400, an applicant receives a receipt notice confirming the agency received the application, a biometric services notice (when applicable), a notice to appear for an interview (when required), and a notice of a USCIS decision.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Phoenix Immigration Attorney

If you need assistance with U.S Naturalization in Phoenix, know that you do not have to handle everything by yourself. Diamondback Legal has decades of experience helping immigrants throughout the state get the benefits they are seeking.

Our firm knows how complicated these processes can be and we will work alongside you so you can immediately take corrective action for any issue that might arise. You can call (602) 755-3199 or contact us online to receive a free consultation with our Phoenix immigration Attorney.

Related Content: How Can I Qualify for U.S. Naturalization in Arizona?