How long does it take to become a US citizen in San Antonio, TX?

San Antonio, TX – Every immigrant coming to the US dreams of the day when they will become American citizens and won’t ever have to fear they might be deported to their country of origin. The process of becoming a US citizen is known as naturalization and it is a lengthy one. You will be required to submit many documents and any error will only delay the process even further. Also, you need to know what to expect at the citizenship interview and prepare for the English and US civics tests. If you want to avoid problems and make the process as quick as possible you should talk to an experienced San Antonio immigration lawyer.

Who is eligible for naturalization?

To apply for naturalization you must be at least 18 years old. Also, you need to prove that you have been a legal resident (or Green Card holder) in the US for the past 5 years, or 3 years under certain circumstances. People who have served in the US armed forces may also apply for citizenship if they meet certain criteria.

How long does it take to become a US citizen?

This depends on where you live in the US. The first step on the road to citizenship is filing the N-400 Application for Naturalization form. These forms are addressed to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through their local branches. The processing time of each application depends on the workload a local branch has. If you’re going to apply for citizenship in San Antonio you can consider yourself lucky. As of February 2022 the waiting time is 9.5 – 15 months at the San Antonio branch, which is better than the national average of 14.5 months.

How should I prepare for my citizenship interview?

The most important part of the naturalization process is perhaps the citizenship interview. Once your application is received you will be invited for a biometrics appointment (when they take your fingerprints) and later for the interview. This will also take place locally at one of the two San Antonio USCIS offices. Usually , the interview lasts for about 20 minutes, provided that you bring all the documents you’re required to. Ask your immigration lawyer to help you prepare a brief with all the necessary papers. Also, the immigration officials will confront anything you say during the interview with what you wrote in your application. If your answers don’t match, they may investigate the matter further and the interview might take longer.

If you’ve had any convictions on US territory, seek legal advice before going to the interview as a criminal record might make you ineligible for citizenship.

Also during the interview, you will have to take the English test and your civics test. The USCIS will provide study materials so you can prepare for the exam. It’s usually a basic test and most immigrants have no problem passing it. However, if you do fail the first time, you are allowed to try again at a later date, so you won’t have to apply again for naturalization.

Once your application is accepted and you’ve passed your test, you will have to take the Oath of Allegiance, after which you will receive your Certificate of Naturalization.

If you are preparing to apply for citizenship and want to speed up the process, get in touch with an experienced lawyer at the Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen in San Antonio and let them deal with all the paperwork involved.

Contact info:

Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen

San Antonio, TX

206 East Locust Street

San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone: (210) 769-3273

Source: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)