As a military family member in California, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship through a process called naturalization. The requirements for naturalization are different for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses than they are for other applicants. If you are a member of the Armed Forces, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship without having to meet the usual residency requirements. In any case, you can take help from the Italian immigration lawyer near me. You may also be eligible to file your application and take the citizenship test in your home country if you are stationed abroad.
If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces, you may also be eligible for expedited citizenship processing. In some cases, you may even be able to apply for citizenship without having to meet the usual residency requirements through an Italian immigration lawyer near me.
To learn more about the citizenship process for military families in California, read on.
Who Is Eligible for Citizenship?
In order to be eligible for citizenship through naturalization, you must first meet a number of basic requirements. These requirements include:
– being at least 18 years of age;
– being a permanent resident of the United States for a certain period of time;
– having lived in the state or USCIS district where you are applying for citizenship for at least 3 months prior to your application;
– being able to read, write, and speak English (unless you qualify for an exemption); and
– having knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government (unless you qualify for an exemption).
In addition to these general requirements, there are also specific requirements that apply to members of the Armed Forces and their spouses. These details can be discussed with an Italian immigration lawyer near me.
Members of the Armed Forces
If you are a member of the Armed Forces, you may be eligible for citizenship without having to meet the usual residency requirements. In order to qualify for this exception, you must:
– have served honorably in the U.S. military for at least 1 year;
– be currently serving in the U.S. military; or
– have been discharged from the U.S. military under honorable conditions within the past 5 years.
If you are a member of the National Guard or the Reserves, you are also eligible for this exception as long as you have been called to active duty for at least 1 year.
Spouses of Members of the Armed Forces
If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces, you may also be eligible for expedited citizenship processing. In order to qualify for this exception, you must:
– be married to a member of the Armed Forces who is a citizen of the United States;
– be currently residing in the United States;
– have been living in marital union with your spouse for at least 3 years (if your spouse is a permanent resident); or
– have been living in marital union with your spouse for at least 1 year (if your spouse is a citizen of the United States).
If you are the spouse of a member of the National Guard or the Reserves, you are also eligible for this exception as long as your spouse has been called to active duty for at least 1 year. These can be handled by an Italian immigration attorney.
Active Duty Service Members Stationed Abroad
If you are a member of the Armed Forces who are stationed abroad, you may be eligible to file your citizenship application and take the citizenship test in your home country. In order to qualify for this exception, you must:
– be a resident of the United States;
– have been stationed abroad on official U.S. government orders for at least 1 year; and
– have been physically present in the United States for at least 5 years prior to your application.
If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who are stationed abroad, you may also be eligible for this exception. In order to qualify, you must:
– be married to a member of the Armed Forces who is a citizen of the United States;
– be residing abroad with your spouse on official U.S. government orders; and
– have been physically present in the United States for at least 3 years prior to your application (if your spouse is a permanent resident) or 1 year prior to your application (if your spouse is a citizen of the United States).
Applying for Citizenship
Once you have determined that you meet the eligibility requirements for citizenship, you will need to complete and submit an application. The application form that you will need to use depends on your age and whether or not you have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years, you will need to use Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization. If you are 65 years of age or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years, you can use a simplified version of the N-400 form.
In addition to the completed application form, you will also need to submit supporting documents such as proof of your identity, proof of your U.S. residency, and proof of your military service (if applicable). You will also need to submit two passport-style photographs and the application fee.
Once your application is complete, you will be scheduled for an interview at a local USCIS office. At the interview, you will be asked questions about your background and your reasons for wanting to become a citizen. You will also be given a civic test to demonstrate your knowledge of U.S. history and government.
How immigration attorneys can help with Citizenship applications for military family members?
An Italian immigration attorney can help you determine if you are eligible for citizenship and guide you through the application process. They can also help you collect and prepare the necessary documents, and represent you at your interview. If you are not eligible for citizenship, an immigration attorney can help you explore other options for legal status in the United States.
Di Martino Law Group is a full-service immigration law firm that has helped military families with citizenship applications for over 40 years. We understand the unique challenges that military families face, and we are here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Italian immigration lawyers near me.
