Permanent residents (or green card holders) may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after a certain number of years as a permanent resident. U.S. citizenship bestows many benefits including the right to vote in U.S. elections, the ease of international travel, and potentially filing for a family member to immigrate to the United States. However, not every green card holder qualifies for U.S. citizenship, and there are potentially severe consequences to filing when you are not eligible, including losing your permanent resident status. In addition, some people may be U.S. citizens by virtue of their parents’ status in the U.S., such that filing for citizenship is not even needed. For these reasons, it is prudent to consult with an experienced attorney before applying for U.S. citizenship.

Examples of naturalization and citizenship applications include:

• N-400 Application for Naturalization

• N-600 Application for Certificate of Citizenship

• U.S. Passport Applications

Some people may also be interested in applying for an extension of their green card via the filing of an I-90 application. We are happy to discuss the pros and cons of filing the I-90 as it relates to your case.