U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 1

U.S. CITIZENSHIP

THROUGH

NATURALIZATION

BASED ON 5 YEARS AS A LAWFUL PERMANENT

RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES

Obtain information on our excellent

Do-It-Yourself Immigration iKitsTM

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applications.

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Welcome to ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc., "Your Immigration Link to the World". The information contained in this

iKitTM is the most accurate, up-to-date information available, and will allow the average person to find out about

new changes in the immigration laws, so that they can prepare and file their own immigration case without the need

of spending hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars on attorneys' fees. . *Terms of use and disclaimer.

U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 2

NOTE

THIS PRODUCT PREVIEW FOR THE iKITTM

HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO SHOW SELECTED

PAGES AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE

iKITTM

IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THIS iKITTM

HAS 42 PAGES IN TOTAL, TOGETHER

WITH LINKS TO ALL OF THE REQUIRED

IMMIGRATION FORMS, STATUTES, AND

REGULATIONS, AND CONTAINS LINE-BY-LINE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF ALL OF THE

REQUIRED FORMS.

U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I – IKIT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 5

A. WHO SHOULD USE THIS IKIT? ................................................................................................................................. 5 1. ELIGIBILITY .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 2. WHEN TO FILE? ................................................................................................................................................... 5 B. US CITIZENSHIP BENEFITS ...................................................................................................................................... 6 C. TRANSLATIONS..................................................................................................................................................... 6 D. PHOTOS ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 E. IMPORTANT RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................ 7 F. OVERALL PROCESS FOR NATURALIZATION.................................................................................................................. 8 1. STEP 1 – PREPARING TO APPLY .............................................................................................................................. 8 2. STEP 2 – COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION & GETTING PHOTOGRAPHED ......................................................................... 8 3. STEP 3 – GETTING FINGERPRINTED .......................................................................................................................... 8 4. STEP 4 – BEING INTERVIEWED ................................................................................................................................ 8

SECTION II – IMMIGRATION LAWS ....................................................................................................................... 10

A. INA § 312 – REQUIREMENTS AS TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY, PRINCIPLES AND FORM OF

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES [8 U.S.C. § 1423] ......................................................................................... 10 B. INA § 316 – REQUIREMENTS OF NATURALIZATION [8 U.S.C. § 1427] ....................................................................... 10 A. INA § 319 – MARRIED PERSONS & EMPLOYEES OF CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS [8 U.S.C. § 1430] ................... 13

SECTION III – FILLING OUT FORM N-400 ............................................................................................................... 16

A. GENERAL TIPS ................................................................................................................................................ 16 B. N-400 – PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE (LINE-BY-LINE INSTRUCTIONS) (LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT

(LPR) COMPLETES) ............................................................................................................................................. 17 1. LINE BY LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORM N-400 (LPR COMPLETES) ............................................................................... 17 2. N-400 CHECKLIST .............................................................................................................................................. 26

SECTION IV – PREPARING YOUR PACKAGE ........................................................................................................... 29

A. COVER LETTER TO USCIS ..................................................................................................................................... 29 B. CERTIFICATION BY TRANSLATOR STATEMENT............................................................................................................ 29 C. ADMINISTRATIVE ................................................................................................................................................ 29 D. ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION OF FILING .................................................................................................................... 30

SECTION V – AFTER FILING ................................................................................................................................... 32

A. RECEIPT NOTICE OF ACTION FOR N-400 ................................................................................................................. 32 B. BIOMETRICS / FINGERPRINTS ................................................................................................................................ 32 C. CHANGE OF ADDRESS .......................................................................................................................................... 33 D. TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY ............................................................................................................................... 33

SECTION VI – NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW ........................................................................................................ 34

A. REQUEST FOR RESCHEDULING / QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................ 34 B. BRING IDENTIFICATION & PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS .................................................................................... 34 C. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 34 D. ENGLISH & CIVICS TEST ....................................................................................................................................... 35 1. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST .................................................................................................................................... 35 2. CIVICS TEST ....................................................................................................................................................... 35 E. RECEIVING A DECISION ........................................................................................................................................ 35 1. GRANTED.......................................................................................................................................................... 35 2. CONTINUED....................................................................................................................................................... 36

U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 5

SECTION I – iKIT OVERVIEW

A. WHO SHOULD USE THIS IKIT?

This iKit is for the foreign national who has obtained and maintained lawful permanent

residence (LPR) for at least five years. For Naturalization purposes, it does not matter as

to how LPR status was obtained (i.e., family-based, business-based, asylum, etc.).

1. ELIGIBILITY

To apply for Naturalization you must meet the following requirements:

a. Be at least eighteen years of age;

b. Have maintained LPR status for the last five years preceding your

application (military exceptions apply);

c. Have physically been present in the United States (“physical presence”)

in the US for one-half of the applicable five-year period (thirty months)

preceding your application;

d. Not have spent more than six months (some exceptions do apply) outside

(“continuous residence”) the United States for the most recent five years

preceding your application. The applicant cannot have a single absence

long enough to break the “continuous residence” continuity. Time spent

in the Bahamas, American Samoa, or other US Territories must also be

considered for the time spent outside the US.

e. Resided at least three months preceding the filing date in the USCIS

district that has jurisdiction over your address (military exceptions apply);

f. Have maintained good moral character for five years preceding the

application;

g. Be able to speak, read, and write English; and

h. Pass an oral exam regarding U.S. History and government.

2. WHEN TO FILE?

You may file for Naturalization 90 days preceding the five-year statutory continuous

residence requirement. Locate the “Residence Since” date on your Lawful Permanent

Resident Card (“Green Card’), add five years to that date, and then subtract 90 days.

Do not make the common mistake of subtracting 3 months instead of 90 days.

Consider using an online “date calendar calculator” to eliminate any chance of error.

Example: The “Residence Since” date is June 1, 2007, where adding five years makes

June 1, 2012 the statutory continuous residence date. After subtracting 90 days the

earliest filing date is March 3, 2012. If you made the common mistake of subtracting

3 months, the filing date would have been March 1, 2012. Filing too early will result

in your application to be rejected and returned to you.

U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 10

SECTION II – IMMIGRATION LAWS

A. INA § 312 – REQUIREMENTS AS TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY,

PRINCIPLES AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES [8 U.S.C. § 1423]

(a) No person except as otherwise provided in this subchapter shall hereafter be

naturalized as a citizen of the United States upon his own application who

cannot demonstrate—

(1) an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write,

and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language: Provided, that the

requirements of this paragraph relating to ability to read and write shall be met

if the applicant can read or write simple words and phrases to the end that a

reasonable test of his literacy shall be made and that no extraordinary or

unreasonable condition shall be imposed upon the applicant; and

(2) a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the

principles and form of government, of the United States.

(b)

(1) The requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any

person who is unable because of physical or developmental disability or

mental impairment to comply therewith.

(2) The requirement of subsection (a)(1) of this section shall not apply to any

person who, on the date of the filing of the person’s application for

naturalization as provided in section 1445 of this title, either—

(A) is over fifty years of age and has been living in the United States for

periods totaling at least twenty years subsequent to a lawful admission

for permanent residence, or

(B) is over fifty-five years of age and has been living in the United States for

periods totaling at least fifteen years subsequent to a lawful admission

for permanent residence.

(3) The Attorney General, pursuant to regulations, shall provide for special

consideration, as determined by the Attorney General, concerning the

requirement of subsection (a)(2) of this section with respect to any person

who, on the date of the filing of the person’s application for naturalization as

provided in section 1445 of this title, is over sixty-five years of age and has

been living in the United States for periods totaling at least twenty years

subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence.

B. INA § 316 – REQUIREMENTS OF NATURALIZATION [8 U.S.C. § 1427]

(a) Residence

No person, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, shall be naturalized

unless such applicant,

U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization - Based on 5 years as LPR

© 2000 – 2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 43

SECTION X – CONCLUSION

If you have followed all of the instructions in this iKit you are well on your way to

becoming a Naturalized US Citizen. You have been able to prepare your entire application at a

fraction of the cost that you would have to pay to an immigration law attorney to prepare your

case. In addition, you have been prepared far better for your immigration interview than you

would have been had you completed the case yourself, without the aid of this iKit.

It has been our pleasure to assist you with your case. If at any time you feel that you

need to consult with one of the immigration law attorneys from this office, you can call us at

(407) 833-8951 or make an appointment online. Furthermore, we hope that you will continue to

visit our website at www.ImmigrationLinks.com for any information you need regarding US

Immigration Law.

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WILL SOON BECOME A US CITIZEN!