About Becoming An U.S. Citizen
Obtaining U.S. citizenship is an important life event. To maximize your chances of success, you should have professional legal representation on your side throughout the process.
If you are naturalized as a U.S. citizen, many benefits will be available to you, including the following:
- You will be able to vote in local, state and federal elections.
- You will be able to travel abroad with a U.S. passport and without time restrictions.
- You should not have to worry again about the possibility of deportation.
- As a U.S. citizen, you will have a strong standing to petition for a green card for a fiance(e) or spouse.
- As a U.S. citizen, you may petition for green cards for your parents, siblings and married children. U.S. citizens receive priority when petitioning to bring their family members to live permanently in the United States.
Having an experienced attorney can help you avoid mistakes during the process, which can result in delays or even denial of your citizenship application.
I am Jason Karavias, a Pittsburgh family immigration attorney, and I have two decades of experience helping individuals achieve their U.S. citizenship goals. When retaining me as your lawyer, I will provide individualized representation. I will help you understand the process, and I will be there for you throughout all stages of the process.
About Eligibility For Citizenship
If you have had a green card for five years and are at least 18 years old, you may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. This time requirement is shortened to three years if you received your green card based on a continuing marriage to a U.S. citizen.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will review your personal circumstances to determine whether you are eligible for U.S. citizenship. Among the many requirements in determining your eligibility are the following:
- Age
- Length of residence and physical presence in the U.S.
- Good moral character
Your marital status and family situation may also be relevant to your eligibility. It is vital to remember that particular issues regarding time spent out of the country, failure to file and pay taxes due, or any prior arrests may have an impact on your eligibility. An experienced immigration lawyer may be able to help you find ways to overcome such obstacles.
Due to my understanding of the immigration system, I can provide a realistic assessment concerning your chances for citizenship eligibility. I can advise you on how to prepare to pass a citizenship test. I can also prepare you for in-person interviews with immigration officers. I will pay close attention to details to ensure your path to becoming a naturalized United States citizen is as efficient and trouble-free as possible.
What Is Good Moral Character?
As noted, one of the requirements is to have “good moral character.” But what does this actually mean, and how is it defined by the U.S. government? People are often worried that they will be disqualified for not having good moral character, which is why it is so important to understand how to demonstrate it. To help, here are some questions people often ask.
What constitutes good moral character?
USCIS is going to look at your history and your life to determine how you deal with those around you in the society into which you will be integrating. For instance, they may be interested in honesty in dealings if you are a business owner. If you are a local homeowner, they may be interested in seeing evidence of community involvement. You are essentially demonstrating that you are honest and upright in your interactions with those around you and that you value being an important part of the community and benefiting others.
What type of crimes can disqualify you?
A criminal record can work against you, especially with crimes of moral turpitude, which generally means that they are viewed very negatively by society. Examples include:
- Violent crimes like aggravated assault
- Aggravated felonies
- Serious DUI offenses, such as driving with a minor in the car
- Sexual assault or rape
- Serious financial crimes, like defrauding investors
- Drug crimes that go beyond simple possession, such as drug trafficking or manufacture
Even having a single crime on your record could disqualify you.
How far back does USCIS look?
As a general rule, the lookback period for USCIS is five years. However, there are some cases in which even older crimes could cause an issue with your immigration status.
What if you have a criminal record from another country?
USCIS will often view crimes and convictions from another country the same way they would view those events in the United States. If you have a conviction for aggravated assault or drug trafficking, for instance, these could be considered crimes of moral turpitude and could put your status into question, even though they did not happen in the U.S.
So, if you are wondering how to demonstrate good moral character, focus on being a positive part of the community, avoiding a criminal record and being able to provide evidence or references to USCIS showing that you would be an ideal American citizen.
Contact My Pennsylvania Law Firm For A Free Consultation
To set up an initial consultation, contact Jason Karavias, Esq., by calling 412-223-7924. You can also contact me online. I represent individuals in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.