Do I qualify to become a
US Citizen?

You may apply for Citizenship if:

- 1. "You have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for at least 5 years.'

(N-400, Page 1, part 1, 1, A)

- 2. "You have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for at least 3 years. In addition, you have been married to and living with the same US citizen spouse for the last 3 years, and your spouse has been a US citizen for the last 3 years at the time you filed your Form N-400."

You will need to provide the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) a transcript of your jointly filed taxes for those three years.

To do so click here.

Rental agreements showing both your name and your spouse's name on them, utility bills showing both your name and your spouse's name on them, etc....

(N-400, Page 1, part 1, 1, B)

You may be exempt from having to do the interview in English if:

- 1. "Are you 50 years of age or older and have you lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for a period totaling at least 20 years at the time you file your Form N-400?"

(N-400, Page 2, part 2, 13, A)

- 2. "Are you 55 years of age or older and have you lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for a period totaling at least 15 years at the time you file your Form N-400?"

(N-400, Page 2, part 2, 13, B)

- 3. " Are you 65 years of age or older and have you lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for periods totaling at least 20 years at the time you file your Form N-400?" (If you meet this requirement, you will also be given a simplified version of the civics test.)

(N-400, Page 2, part 2, 13, C)

- Those of you who qualify to be language exempt and therefore have your interview in the language of your choice may want to find a translator / interpreter to accompany you to your interview since USCIS is, now, trying to step away from having to offer and use a telephonic translation service during your interview.

You might be able to use a translating App but I'm not sure about the USCIS' Wifi quality and speed or access.

Other requirements may be found in the following USCIS check list (pdf format)

"A Document Checklist"

- To see if you qualify to apply for Citizenship, use USCIS' Early Filing Calculator. Make sure that you set the date properly, for example: 04/16/2025 and NOT 04/17/25. To do all that click here.

Remember, good moral character is important!

You may not apply for Citizenship if:

- 1. You do not have a legal Permanent card.

- 2. You have had a Legal Permanent Resident card for fewer than 3 years.

- 3. You are not able to write, read and understand English if you are under the age of 50 and have had you green card for less than 20 years.

You should participate in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

Ukiah Adult School offers such courses (see posters below)

- 4. You are currently on parole or probation.

Good moral character is important!

- 5. You were on parole or probation less than five years prior to filing your N-400. Showing good moral character is important.

- 6. You apply under the second option mentioned in the "Yes!" section, and your marital status changes during the process you will no longer qualify.

Other requirements may be found in the following USCIS check list (pdf format)

"A Document Checklist"

If you have committed some questionable acts of poor moral character in the past and those may adversely impact your plans to file an application for immigration benefits (such as a N-400 or others) you can come and see me. Then, I might recommend that you seek help either at Catholic Charities in Santa Rosa or find an attorney who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers' Association (AILA).

- To visit the Catholic Charities Santa Rosa website, click here.

- To locate a member of AILA, click here.

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-*- HEADS-UP -*-

REMEMBER,

CANNABIS IS NOT LEGAL NATIONWIDE

Current or former employees of cannabis dispensaries, cannabis processing companies, or applicants who have had anything to do with the local cannabis industry are disqualified due to the fact that

cannabis is not legal nationwide.

(See the infographic below)

- To watch a video titled, "What Every Noncitizen Must Know About Cannabis and Immigration" created by the Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC), click here.

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